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The High Desert Near Clarno, Oregon |
THE HIGH DESERT |
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The High Desert Near Clarno, Oregon |
THE HIGH DESERT |
To the east and leeward side of the Cascade Mountains lies the High Desert subregion. The northern boundary of the subregion is the Blue Mountains. A large portion of the High Desert is identified as Harney Basin, which is in the Great Basin of the American West. Isolated mountain ranges in Harney Basin, the Warner Range and Steens Mountain, rise dramatically above the desert floor. Alpine glaciers have carved deep valleys in these mountains. At the base of the mountains are marshes and wetlands; the most famous is the Malheur National Wildlife Area, known for its bird migrations. Another often-photographed site is Abert Rim, a massive fault block with a load at its base. |
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Some of the oldest archaeological finds in North America have been recovered from the High Desert. The subregion was once more watered and provided ample food and resource supplies for Piute Indians. Euro-American settlement was late in arriving. Not until the late 1800's did cattle barons from California begin to move large herds of cattle into the region. Eventually cattle production required hay, and local irrigation projects were undertaken to route water to fields and to de-water marshy areas. The Bureau of Land Management now manages most of the land. Wildernesses have been identified in the High Desert and some outdoor recreation, especially hunting, occurs. Mining was once important. Today the High Desert is susceptible to military and energy uses due to its remoteness and sparse population. |
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