Alvord Desert
Encyclopedia
The Alvord Desert is a desert
located in Harney County
, in southeastern Oregon
in the western United States
. It is roughly southeast of Steens Mountain
. The Alvord Desert is a 12 by dry lake bed and averages 7 inches (177.8 mm) of rain
a year. Two mountain range
s separate it from the Pacific Ocean
—the Coast Range
, and the Cascade Mountains. Along with Steens Mountain, these topographical
features create a rain shadow
. The Alvord lies at an elevation of approximately 4000 feet (1,219.2 m).
The desert is named after General Benjamin Alvord
, who served as commander of the U.S. Army's Department of Oregon during the American Civil War
.
During the dry season, the surface is flat enough to drive across, or land small aircraft on. An unofficial women's world land speed record was set in 1976 on the Alvord Desert by Kitty O'Neil
at 512 miles/hour (843 km/hour). The nearest community is Fields
.
Geothermal features as well as cold springs ring the desert following Basin and Range
NE to SW trending normal faults. On the western edge of the desert is Alvord Hot Springs
(42.544°N 118.533°W). At the north is Mickey Hot Springs
(42.678056°N 118.346667°W): an assortment of bubbling mud, geysers and a small pool. At the south is Borax Lake
(42.326944°N 118.602778°W) which is a thermal spring complex. To the east is an unnamed natural hot spring, one of 40 or more along 25 miles (40.2 km) of the Alvord fault. To the southwest is seasonal alkali Alvord Lake
which once extended 100 miles (160.9 km) north and south—covering the desert. Several of the geothermal features in Alvord Desert Basin have been examined by a team of scientists and geologists from the University of Idaho, Boise State University and Idaho State University. Detailed information about the geology of the Alvord Basin and the geochemistry of its hot springs can be found at this referenced website:.
Despite the barren nature of the playa, some opportunities for wildlife observation exist. Wild horses
sometimes drink from the springs on the eastern edge of the desert. In areas where natural hot spring
s flow into the playa, especially around the Alvord Hot Springs, one can usually find nesting long-billed curlew
. Further out into the playa proper are numerous killdeer
and snowy plover
, along with the occasional American avocet
. The outlet waters from the springs typically flow roughly one mile into the desert, and their reach roughly delineates the bird habitat. The nearby Steens Mountain Wilderness
contains populations of bighorn sheep
, mule deer
, elk
, and pronghorn
. Further west is the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
, which is popular for birding
.
Winter
The winters in the Alvord Basin are moderated through airflow from the south that stops the temperature from dropping too heavily. While many areas in the Oregon High Desert frequently dip below zero through the winter months, the Alvord Desert will rarely see those kinds of frigid temperatures. On average, highs will commonly raise into the lower 40’s with a few days each year where the temperature fails to break the freezing mark. Due the clear nights of the desert the temperatures will fall far into the 20’s on a night in and night out basis, but they will not normally drop much further unless artic air masses that come from Canada set in place over the Northwest. The basin sees a moderate amount of its rainfall in the winter months from storms coming off the Pacific Ocean while the strong winter jet stream is aimed at the Pacific Northwest. Storms that are strong enough to bring moisture to the Southeastern area of Oregon are usually related to tropical storms feeding from the Hawaiian Islands. Because of the warm origins of the moisture snow is rare to see on the desert floor. Snow does occur in the uncommon time when the arctic air mass is in place and a strong flow of moisture comes in from the west.
Spring
The spring is when the bulk of the Alvord Desert’s precipitation falls from thunderstorms. These storms attribute to the rainfall in April, May, and June that form in the south and move there way north across the desert and surrounding sagebrush plains. Clear nights continue to bring cold overnight temperature that will commonly drop into the 30’s and low 40’s, but the afternoon heating from the sun warms the temperatures into the 50’s in early spring and 70’s in late spring. This afternoon heating is the trigger to those thunderstorms with the unstable spring atmosphere. The extremes can still be seen this time of year where temperatures have dropped into the single digits in March and climbed to over 100 in early June. The rainfall turns the playa into a small lake from a short time making travel across it difficult to impossible.
Summer
The summers in the Alvord Desert are some of the hottest in the entire state of Oregon. This time of the year high pressure sets in over the entire Northwest portion of the United States and the jet stream pushes north into Canada. This high pressure means very little summertime rain falls, averaging less than1 inch throughout the summer months. Late day heat begins to set in by late June where highs begin to reach the mid to upper 80’s. In July the temperature commonly climbs into the 90’s and reaches over 100 a few times every year. Nighttime lows vary depending on your location with overnight temperatures dropping down into the lower 60’s throughout much of the basin. In some locations nighttime lows will only drop into the mid to upper 60’s around the Big Sand Gap area with a few days every year not dropping below 70 degrees. August remains hot with highs in the 90’s and lows in the 50’s and 60’s, but cooling begins towards the end of the month.
