Sevier Desert
| Sevier Desert | |
| Desert | |
Gilson Mountains, Sevier River entering the east Sevier Desert at Leamington
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| Name origin: "Wild River" ("Rio Severo") | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Utah |
| Counties | Juab, Millard |
| Part of | Great Basin Desert |
| Borders on | Ferguson Desert-W Great Salt Lake Desert-NW & NNW Gilson & Canyon Mountains, and Pavant Range-E Escalante Desert-SW |
| Lake | Sevier Lake |
| River | Sevier River |
| Coordinates | 39°25′00″N 112°40′03″W / 39.41661°N 112.66745°WCoordinates: 39°25′00″N 112°40′03″W / 39.41661°N 112.66745°W |
| Length | 105 mi (169 km), (north-south) |
| Width | 60 mi (97 km), (east-west, at center-north) |
| Biome | Deserts and xeric shrublands |
The Sevier Desert is a large arid section of central-west Utah, United States, and is located in the southeast of the Great Basin. It is bordered by deserts north, west, and south; its east border is along the mountain range and valley sequences at the perimeter of the Great Basin, with the large north-south Wasatch Range and its associated mountainous landforms. Its eastern border is specifically, the East Tintic, Gilson, and Canyon Mountains; also the massive Pavant Range.
The Sevier Desert contains the course of the Sevier River in a circuitous manner. It flows to Sevier Lake in the extreme southwest Sevier Desert. The Sevier River enters the east desert flowing west, immediately turning southwest, then west, to enter the north of Sevier Lake, which is mostly south-southwest trending.
The southeast section of the desert contains the Black Rock Desert volcanic field, with the notable Pavant Butte, a formation from the time of Lake Bonneville. The volcanic field region is west of an agricultural four-city region from McCornick to Fillmore.
The Little Sahara National Recreation Area is located in the northeast of the desert.
The desert is about 105-mi (169 km) long north-south, and about 60-mi (97 km) wide. The desert covers a large section of the central-north Sevier River drainage (11,574 sq mi (29,980 km2)), and much of the east half of Millard County (6,828 sq mi (17,680 km2)). The Sevier Desert is named for the river, which is derived from "Rio Severo" (wild river), a local name given by early Spanish explorers.
In the north and northwest, the desert is composed of small mountain ranges, a few valleys, flatlands, and borders the south-southeast of the Great Salt Lake Desert. The Dugway Range and Dugway Valley on the Great Salt Lake Desert's perimeter, borders the Thomas Range, southeast. The Thomas Range and Drum Mountains lie due west of the Little Sahara Recreation Site. A large dissected flatland lies between drained southwesterly by Cherry Creek Wash. The region contains intermittent reservoirs, Hogback, Crater Bench, and Desert Mountain Reservoir. Also various springs, or wells. It is also the site of Fumarole Butte, 5,278 feet (1,609 m), about 10 miles (16 km) east of the Drum Mountains.
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