Ecosystems - The Western Desert Flashcards
What are two big tourist attractions?
Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree National Park
Why is farming so popular?
climate is ideal for farming if water is available for irrigation
What plants are the most popular and where are they positioned?
HEP plants in Lake Mead
What is the high temperature?
50 °C
What minerals are rich in the soil?
copper, uranium, lead and coal
What has hindered mining?
public protested against copper mine near the Grand Canyon due to contamination
What mineral is already mined at a large scale in the Sonoran Desert?
copper
How many people does Las Vegas attract a year?
40 million
How many people do Lake Mead and Lake Powell attract a year?
2 million due to water sports
What percentage of Colorado River’s water is allocated to farmers?
80%
What does the Sonoran Solar Project in Arizona provide?
energy for 100,000 homes and 360 jobs in construction
How productive is the oil industry?
100 people produce over $50 billion a year
How big is it?
200,000 km ²
How many states are in the Western Desert?
7
How many people live in Las Vegas?
2 million
How many people live in Phoenix?
4.5 million
What has made irrigation easier?
Aquifers reaches by wells
What percentage of the economy of Colorado do farmers make up?
10%
How many people were employed in the construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s?
5000
How many productive oil sites are there in Arizona?
25
What are the 3 desert areas called?
Sonoran, Mojave and Chihuahuan
How many people depend on the Colorado River for water?
30 million
