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Great Basin, or Basin and Range Region, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah
Location
The Great Basin is a triangular shaped area between the Rocky Mountains (on its east) and the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains (on its west). It includes large areas of Nevada and parts of California, Idaho, Oregon and Utah. The widest part of the triangle is in the north. The Great Basin includes the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the Mojave Desert and Death Valley in California.
A more accurate name for this region is the Basin and Range area, since it consists of a series of alternating basins (valleys with interior drainage) and mountain ranges. In this context the word "range" means a mountain range, not a large open area for cattle grazing.
The name Intermountain Region is also often used, although this includes the entire area between the Rockies to the east and the Cascades and the Sierras to the west, of which the Great Basin is only part.
Description
The Great Basin derives its name from the fact that it is an area of interior drainage; in other words all its waterways drain into desert flats, not into the sea. It is largely a desert and semi-desert area.
See also Great Basin Desert, Great Basin National Park, Nevada and Intermountain States.
Related Information
California
Idaho
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
USA - General
Amusing, Interesting And Mysterious Place Names
Desert Southwest
National Parks
State and Region Names
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Most recently modified 3-Sep-02