Devils Playground facts for kids
The Devils Playground is a huge sandy area located in the Mojave Desert in California, United States. Imagine a giant sandbox stretching for about 40 miles (64 km)! This unique place is full of sand dunes and flat, salty areas. It runs from the northwest to the southeast within the Mojave National Preserve.
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What is the Devils Playground?
The Devils Playground is a special part of the Mojave Desert. It gets its name because of how wild and vast it is, almost like a giant, untamed playground. This area is mostly flat plains, but it also has some small hills and mountains, especially towards its northern end.
Where is it located?
This sandy region is found between the town of Baker and the Providence Mountains. At its northwestern edge, you'll find the Cronese Mountains. Near the southern part of the Devils Playground are the famous Kelso Dunes, which are very tall sand hills.
What kind of land is it?
The Devils Playground is known for its wide-open spaces. It has:
- Sand Dunes: These are hills of sand shaped by the wind. They can be very tall and are always changing.
- Salt Flats: These are flat areas covered in salt, left behind when water evaporates. They look very white and shiny in the sun.
- Dry Lake Beds: In some northern parts, the playground meets areas that used to be lakes but are now completely dry.
Exploring the Area
The Devils Playground is part of the Mojave National Preserve. This preserve is a protected area where people can enjoy nature and see unique desert plants and animals.
Off-Road Adventures
At the northwestern edge of the Devils Playground, there's a place called the Rasor Off-Highway Vehicle Area. This is a special spot where people can ride vehicles like dirt bikes and ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles) off the regular roads. It's located near the Mojave River Wash and the Mollhausen Mountains.
