California 31st State

California

The Mojave Desert is in the "high desert" region of Southern California. The previous postcard depicted the "low desert". The reason the they are called high and low has to do with their elevation. The high desert areas have an elevation generally around 3,000 feet above sea level. The low deserts may be at or below sea level. Surprisingly, the lowest point in the entire western hemisphere is found in the California High Desert. The desert area known as Death Valley is home to Badwater, the lowest point in the Americas, at 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level!

Caption: Beautiful rock formations delight visitors to this rugged desert countryside. Located north of Palmdale and Lancaster, this canyoun is a "must" on uyour sightseeing tour. Photo © John Cooper.