2012 Map of Desert

About this map

Ivanpah Valley dominates this high-desert landscape on the border of California and Nevada, where the drainage patterns of the Lucy Gray Mountains descend into the arid basin. The small settlement of Desert and the site of Calada represent the sparse human footprint in this corner of San Bernardino County during the early 21st century. Infrastructure is defined by the Nipton Desert Rd, which cuts across the dry terrain toward the southern expanse. The presence of Ivanpah Lake at the bottom of the basin reflects the seasonal hydrology of the region, where internal drainage collects in the low-lying salt flats. This survey documents the area's transition from open rangeland to its role in the modern interstate corridor.