Historic Mojave

USGS

Imagine a desert where there are no highways or paved roads. No animal relocation existed and a vast variety of animal and plant species flourished. This was the Mojave ecosystem, pristine in desert tortoise, wildflowers, and succulent cacti. During migration from the East coast to the West coast, people with wagons and their livestock had to cross this desert in order to reach California. You cannot help but pity the poor folk hoping to succeed the gold rush.

Going back a few thousand years further, specifically during the Pleistocene, it was evident through bed marks, rock formations and fossils the desert landscape. There was an abundance of water in such a harsh environment that nowadays turn out to be dried lakes. Elevation were similar to today's elevation. There was a majority of barren land spotted with cacti and the landscape consisted of hill and mountain scenery similar to now.