The Great Basin

The Great Basin is a large area of dry land in the western United States. It covers most of Nevada and parts of Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and California. What makes it special is that no rivers in the Great Basin flow to the ocean. All the water stays inside the basin.

A Land With No Exit

In most places, rivers flow downhill until they reach the ocean. In the Great Basin, rivers and streams flow into valleys but have nowhere to go. The water either soaks into the ground or dries up in the sun. The Great Salt Lake in Utah is what is left when water evaporates and leaves salt behind.

The Basin's Landscape

The Great Basin has mountains, valleys, and desert flats. Sagebrush covers much of the land. It can be very hot in summer and cold in winter. Animals like pronghorn, jackrabbits, and rattlesnakes live here. Great Basin National Park has ancient bristlecone pine trees.

Fun Facts

• The Great Basin covers about 209,000 square miles.
• Bristlecone pine trees in the Great Basin are some of the oldest living things on Earth.
• The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.

Did You Know?

Some bristlecone pine trees in the Great Basin are over 5,000 years old, making them older than the Egyptian pyramids!