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The Virgin River Gorge, located between
Geologic Map of the Littlefield 30' x 60' Quadrangle, Mojave County, Northwestern Arizona
{{Commons category, position=left Landforms of Mohave County, Arizona Canyons and gorges of Arizona Canyons and gorges of Washington County, Utah Canyons and gorges of Utah
The Virgin River Gorge, located between St. George, Utah
St. George is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Utah, United States. Located in southwestern Utah on the Arizona border, it is the principal city of the St. George Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The city lies in the northe ...
, and Beaver Dam, Arizona
Beaver Dam is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mohave County, Arizona, United States, that is located in the Arizona Strip region and was settled in 1863. It is located along Interstate 15 approximately northeast o ...
, is a long canyon that has been carved out by the Virgin River in northwest Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
. The Virgin River rises on the Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau, also known as the Colorado Plateau Province, is a physiographic and desert region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. This province covers an area of ...
and created the topography of both Zion National Park and the Virgin River Gorge. The Gorge connects the southwestern rim of the Colorado Plateau and the northeastern part of the Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert ( ; mov, Hayikwiir Mat'aar; es, Desierto de Mojave) is a desert in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Southwestern United States. It is named for the indigenous Mojave people. It is located primarily in ...
.
Interstate 15 runs through the canyon and crosses the Virgin River several times. The Virgin River Gorge section of Interstate 15 is one of the most expensive parts of interstate highway ever constructed. Due to the winding of the canyon, the highway within is also noted for its tricky driving conditions.
The climate of the canyon is typical of the Mojave Desert with hot summers and mild winters. Flora and fauna in the canyon are also typical of the Mojave. The canyon is popular among rock climber
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically and ...
s, hiker
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
s, and campers.
See also
*Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness
The Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness is a wilderness area located in northwestern Arizona and southwestern Utah, USA, within the arid Colorado Plateau region. The jagged mountains and gently sloping alluvial plain of the Beaver Dam Mountains str ...
* Paiute Wilderness
The Paiute Wilderness is an 87,900 acre (355 km²) wilderness area located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. The wilderness is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The southern section of the wilderness lies ...
References
External links
Geologic Map of the Littlefield 30' x 60' Quadrangle, Mojave County, Northwestern Arizona
{{Commons category, position=left Landforms of Mohave County, Arizona Canyons and gorges of Arizona Canyons and gorges of Washington County, Utah Canyons and gorges of Utah