Fall
Fall is one of the more pleasant times of the year in the Alvord Basin because high temperatures are in the 60’s and 70’s with lows in the 40’s. More than just the cool temperatures, the Fall is one of the driest times of the year in the area because thunderstorms are uncommon and the winter jet stream has yet to take its place in the Pacific Northwest. The playa is almost always dry this time of the year.
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
located in Harney County
Harney County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Malheur National Forest *Malheur National Wildlife Refuge*Ochoco National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,609 people, 3,036 households, and 2,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile...
, in southeastern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is roughly southeast of Steens Mountain
Steens Mountain
Steens Mountain is a large fault-block mountain in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. Located in Harney County, it stretches some and rises from an elevation of about above the Alvord Desert to its peak at...
. The Alvord Desert is a 12 by dry lake bed and averages 7 inches (177.8 mm) of rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
a year. Two mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
s separate it from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
—the Coast Range
Pacific Coast Ranges
The Pacific Coast Ranges and the Pacific Mountain System are the series of mountain ranges that stretch along the West Coast of North America from Alaska south to Northern and Central Mexico...
, and the Cascade Mountains. Along with Steens Mountain, these topographical
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
features create a rain shadow
Rain shadow
A rain shadow is a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them. As shown by the diagram to the right, the warm moist air is "pulled" by the prevailing winds over a mountain...
. The Alvord lies at an elevation of approximately 4000 feet (1,219.2 m).
The desert is named after General Benjamin Alvord
Benjamin Alvord (mathematician)
Benjamin Alvord was an American soldier, mathematician, and botanist.-Early life and career:Alvord was born in Rutland, Vermont, where he developed an interest in nature. He attended the United States Military Academy and displayed a talent in mathematics. He graduated in 1833. He was assigned to...
, who served as commander of the U.S. Army's Department of Oregon during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
During the dry season, the surface is flat enough to drive across, or land small aircraft on. An unofficial women's world land speed record was set in 1976 on the Alvord Desert by Kitty O'Neil
Kitty O'Neil
Kitty O'Neil is a former stuntwoman and racer noted for a handful of exceptional accomplishments, despite becoming deaf when she was four months old.She became a stunt woman because she was married to a stunt man....
at 512 miles/hour (843 km/hour). The nearest community is Fields
Fields, Oregon
Fields is a small unincorporated community in Harney County, Oregon, United States, located south of Burns.In 2000, the community had a population of 86, including 17 students through grade 8. The average age was 38; the average household size was 2.53 persons; the average household income was...
.
Geothermal features as well as cold springs ring the desert following Basin and Range
Basin and Range
The Basin and Range Province is a vast physiographic region defined by a unique topographic expression. Basin and Range topography is characterized by abrupt changes in elevation, alternating between narrow faulted mountain chains and flat arid valleys or basins...
NE to SW trending normal faults. On the western edge of the desert is Alvord Hot Springs
Alvord Hot Springs
Alvord Hot Springs is a geothermal spring located near the southeastern corner of the state of Oregon in the United States.-Geography:The spring lies at 4080 ft elevation on the western edge of the Alvord Desert into which the spring flows and eventually evaporates...
(42.544°N 118.533°W). At the north is Mickey Hot Springs
Mickey Hot Springs
Mickey Hot Springs is a small hot spring system at the north end of Alvord Desert just east of Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon, United States. There are several natural bubbling mudpots and steam vents. The system contains at least 60 vents, 11 of which are dry...
(42.678056°N 118.346667°W): an assortment of bubbling mud, geysers and a small pool. At the south is Borax Lake
Borax Lake (Oregon)
Borax Lake is a small alkali lake in the arid Pueblo Valley of southeastern Oregon, United States near Fields, Oregon. The lake is fed by an underground geothermal well with a temperature of around 190°C. The lake contains high concentrations of sodium borate and arsenic, the latter fatal to...
(42.326944°N 118.602778°W) which is a thermal spring complex. To the east is an unnamed natural hot spring, one of 40 or more along 25 miles (40.2 km) of the Alvord fault. To the southwest is seasonal alkali Alvord Lake
Alvord Lake (Oregon)
Alvord Lake is a seasonal shallow alkali lake in Harney County of the U.S. state of Oregon. Its elevation is . It is located about southeast of Alvord Desert in the Alvord Basin and serves as terminus for all its streams. Its water level varies from dry to several feet deep...
which once extended 100 miles (160.9 km) north and south—covering the desert. Several of the geothermal features in Alvord Desert Basin have been examined by a team of scientists and geologists from the University of Idaho, Boise State University and Idaho State University. Detailed information about the geology of the Alvord Basin and the geochemistry of its hot springs can be found at this referenced website:.
Despite the barren nature of the playa, some opportunities for wildlife observation exist. Wild horses
Mustang (horse)
A Mustang is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is intense debate over terminology...
sometimes drink from the springs on the eastern edge of the desert. In areas where natural hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s flow into the playa, especially around the Alvord Hot Springs, one can usually find nesting long-billed curlew
Long-billed Curlew
The Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus, is a large North American shorebird of the family Scolopacidae. This species was also called "sicklebird" and the "candlestick bird". The species is native to central and western North America...
