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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

"D" for Mohave Desert



This is a Joshua Tree:

The unusual Joshua Tree grows in the protective setting of the Joshua Tree National Park in California and in the Joshua Forest Parkway in western Arizona. The Joshua Tree is the largest of the yuccas and grows only in the Mojave Desert. The Joshua Tree's height varies from 15 to 40 feet and has a diameter of 1 to 3 feet. The Joshua tree has a lifespan of about 200 years. The Joshua Tree is a member of the lily family.


The growing

habitat of the Joshua Tree is similar to one of the palm trees.The Mojave or Mohave Desert, is the smallest of the four North American deserts. It lies in South Eastern California at 35° to 36° latitude North and 115° to 117° longitude East. The Mojave Desert is situated between the Great Basin Desert to the north (a cold desert) and the Sonoran desert to the south (a hot desert). The Colorado River runs through the east of it, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west.
The Mojave Desert is special because it has a little bit of everything. People refer to the Mojave Desert as a "high desert" because it has an elevation of 2,000 to 5,000 feet. It changes from a cold desert in the northern section and a hot desert in the southern section. The Mojave Desert covers 25,000 square miles. There are some fascinating features to be found in this desert, especially the Kelso Dunes. The Kelso Dunes are the largest of the Mojave dune fields, reaching 500 to 600 feet in height. When you run down these dunes you can hear an unusual "barking" sound. It is not entirely understood yet but some people believe that grains of quartz and feldspar rubbing against each other cause it.
Click on photo for larger version


50 comments:

AVCr8teur said...

I never knew what Joshua Tree looked like. Doesn't seem like there's much in town. Thanks for the photos and the tidbit of information about the Mojave.

dot said...

I wonder how fast I'd have to run to hear the barking sound. That is weird. Very interesting post!

Sharon said...

That is a wonderful picture of a Joshua tree. I used to love seeing them when we lived there. We lived on the edge of the Mojave when dad was stationed at Edwards AFB.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a pretty peaceful place you've got there.
Happy wednesday

ellen b. said...

It's always great to see a Joshua Tree in the desert! What a great educational post for us...

Neva said...

A very good "D"....and I had never seen a Joshua tree before!

Neva said...

A very good "D"....and I had never seen a Joshua tree before!

Paulie said...

Definitely a delight to see in the desert.

Leslie: said...

I drove through the Mojave up to Tehachapi last year. Pretty dismal place and I wouldn't want to go there in the heat of the summer. Great shots! :D

Katney said...

It is amazing that the Joshua Tree is actually a lily. Very selective about their habitat, those Joshua Trees, as are the Saguaro Cactus which grow farther east int he desert.

RUTH said...

I've never heard of a Joshua Tree...incredible to think it's part of the lily family. Really interesting post :o)

Rune Eide said...

I think I have been in the outskirts of this desert when visiting southern California, but I never saw such a magnificent single tree.

A good and very interesting D.

hpy said...

I didn't know that tree and it doesn't seem very friendly, so I think I'll keep away from it also in the future. Some ABC posts - like yours - learn us so much about unknown things.

FO - 2 said...

Nice pictures from the Desert! :)
I have been in the Sahara Desert once. Very warm and dry.
The Joshua tree is beautiful! A strong one! Great choise Lilli.

Edmund (the explorer) Nesbitt said...

One of mummy's favourite albums is called "The Joshua Tree" by U2! Some lovely songs on it!

Anne-Berit said...

Beatiful pictures,great D from you:o)

Liz Hinds said...

That's very intersting about the joshua tree.

How barren a desert is. I can just imagine cowboys or settlers travelling across it!

Anonymous said...

Very interesting..

quintarantino said...

A very good post with lots of information.
Now I can fully understand the cover of the U2 album "The Joshua Tree". I always thought it referred to someone's tree, hence being the name of the tree himself.
And liked the landscape photo.

DeeMom said...

Great shot of a tree I have read about

Daryl said...

Desert .. lovely!

Petunia said...

Nice desert shot:)

kml said...

Informative post - enjoyed it!

Patty said...

Great photos! Also I enjoyed learning more about the tree and where it grows.

Tom said...

I've never heard of this tree before so will google it and read up some more..

Tom said...

I've never heard of this tree before so will google it and read up some more..

GAWO said...

Great D. :-)

imac said...

What a Deserted D post, but its a Great Deserted D post.

photowannabe said...

There is something very magical about the desert. Thanks for the information about the Joshua Trees.

Daniel J Santos said...

excellent "D", with lots of good informations, well done.

Pernille said...

Just great photos from you to day:)
Have a nice day:)

K M F said...

very nice

imac said...

Hi, to answer your question about my poem and the dove, i photographed the dove about 5 mins after we left but still in the grounds.

Anonymous said...

That definitely is desert. Thanks for telling us about the Joshua Tree. Great D photos.

Andrea said...

Wow interesting post. Love the pictures.

HildeS/Frøken Fryd said...

A very good D:)

VP said...

I love the background info you've put with your great D photo today - thank you!

Billy said...

Thanks for stopping by. Beautiful pictures.

Dragonstar said...

I've heard the name, but I had no idea what a Joshua Tree was. Again I learn from blogging! Brilliant!

Gordon said...

Great desert shot. I have not heard of the Joshua Tree; have heard of yuccas - when I was researching yaccas for my Y post.

Annie said...

The desert offers so many new and unusual things. I've been there only once and was overwhelmed by all the things I saw that I'd never seen before and likely wouldn't see again.

Mrs Mac said...

WOW!

Interesting post. Thanks!

Silly Goose said...

Your post makes e want to visit the Mojave Desert. Id heard of Joshua trees but have never seen one before. Neat. Thanks for telling us about them.

Meggie said...

Thanks for the lesson on the Joshua Tree. I've never heard of it but am glad that I now have.

Anonymous said...

I rememeber hearing about the Joshua Tree and had to look it
up. Very interesting uses for
this tree.

Even in the dessert there are
jems if you know what to look
for.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Have a Blessed Happy Fun
Healthy Creative Year!!!

Flassie

Shionge said...

I have no idea this is how it looks though I have heard this being mentioned before. This is really nice, thank you :D

Pete M said...

Sure looks a desolate place

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

this is really an amazing and interesting story thanks!

Kerri Farley said...

Great D Post! I have never seen a Joshua Tree before.

madretz said...

I'm sure you know by now, that I would be very familiar with this tree since i grew up in the mojave desert. it is one of the very few things i love and miss about the desert. a beautiful tree if i do say so myself.