Mojave River
Origin	San Bernardino Mountains 34°20′29″N 117°14′14″W / 34.341392°N 117.237265°W / 34.341392; -117.237265 (Mojave River source)
Mouth	Soda Lake 35°06′20″N 116°03′53″W / 35.105539°N 116.064734°W / 35.105539; -116.064734 (Mojave River mouth)Coordinates: 35°06′20″N 116°03′53″W / 35.105539°N 116.064734°W / 35.105539; -116.064734 (Mojave River mouth)
Basin countries	United States
Length	180 km (110 mi)
Source elevation	959 m (3,150 ft)
Mouth elevation	288 m (940 ft)

The Mojave River is a river in the Mojave Desert, California.

Contents 1 Source 2 History 3 Overflow of 1993 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Source

The river's source is in the San Bernardino Mountains near Hesperia-San Bernardino. The West Fork of the Mojave flows into Silverwood Lake, formed by Cedar Springs Dam, which overflows in the Mojave River Forks Reserve area. Downstream, Deep Creek meets the West Fork, forming the Mojave River immediately upstream of the Mojave River Dam, which is operated for flood control. Downstream of the dam, the Mojave River flows north and east, underground in most places, through Hesperia, Victorville, and Barstow, ending at the Mojave River Wash at the western edge of Mojave National Preserve. During heavy flows, the river reaches Soda Lake, near Baker and has reached Silver Lake in historic times. It comes to the surface only in areas with impermeable rock, such as the upper and lower narrows near Victorville. it also sufaces in the Afton Canyon area north of Barstow.

[edit] History

The Mojave Road followed along the river from Soda Lake to the Cajon Pass. Native Americans 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 Trail) joined up with the river near where Daggett is today.

[edit] Overflow of 1993

On 22 February 1993, during a heavy El Niño in the Mojave Desert, the rains caused the heavy-flowing Mojave River to overflow onto overpassing bridges, the most damaged being on Bear Valley Road, where Victorville and Apple Valley are separated. On occasion, nearby Silverwood Lake will release water into the river.^{[citation needed]}

During the unusually wet winter of 2004-2005, the Mojave River flowed on the surface all the way to Silver Lake, and filled both Soda and Silver lakes to a depth of several feet.^[1]

[edit] References

• Philip Stoffer (14 January 2004). "Changing Climates and Ancient Lakes" (.html). Desert Landforms and Surface Processes in the Mojave National Preserve and Vicinity. Open-File Report 2004-1007 (USGS, US Department of the Interior). http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1007/climates.html. Retrieved 2009-09-12. 
• Philip Stoffer (14 January 2004). "Playas" (.html). Desert Landforms and Surface Processes in the Mojave National Preserve and Vicinity. Open-File Report 2004-1007 (USGS, US Department of the Interior). http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1007/playas.html. Retrieved 2009-09-12. 
• Philip Stoffer (14 January 2004). "The Mojave River and Associated Lakes" (.html). Desert Landforms and Surface Processes in the Mojave National Preserve and Vicinity. Open-File Report 2004-1007 (USGS, US Department of the Interior). http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1007/river.html. Retrieved 2009-09-12. 

[edit] External links

• Mojave River - Digital Desert
• The Mojave River and Associated Lakes
• Mojave River through the Victorville Narrows