Nevada is largely defined by arid landscapes, containing two distinct desert ecosystems: the Great Basin Desert and the Mojave Desert. The Great Basin dominates the central and northern regions, covering the vast majority of the state. In contrast, the state’s southern tip is home to a portion of the Mojave Desert. These two major systems, one cold and one hot, create a unique geography across Nevada.
Nevada’s Dominant Landscape: The Great Basin
The Great Basin Desert is the dominant landscape across Nevada, encompassing most of the central and northern parts of the state. It is classified as a cold desert due to its high elevation, generally ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level. This altitude results in a climate characterized by cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers with significant temperature fluctuations. Most annual moisture arrives as winter snow, which melts gradually to support the region’s sparse vegetation.
The Great Basin is defined by its endorheic nature, meaning precipitation drains inward and has no outlet to the ocean. Water either evaporates or flows into internal salt lakes and playas. The geography is characterized by the Basin and Range topography—a series of parallel, north-south trending mountain ranges separated by broad, arid valleys. This structure results from extensional tectonics.
The Southern Influence: Mojave Desert
In the southernmost part of Nevada, including the area surrounding Las Vegas, the landscape transitions into the Mojave Desert. This area is considered a hot desert, exhibiting a warm-temperate climate distinct from the cold desert to the north. The Mojave generally sits at a lower average elevation, typically between 2,000 and 5,000 feet, which allows for higher daytime temperatures.
The Mojave’s precipitation regime includes a mix of winter rains and occasional summer monsoonal moisture. This dual pattern supports a different array of plant life compared to the Great Basin. The most recognizable indicator species is the Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia), which is most abundant on cooler sites at higher elevations within the Mojave’s range.
Distinguishing Cold and Hot Deserts
The fundamental difference between the Great Basin and Mojave systems lies in their ecological classification as cold versus hot deserts. The high-altitude Great Basin experiences freezing winter temperatures and dominant snow precipitation. In contrast, the lower-elevation Mojave Desert is defined by mild winters and scorching summers, with precipitation mostly occurring as rain.
The Köppen climate classification system distinguishes these two types using a mean annual temperature threshold. This distinction results in different temperature extremes and growing seasons, which dictate the type of vegetation that can thrive in each area. The transition zone where the two deserts meet is known as an ecotone, a complex area in central Nevada where species from both environments intermingle.
The cold desert ecosystem is typically dominated by sagebrush. Conversely, the hot desert is characterized by creosote bush and the iconic Joshua Tree.