Great+Basin

Natio__ ** __**nal Park​**__ ​​ By Lee Wickham and Eric Lynch ​
 * __​Great Basin​

** Introduction: **

 * The Great Basin is located in Baker Nevada, which is on the western side of the state along the Utah border. It is between Sierra Nevada, the Wasatch Mountains, and the Snake River Plane.
 * The Great Basin is unique because it has an unusual combination of hydrographic, geologic, as well as biologic features.
 * Significant features at the park include Wheeler Peak, the Lehman Caves, the Bristlecone Pine Forest, Alpine Lakes, Lexington Arch
 * The great basin is easy to navigate due to it's convenient and plentiful hiking trails

Distance || **Elevation Gain** || **Starting Elevation** || **Description** || (5.5 km) || 820 feet (255 m) || 7,440 feet (2,320 m) || This trail leads to a six-story limestone arch. The trail has some steep sections. The trailhead is outside of the park, about 25 miles (48 km) south of Baker. The road is unpaved. Check at the visitor center for road conditions. || (4.4 km) || 600 feet (180 m) || 9,800 feet (2,990 m) || The trail passes two beautiful alpine lakes, Stella and Teresa Lakes, with great views of Wheeler Peak. Begin at the Bristlecone Parking Area, near the Wheeler Peak Campground. || Trail || 2.8 miles (4.6 km) || 600 feet (180 m) || 9,800 feet (2,990 m) || Interpretive signs in the bristlecone pine grove explain the lives and significance of these ancient trees. || (7.4 km) || 1,100 feet (340 m) || 9,800 feet (2,990 m) || The Glacier Trail is the continuation of the Bristlecone Trail. It continues beyond the bristlecone pine grove to the only glacier in Nevada, nestled beneath Wheeler Peak. || (14 km) || 2,900 feet (890 m) || 10,160 feet (3,100 m) || This hike should be started very early in the day because of the risk of afternoon storms. Along most of the route, the trail follows the ridge up to the Wheeler Peak summit. It is easiest to begin the hike from the Summit Trail parking area. ||
 * **Trail** || **Round-trip**
 * **[|Lexington Arch]** Trail || 3.4 miles
 * Alpine Lakes Loop Trail || 2.7 miles
 * **[|Bristlecone]**
 * Bristlecone and Glacier Trail || 4.6 miles
 * Wheeler Peak Summit Trail || 8.6 miles
 * Geologic Setting: **
 * ====The Snake Range section of the park is composed of Quartzite (metamorphosed sandstone), Shale (accumulated silt), limestone (chemically formed sedimentary rock), and small intrusions of Granite (igneous rock)====
 * ====Most of the park formed during the Cambrian era near the coninent called Laurentia.====
 * Limestone, Sandstone, and Shale accumulated

[|Click Here for an interactive topo map of Wheeler Peak]
 * Mountain building and Volcanic activity caused metamorphism which turned sandstone into quartzite, shale into slate, and limestone into marble
 * In recent geologic time, the Basin has been stretched to form fault lines. This explains the formation of wheeler peak (see below)
 * Glaciers have shaped the mountains of Great Basin National Park, moving downslope to erode canyon walls and turn v-shaped (rivers) valleys into u-shaped valleys.
 * Cirques (horseshoe-shaped features with steep ridges) were caused and moraines (ridge-shaped glacial debris) were deposited
 * Groundwater erosion formed the Lehman Caves and their stalactites and stalagmites
 * The Groundwater reacted with the limestone bedrock and dissolved it. When the water level dropped open cavities, formerly occupied by limestone remained. Today these are the Lehman caves.
 * There were still drips of groundwater in the caves causing the formation of stalactites and stalagmites
 * Stalactites: Precipitations of limestone that reacted with water on the ceiling of the cave
 * Stalagmites: Precipitations of limestone that reacted with water on the floor of a cave



** Climate and Weather: **


 * =====The Great Basin is the largest desert in the United States.=====
 * =====Unlike most desserts, the Great Basin is primarily cold due to its northern latitude and high elevation.=====
 * =====The dessert experiences occasional snowfall. (Table below shows monthly averages for precipitation) Note that these values are higher than a normal desert would experience.=====
 * || **Jan ** || **Feb ** || **Mar ** || **Apr ** || **May ** || **Jun ** || **Jul ** || **Aug ** || **Sept ** || **Oct ** || **Nov ** || **Dec ** ||
 * **Normal ** || 0.9 || 1.0 || 1.4 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.3 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.1 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0.9 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0.9 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.1 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0.9 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.2 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.2 ||
 * **<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Maximum ** || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3.2 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3.6 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5.0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3.0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">4.7 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3.4 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2.1 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3.7 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2.7 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3.0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3.4 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3.4 ||
 * **<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Max. 24 Hr. Precip. ** || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2.2 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.6 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.5 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.6 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.6 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.4 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.1 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0.8 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2.4 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.1 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.5 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.6 ||
 * **<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Max. Snowfall ** || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">34 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">39 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">52 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">35 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">23 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">8 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">42 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">48 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">46 ||
 * **<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Days with Measurable Precip. ** || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">7 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">7 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">8 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">8 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">7 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">6 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">4 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">6 ||
 * **<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Average No. Thunderstorms ** || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">7 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">12 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">12 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">4 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0 || <span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">0 ||


