Escalante Desert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Escalante Desert |
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Escalante Desert looking southwest from the Lund Highway
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| Area | 3,270 sq mi (8,500 km2) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| Country | Iron |
The Escalante Desert is a large, dry area in southwestern Utah. It is part of the Great Basin region. This desert is also an ecoregion, which means it's a natural area with its own unique plants and animals. It belongs to a type of environment called deserts and xeric shrublands, where plants are adapted to very dry conditions.
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Exploring the Escalante Desert's Location
The Escalante Desert is mainly found in Iron County, Utah, northwest of Cedar City. A small part of it also reaches into Millard County.
Where is the Escalante Desert?
This desert covers most of Iron County. The area gets about 13 inches (330 mm) of rain and 5.9 feet (1.8 m) of snow each year. The Escalante Desert is mostly located between two state roads, State Route 56 and Route 21. It is also north and west of Interstate 15.
Land Features of the Desert
The land in the Escalante Desert gently slopes downwards from its edges. It slowly gets lower in height until it reaches an area called Lund Flats. This flat area, located at 38°01′19″N 113°26′20″W / 38.02194°N 113.43889°W, has railroad tracks that connect the towns of Milford and Lund.
Understanding Ground Changes in the Desert
Sometimes, the ground in the Escalante Desert can sink or crack. This is a natural process that can be influenced by human activities.
What is Ground Subsidence?
Near Beryl Junction (37°42′34″N 113°39′22″W / 37.70944°N 113.65611°W), you can find three large cracks in the ground. These cracks are called fissures. They are believed to have formed because the ground has sunk, a process known as subsidence.
How Groundwater Affects the Land
This sinking of the ground is thought to be caused by taking too much water from underground. This underground water is called groundwater. People often pump out groundwater to irrigate their farms, which means watering crops. When a lot of groundwater is removed, the soil and rocks above it can settle and compact, causing the ground to sink and sometimes form these fissures.
See also
In Spanish: Desierto de Escalante para niños
