Great Basin

An area covering most of Nevada and much of western Utah, as well as portions of southern Oregon and southeastern California, consisting primarily of arid, high elevation, desert valleys, sinks (playas), dry lake beds, and salt flats. The Great Basin is characterized by the fact that all surface waters drain inward to terminal lakes or sinks. The Great Basin cultural area extends beyond the physiographic Great Basin to include traditional areas of tribes who speak languages related to those spoken in the Great Basin and who traditionally pursued a similar lifestyle. These include the Utes of the Colorado Plateau in eastern Utah and western Colorado.