 * =====The average monthly temperatures shown in the table below are much lower than a normal desert=====

>
 * = ** Month ** ||= ** Average Max. ** ||= ** Average Min. ** ||
 * = January ||= 41°F (5°C) ||= 18°F (-8°C) ||
 * = February ||= 44°F (7°C) ||= 21°F (-6°C) ||
 * = March ||= 48°F (9°C) ||= 24°F (-4°C) ||
 * = April ||= 56°F (13°C) ||= 31°F (-1°C) ||
 * = May ||= 66°F (19°C) ||= 40°F (4°C) ||
 * = June ||= 76°F (24°C) ||= 48°F (9°C) ||
 * = July ||= 86°F (30°C) ||= 57°F (14°C) ||
 * = August ||= 83°F (28°C) ||= 56°F (13°C) ||
 * = September ||= 75°F (24°C) ||= 47°F (8°C) ||
 * = October ||= 62°F (17°C) ||= 37°F (3°C) ||
 * = November ||= 49°F (9°C) ||= 26°F (-3°C) ||
 * = December ||= 42°F (6°C) ||= 20°F (-7°C) ||
 * ==== L ike most deserts, dramatic changes in temperature can occur between night and day====
 * ====Over geologic time, significant changes in climate are apparent. This explains why there are no glaciers existing at the park today.====
 * In the summer, fierce thunderstorms often occur in the afternoon
 * The Great Basin typically has a 15 hour day in the summer, a 13 hour day in the spring, a 12 hour day in the fall, and a 9 hour day in the winter

** Biomes: ** > **Human Impact:**
 * ====The Great Basin is part of the desert biome====
 * ====It falls under the category of a semiarid desert, and is one of Americas three main semiarid deserts. The others are in the states of Montana and Utah====
 * ====There is very fine grained sand in parts, and much coarser grained in other regions. Neither of these soils has much water content, hindering most plant growth====
 * ====Plants such as the creosote bush, bur sage, cacti, brittle bushes, and jujube are common in this environment.====
 * ====Insects like ants and grasshoppers, jackrabbits, and kangaroo rats all reside in this desert====
 * ====As a means of survival, animals will spend their days burrowed underground, or will hide underneath the shadow of a plant. Insects will remain underneath twigs in an effort to avoid the sun====
 * ====A glossy texture on the leaves of many of the plants allow them to reflect more energy====
 * ====Many plants have decreased quantity of their own transpiration (giving off of water) because of their “hairs” or “spines” which shade their surfaces. This greatly increases water retention.====
 * Less transpiration occurs during the cooler times at night, giving plants and animals a chance to keep their water
 * Great Basin participates in the "Climate Friendly Park" program, which acts top reverse the effects of global warming on our environment
 * Pollution from non-renewable energy sources is avoided because solar panels are used on lodges
 * Large portions of the Mt. Mahogany region were cleared away for mining purposes years ago. These impacts can still be seen today
 * Emissions of ozone and sulfur dioxide are the prime concerns among gas pollutants, along with nitrogen dioxide. The later two can be dissolved into the dew, creating harmful acids.
 * Effects of global warming impact deserts everywhere because it increases the area of deserts. By adding selective absorbers to the atmosphere, humans speed up the global warming process.



<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">//<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-style: normal; line-height: 33px;">** Sources: ** // > > > >
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;">//Google Map//. Digital image. //Google Maps//. Web. 09 June 2010. <http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl>.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;">"Great Basin National Park (U.S. National Park Service)." //U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America//. Web. 09 June 2010. <http://www.nps.gov/grba/index.htm>.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;">"Great Basin National Park Pictures - US National Parks Stock Photos, Fine Art Prints by QTL."//Travel, Landscape, and Nature Pictures - QT Luong Stock Photos and Fine Art Prints//. Web. 09 June 2010. <http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np.great-basin.html>.]
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> "National Park." //Baker, Nevada - The Heart Of The Great Basin National Park//. Web. 09 June 2010. <http://www.greatbasinpark.com/gb_national_park.htm>.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> "Great Basin National Park Nevada- DesertUSA." //Desert Biomes by DesertUSA//. Web. 09 June 2010. <https://desertusa.com/grb/index.html>.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> "The Desert Biome." //UCMP - University of California Museum of Paleontology//. Web. 10 June 2010. <http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php>.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,fantasy;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,fantasy; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">"Great Basin National Park Air Quality Page." //Great Basin National Park//. Web. 10 June 2010. <http://www.great.basin.national-park.com/air.htm#air>.