Carson Desert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carson Desert |
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Timothy H. O'Sullivan's portable studio in the Carson Desert in 1867.
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| Area | 2,150 sq mi (5,600 km2) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| Region | central Lahontan subregion of the Great Basin |
| Borders on | N: Humboldt Basin E: Central Nevada Desert Basins S: Walker River Basin W: Middle Carson Watershed NW: northern Lahontan subregion |
The Carson Desert is a dry, low-lying area in Churchill County, Nevada, in the United States. It is a desert valley that gets very little rain, only about 5 inches (127 mm) each year. This desert is part of a larger region called the Lahontan Basin.
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Exploring the Carson Desert
The Carson Desert is a wide, flat area found between tall mountain ranges. It includes a very dry spot called the Carson Sink in its northern part. The land around the desert, including the mountain slopes, forms what is known as a watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common point.
Where is the Carson Desert Located?
The Carson Desert is located in the western part of Nevada. It is a key part of the Great Basin, which is a large area in the western United States where rivers and streams do not flow into the ocean. Instead, their water stays within the basin, often ending up in lakes or evaporating.
How the Desert Was Formed
Long, long ago, during a time called the Pleistocene epoch (which was an ice age), the Carson Desert area was covered by a huge ancient lake. This lake was known as Lake Lahontan. Over thousands of years, as the climate changed and became warmer, Lake Lahontan began to shrink. It left behind the dry desert landscape we see today.
Protecting the Desert's Water
In 2005, the watershed of the Carson Desert became part of Nevada's Conservation Security Program. This program helps farmers and ranchers protect natural resources. It encourages them to use practices that keep the land and water healthy. This is important for the desert, as water is a very precious resource there.
