Beaver Dam Wash facts for kids
The Beaver Dam Wash is a special stream located near the borders of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona in the United States. It's mostly a "seasonal stream," meaning it only flows with water during certain times of the year, like after heavy rains. However, at its southern end in Arizona, where it joins the Virgin River, the water flows all year long!
Part of this unique area is protected within the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area. This area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which helps keep it safe for nature and wildlife. The wash got its name because beavers used to build their dams there a long time ago.
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What Makes Beaver Dam Wash Special?
The Beaver Dam Wash is a very interesting place because it sits where three different natural areas meet: the Colorado Plateau, the Great Basin, and the Mojave Desert. Because of this, it has a mix of plants and animals from all three regions. This makes it a very diverse and exciting place for nature lovers!
Plants and Trees
The area around the wash, including some protected wilderness areas, is home to many unique plants. You can find tall Joshua trees, which look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. There are also other types of yucca plants, spiky cholla cactus, and round barrel cactus. You might also see Mormon Tea plants and various grasses and shrubs. These plants are well-suited to the dry desert environment.
Amazing Animals
The Beaver Dam Wash area is full of different kinds of animals that live in the Mojave Desert. You can spot many types of lizards, mammals, birds, and insects.
- Desert Tortoise: This area is very important for the threatened desert tortoise. These slow-moving reptiles need special protection to survive.
- Desert Bighorn Sheep: Look for the impressive desert bighorn sheep with their big, curved horns. They are excellent climbers.
- Gila Monster: You might even see a gila monster, a colorful lizard with a powerful bite. It's one of only two venomous lizards in North America.
- Mojave Rattlesnake: Be careful and keep an eye out for the Mojave rattlesnake, a venomous snake that lives in the desert.
Weather in the Wash
The weather at Beaver Dam Wash can be quite extreme, especially in summer.
Winter Weather
Winters are usually mild and pleasant. Temperatures during the day often reach the 50s or 60s degrees Fahrenheit (about 10-15 degrees Celsius). At night, it gets colder, usually dropping to the 20s or 40s Fahrenheit (around -6 to 4 degrees Celsius).
Summer Weather
Summers are very hot! Daytime temperatures commonly go over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (over 38 degrees Celsius). Even at night, it stays warm, usually in the mid-80s Fahrenheit (around 29 degrees Celsius).
Rain and Wind
Most of the rain in this area comes from heavy summer thunderstorms, called monsoons. These storms can dump a lot of rain in a short time, causing sudden flash floods in the washes and gullies. The air is usually very dry with low humidity. It can also be quite windy throughout the year.
Utah's Lowest Point
The Beaver Dam Wash holds a special record for the state of Utah. At an elevation of about 2,179.8 feet (664.4 m), it is the lowest point in Utah! This makes it a unique geographical feature.
