Ivanpah Dry Lake is located near Primm, Nevada, on the border of
California and Nevada in the Ivanpah Valley along to Interstate 15.
It can be best seen while descending down from Mt. Pass to Primm.
The lake lies almost mostly in California and partially in Nevada,
and covers an area of approximately 35 square miles. On the north
edge of the lake lies the Nevada Welcome Center which marks the
California-Nevada state line. It is a very popular place for land
sailing.
A dry lake (also called a playa) is a dry, vegetation-free, flat
area at the lowest part of an undrained desert basin. It is a
location where ephemeral lakes form during wet periods, and is
underlain by stratified clay, silt, and sand, and commonly, soluble
salts. Dry lakes occur in intermountain basins throughout the arid
southwestern United States. Although they may appear as featureless
plains, they are rich in features and characteristics that can
reveal information about climates, past and present. Many dry lakes
in the Mojave region were the location of lakes and marshes during
the last glacial period. These perennial water bodies completely
dried up about 8,000 years ago. Today they flood only after
seasonal storms provide flashflood waters, or in some cases,
springs discharge large quantities of groundwater onto the dry
lake.
Sediments are distributed across the surface of a dry lake by thin
sheets of water that flow down slope , or by sediment entrained in
standing water and redistributed by wave action. Most years these
areas are dry, or water may only cover the lowest portion of the
lake or near water sources, such as near springs or where ephemeral
streams discharge onto the playa surface. Between wet periods the
surface of the playa typically completely dries out and may even
become desiccated, forming polygonal cracks and fissures as
clay-rich sediments dry out. The mud-cracked, desiccated sediments
on the dry lake can be a primary source of dust during windstorms.
Many dry lakes in the desert southwest display giant polygonal
fissures attributed to the drying out of sediments at depth; these
fissures are attributed to both the ongoing climatic drying of the
region and to extraction of groundwater. Dry lake surfaces are
quite dynamic environments and change during each flooding
event.
On playas where the groundwater table is at or near the surface,
soluble salts will precipitate, forming ephemeral crusts that may
or may not survive subsequent wetting episodes. The high salt and
clay content of playa surface mud, and the dry and hot conditions
that prevail most of the year, prevent plants from becoming
established. However, the surface of a playa may not be completely
homogeneous. Sand may accumulate in channels, fill in desiccation
fissures, or accumulate around spring mounds; these areas may allow
plant communities to become established.
Dry lakes typically form in closed basins or where drainages may be
blocked by faulting, lava flows, or buildup of alluvial fans. Their
location within a basin may provide evidence whether the basin is
tectonically active. The asymmetry of the valley, mountains, and
playa are all dictated by active faults. In addition, coalescing
alluvial fans may create catchments that result in the formation of
small dry lakes.
Logging Requirements:
Park in the public parking lot and head to the area near the posted
coordinates. The posted coordinates will take you to an area just
outside the Mojave National Preserve. The information you seek can
be found without crossing into the preserve, but you can get a
better experience of the dry lake if you do. Unless you have a permit to enter the Mojave National
Preserve please do not enter it. There is a fence and signs marking
the boundary. Free permits can be obtained by calling the BLM at
(760) 326-7000.
1) Describe the soil in the area.
2) How does the geology contribute to the sport of land
sailing?
Logs that do not meet ALL of the above
requirements will be deleted.