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Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the California Desert region the Native American tribes known to inhabit the area included the Mohave (in the Mojave Desert), the Quechan (in the Colorado Desert), and the Chemehuevi (Great Basin Desert).
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The first documented explorer into the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert was Francisco Garces. He was a Franciscan friar who arrived in 1776 and began to document his findings on the people living there.
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Once the California Gold Rush began, the Great Basin Desert and the Mojave Desert became mush more active with miners and settlers.
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The largest cities in the California Desert Region include Lancaster, Palmdale, Victorville, Hesperia, Indio, Apple Valley, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs.
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There is little rainfall in the California Desert region. This results in difficult growing conditions for plants.
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Plants found in the Mojave Desert include the Yucca brevifolia, creosote bush, saltbush, greasewood, blackbrush, Pinyon pine, and the western jumiper.
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Plants found in the Colorado Desert include Salton Sea saltbush, Sonoran creosote bush, and saguaro cactus.
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Plants found in the Great Basin Desert include big sagebrush, Pinyon pine, bristlecone pine, shadscale, low sagebrush, and Utah juniper.
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Animals that can be found living in the California Desert region include desert tortoises, white-footed mice, kangaroo rats, squirrels, spotted bats, spotted skunks, coyotes, desert kit foxes, and desert bighorn sheep.
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Within the California Desert region are many tourist attractions such as national parks, national monuments, recreational areas, wildlife regions, dams, preserves, and state parks.
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Despite being a desert region, California's Desert region has several lakes including Harper Lake, Bristol Lake, Emerson Lake, Darby Lake, Palen Lake, and Imperial Reservoir.
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Natural places to visit in California's Desert region include Pacific Crest Trail, Amargosa Range, Panamint Valley, San Jacinto Peak, and Telescopic Peak.
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The Mojave Desert in California's Desert region contains the famous Death Valley. Death Valley is considered to be North America's hottest, driest, and lowest region.
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Red Rock Canyon State Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in California's Desert region. In the park are remnants of ancient civilizations.
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Joshua Tree National Park is located in the California Desert region. The Joshua tree only grows in the Mojave Desert and nowhere else.
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The Calico Ghost Town is located east of Barstow and is a place where visitors can go to learn about the life of the early settlers and gold miners that lived in California's Desert region in the 1800s.
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