Determining the exact size of "the Utah desert" is complex because Utah contains portions of several major desert regions, not just one single "Utah desert." Based on the provided reference, we can provide information about the size of the Mojave Desert, which is one of the desert areas extending into Utah.
Understanding Utah's Deserts
Utah's landscape includes diverse arid and semi-arid regions. While many people think of "the desert" as one large area, the state is home to parts of different desert ecosystems, each with distinct characteristics. These include portions of the Great Basin Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the Mojave Desert.
The Mojave Desert
According to the provided reference, the Mojave Desert covers a significant area in the southwestern United States.
- Total Area: The Mojave Desert spans 22,000 square miles.
- Location: This vast desert includes parts of:
- Southern California (a large part)
- Northwestern Arizona
- Southern Nevada
- Southwestern Utah
The reference confirms that southwestern Utah is included in the 22,000 square mile expanse of the Mojave Desert.
What the Reference Tells Us
The reference provides the total size of the entire Mojave Desert (22,000 sq miles) and lists the states it covers, including Utah. However, it does not specify the exact portion of that 22,000 square miles that lies exclusively within Utah's borders.
Therefore, while the Mojave Desert is 22,000 square miles in total and includes southwestern Utah, this figure represents the size of only one of the desert regions found within the state, and even then, it's the total size across multiple states, not just the Utah portion. The total size of all desert areas within Utah is not provided by this reference.
Named after the Mohave Indians, the Mojave Desert is also sometimes referred to as the "High Desert." You can learn more about the Mojave Desert, including its presence in Utah, from sources like AllTrips' description: Mojave Desert, Southwest Utah.