. Further out into the playa proper are numerous killdeer
Killdeer
The Killdeer is a medium-sized plover.Adults have a brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with two black bands. The rump is tawny orange. The face and cap are brown with a white forehead. They have an orange-red eyering...
and snowy plover
Kentish Plover
The Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus, is a small wader in the plover bird family. Despite its name, this species no longer breeds in Kent, or even Great Britain...
, along with the occasional American avocet
American Avocet
The American Avocet is a large wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae.This avocet has long, thin, gray legs, giving it its colloquial name, "blue shanks". The plumage is black and white on the back with white on the underbelly. The neck and head are cinnamon colored in the summer...
. The outlet waters from the springs typically flow roughly one mile into the desert, and their reach roughly delineates the bird habitat. The nearby Steens Mountain Wilderness
Steens Mountain Wilderness
Steens Mountain Wilderness is a wilderness area surrounding a portion of Steens Mountain of southeastern Oregon, U.S. The reserve falls within the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area . Both the reserve and the CMPA are administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The...
contains populations of bighorn sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
, mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
, and pronghorn
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and...
. Further west is the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is located roughly south of the town of Burns, Oregon. The refuge area is roughly T shaped with the southernmost base at Frenchglen, the left top at Malheur Lake and the right top at Harney Lake....
, which is popular for birding
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
.
Climate
The Alvord Desert is classified under the cold semi-arid desert (BSk) as specified by the Köppen climate classification. The Desert receives very little rainfall throughout the year in stark contrast to popular belief of Oregon rainfall. Some areas on the east side of the desert may accumulate as little as 5 inches of rain annually. Through much of the year the Alvord Basin remains milder than the surrounding high desert Sagebrush-Bunchgrass steppe. The Alvord Desert and Basin is located in a Basin and Range Saltscrub desert classification and lies under the double rain shadow created by the Cascade mountain range as well the adjacent Steens Mountain. Therefore the area offers one of the most distinct Basin and Range environments offered in the state of Oregon, and in the entire United States.Winter
The winters in the Alvord Basin are moderated through airflow from the south that stops the temperature from dropping too heavily. While many areas in the Oregon High Desert frequently dip below zero through the winter months, the Alvord Desert will rarely see those kinds of frigid temperatures. On average, highs will commonly raise into the lower 40’s with a few days each year where the temperature fails to break the freezing mark. Due the clear nights of the desert the temperatures will fall far into the 20’s on a night in and night out basis, but they will not normally drop much further unless artic air masses that come from Canada set in place over the Northwest. The basin sees a moderate amount of its rainfall in the winter months from storms coming off the Pacific Ocean while the strong winter jet stream is aimed at the Pacific Northwest. Storms that are strong enough to bring moisture to the Southeastern area of Oregon are usually related to tropical storms feeding from the Hawaiian Islands. Because of the warm origins of the moisture snow is rare to see on the desert floor. Snow does occur in the uncommon time when the arctic air mass is in place and a strong flow of moisture comes in from the west.
Spring
The spring is when the bulk of the Alvord Desert’s precipitation falls from thunderstorms. These storms attribute to the rainfall in April, May, and June that form in the south and move there way north across the desert and surrounding sagebrush plains. Clear nights continue to bring cold overnight temperature that will commonly drop into the 30’s and low 40’s, but the afternoon heating from the sun warms the temperatures into the 50’s in early spring and 70’s in late spring. This afternoon heating is the trigger to those thunderstorms with the unstable spring atmosphere. The extremes can still be seen this time of year where temperatures have dropped into the single digits in March and climbed to over 100 in early June. The rainfall turns the playa into a small lake from a short time making travel across it difficult to impossible.
Summer
The summers in the Alvord Desert are some of the hottest in the entire state of Oregon. This time of the year high pressure sets in over the entire Northwest portion of the United States and the jet stream pushes north into Canada. This high pressure means very little summertime rain falls, averaging less than1 inch throughout the summer months. Late day heat begins to set in by late June where highs begin to reach the mid to upper 80’s. In July the temperature commonly climbs into the 90’s and reaches over 100 a few times every year. Nighttime lows vary depending on your location with overnight temperatures dropping down into the lower 60’s throughout much of the basin. In some locations nighttime lows will only drop into the mid to upper 60’s around the Big Sand Gap area with a few days every year not dropping below 70 degrees. August remains hot with highs in the 90’s and lows in the 50’s and 60’s, but cooling begins towards the end of the month.
Fall
Fall is one of the more pleasant times of the year in the Alvord Basin because high temperatures are in the 60’s and 70’s with lows in the 40’s. More than just the cool temperatures, the Fall is one of the driest times of the year in the area because thunderstorms are uncommon and the winter jet stream has yet to take its place in the Pacific Northwest. The playa is almost always dry this time of the year.