Great Basin facts for kids
The Great Basin is a huge, dry area in the western United States of America. It's part of a larger region called the Basin and Range Province. This vast desert covers most of Nevada and extends into parts of California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and a small piece of Wyoming. In total, it's about 200,000 square miles (520,000 square kilometers) in size.
What makes the Great Basin special is that it's an "endorheic" basin. This means that any water that falls here, like rain or snow, stays within the basin. It doesn't flow out to the ocean. Instead, the water either sinks into the ground or evaporates. The Great Basin stretches from the high lands of the Sierras and Rockies in the west to lower desert areas in the east.
The longest and largest river in the Great Basin is the Bear River, which is about 350 miles (560 km) long. The biggest area where water collects and drains into a single river is the Humboldt River drainage, covering roughly 17,000 square miles (44,000 km2).
Most of the water in the Great Basin comes from snow. The snow melts and becomes water. Any water that doesn't evaporate or get used by people sinks into underground water storage areas called aquifers. Water often evaporates from low-lying areas known as geographic sinks.
Lake Tahoe, which is North America's largest alpine lake, is also found within the central part of the Great Basin. It's part of a subregion called Lake Lahontan.
Contents
What is the Great Basin Like?
The Great Basin is known for its unique landscape. It has many mountain ranges that run north to south, separated by wide, flat valleys. This pattern of mountains and valleys is why the larger region is called the "Basin and Range" Province. It's a very dry place, with hot summers and cold winters.
How Does Water Stay in the Basin?
Because the Great Basin is surrounded by mountains, water can't flow out to the sea. When rain or snow falls, it collects in the valleys. Over time, this water either evaporates into the air, creating dry lakebeds, or it seeps deep into the ground. This underground water can then be used by plants or accessed through wells.
Plants and Animals of the Great Basin
Even though it's a desert, many plants and animals call the Great Basin home. You might find plants like sagebrush, which is very common, and different types of grasses and wildflowers. Animals that live here are adapted to the dry conditions. This includes various lizards, snakes, birds, and mammals like jackrabbits, coyotes, and wild horses.
Images for kids
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This map shows the hydrographic Great Basin (magenta outline). It's different from the Great Basin Desert (black) and the Basin and Range Geological Province (teal).
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The Tule Valley watershed and the House Range (Notch Peak) are part of the Great Basin's Great Salt Lake water system.
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This map shows the different natural regions (ecoregions) within the Great Basin.
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A snowstorm in the Great Basin, seen in the Snake Valley of Utah and Nevada. Snow is a major source of water here.
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This picture shows the "Basin and Range" landscape from above, with mountains and valleys.
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A map showing the Great Basin as a specific physical region (labeled 22a) in the western U.S.
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This map shows where different Native American tribes lived. Tribes in the Great Basin were part of the "Great Basin" cultural group.
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A thunderstorm in the Wah Wah Valley, Utah, showing how rain falls in this dry region.
See also
In Spanish: Gran Cuenca para niños
