The Mojave Desert

The Mojave Desert is a large desert in the western United States. It covers parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. The Mojave is famous for its spiky Joshua trees. It is one of the hottest and driest places in North America.

Plants and Animals

Many amazing plants and animals live in the Mojave Desert. The Joshua tree is the most famous plant and can live for hundreds of years. Desert tortoises dig cool burrows to hide from the sun. Coyotes, lizards, and roadrunners also call this desert home. These creatures have special ways to save water and stay alive.

Hot and Dry Land

The Mojave Desert gets very little rain each year. In summer, the temperature can rise above 120 degrees. Death Valley sits inside the Mojave and is the hottest place in the country. At night, the desert can become quite cold. The land is full of rocky hills, sand, and dry lake beds.

Fun Facts

• Death Valley once reached 134 degrees, one of the hottest temperatures ever recorded.
• Joshua trees are not really trees but a type of giant yucca plant.
• Las Vegas, Nevada sits right in the Mojave Desert.

Did You Know?

The Mojave Desert has a place called the Racetrack where rocks mysteriously slide across the ground all by themselves.