Lifesource in the Desert, the Upside Down & Backwards Mojave River

[Odessa Red]

http://digital-desert.com/mojave-river/

From the map you can see how the river makes a natural path for packers, trappers, miners, Indians, emigrants and others to follow.

Mojave River

The Mojave River could be called an "Upside-down and Backwards" river. "Upside-down", because the water flows below ground, under the sand. "Backwards", because instead of flowing toward the ocean as rivers do, the Mojave flows inland, terminating in the middle of the desert.

The ephemeral waters of the Mojave originate in the watershed of the San Bernardino Mountains. Water gathers from north of the ridgeline and flow down a series of creeks and washes, either underground, or combine in either Deep Creek or Miller Creek, the main above ground sources of the Mojave River before it slips beneath the surface.

The Mojave waters do come above ground. Usually, the river flow can be seen at the upper narrows between Victorville and Apple Valley, then downstream past Barstow at the lower narrows as the river begins its way through Afton Canyon. The river winds down the canyon and seeps into the sand disappearing before it reaches Soda Lake near Baker.

The Mojave Road followed along the river from Soda dry lake to the Cajon Pass. Desert indians used this as a trade route where water could easily be found on the way to and from the coast. Later, the Old Spanish Trail and Salt Lake Trail (Mormon Road/Trail) joined up with the river near where Daggett is today.




http://digital-desert.com/mojave-river/

[Wolfgang]

Interesting. There is a river down in Baja that does the same thing . . most of it under ground.

[Odessa Red]

Some areas of this river run from south to north, too...from the San Bernardino mountains to the south and run north towards the desert.

[Odessa Red]

Reb I will have to look that up out of curiosity's sake...interesting that there seem to be quite a few "underground" running rivers!