Detrital Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Detrital Valley |
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![]() Detrital Valley, between Black Mountains (west), and White Hills (east).
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Length | 51 mi (82 km) N-S (arced to West) |
Width | 10 mi (16 km) |
Geography | |
Country | United States |
State | Arizona |
Communities | Bonelli Landing, Dolan Springs and Grasshopper Junction |
Borders on | |
Lake | Lake Mead |
The Detrital Valley is a long valley located in the northwest part of Mohave County, Arizona. It stretches for about 51 miles (82 kilometers) and plays an important role in the area's water system. This valley drains, or sends its water, into the famous Lake Mead. It runs right next to another valley called Hualapai Valley, with the White Hills (Arizona) acting as a natural wall between them.
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Exploring Detrital Valley
Detrital Valley is a fascinating natural feature in the desert landscape of Arizona. It's known for its unique way of collecting and moving water, which is crucial for the surrounding environment.
Where is Detrital Valley?
Detrital Valley is found in the northwestern part of Arizona, a state in the United States. It's specifically located within Mohave County, Arizona. This valley is quite long, stretching about 51 miles (82 kilometers) from north to south. It's also about 10 miles wide, making it a significant landform in the region.
How Does Water Flow Here?
Inside Detrital Valley, you'll find a stream bed called Detrital Wash. This wash collects all the water that flows through the valley. It starts just north of Kingman, Arizona, near a spot called Grasshopper Junction, Arizona. From there, the water travels northwards, eventually making its way to Lake Mead. This means that all the rain and runoff in Detrital Valley ends up in Lake Mead.
It's interesting to compare Detrital Valley with its neighbor, Hualapai Valley. While Detrital Valley sends all its water to Lake Mead, Hualapai Valley is different. Most of Hualapai Valley doesn't drain into a larger body of water. Instead, it forms a temporary lake called Red Lake when it rains a lot. This type of lake, which appears and disappears, is called an ephemeral lake.
What's Nearby?
The center of Detrital Valley runs alongside a long mountain range on its western side, called the Black Mountains (Arizona). You can find a key junction road called Temple Bar Road within the valley. This road leads to Temple Bar, a spot on Lake Mead. Across Bonelli Bay, a part of Lake Mead, is Bonelli Landing.
A major highway, U.S. Route 93, also travels through much of Detrital Valley. This road connects Kingman to the famous Hoover Dam. So, if you're driving on U.S. Route 93 in this area, you'll be traveling right through Detrital Valley!