Mormon Mesa facts for kids
Mormon Mesa is a large, flat-topped hill with steep sides, also known as a mesa. It is located in Clark County, in southern Nevada. This interesting landform sits between two rivers: the Virgin River and the Muddy River.
Mormon Mesa reaches a height of about 1,893 feet (577 meters) in the south. This is where the Muddy and Virgin Rivers meet. The mesa stretches north towards the Mormon Mountains. It also goes east from the Muddy River to the Virgin River.
Protecting Mormon Mesa's Wildlife
A big part of Mormon Mesa is called the Mormon Mesa Desert Tortoise Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). This special area covers about 149,000 acres. Its main job is to protect the home of the Desert tortoise. This tortoise is an endangered species, meaning it is at risk of disappearing forever.
The Delamar Mountains Wilderness Area also includes some of this important tortoise habitat. The land in this ACEC is mostly covered with creosote and bursage plants. These plants are common in the Mojave Desert and provide food and shelter for many animals.
Double Negative: Art on the Mesa
Double Negative is a famous piece of Land art. It was created by the well-known artist Michael Heizer in 1969. This unique sculpture is located right on the edge of Mormon Mesa, near Overton.
The artwork was given by art collector Virginia Dwan to the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). It is open for people to visit and see.
