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Which major deserts form the North American Desert?
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North American Desert
Physical features of western North America.
The North American Desert is a vast, arid region that is subdivided into four major deserts:12
- Great Basin Desert: Classified as a cold mid-latitude desert, it is the largest section of the Basin and Range Province and covers much of Nevada, western Utah, and portions of surrounding states.1
- Mojave Desert: Located primarily in southeastern California with portions in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, it serves as a transition zone between the Great Basin and the hotter deserts to the south.12
- Sonoran Desert: A hot, subtropical desert covering parts of southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, and large areas of northwestern Mexico.13
- Chihuahuan Desert: The largest desert in North America, it extends from the southwestern United States into the highlands of central Mexico.41