Rogers Dry Lake

Rogers Dry Lake

Rogers (center) and Rosamond (lower left) dry lakebeds in Mojave Desert, California
Location Mojave Desert
Kern County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates 34°55′19″N 117°49′39″W / 34.921944°N 117.8275°W / 34.921944; -117.8275
Lake type Endorheic basin
Basin countries United States
Max. length 19 km (12 mi)
Max. width 11 km (6.8 mi)
Surface area 112 km2 (43 sq mi)
Shore length1 61 km (38 mi)
Surface elevation 694 m (2,277 ft)
Settlements Edwards Air Force Base
References U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rogers Dry Lake
Rogers Dry Lake
Edwards Air Force Base
Location Mojave Desert
Kern County, California
Coordinates 34°55′19″N 117°49′39″W / 34.92194°N 117.82750°W / 34.92194; -117.82750Coordinates: 34°55′19″N 117°49′39″W / 34.92194°N 117.82750°W / 34.92194; -117.82750
Built 1933[1]
NRHP Reference # 85002816[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP 03 October 1985
Designated NHL 03 October 1985[3]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Rogers Dry Lake is an endorheic desert salt pan in the Mojave Desert of Kern County, California. The lake derives its name from the Anglicization from the Spanish name, Rodriguez Dry Lake.[4] It is the central part of Edwards Air Force Base as its hard surface provides a natural extension to the paved runways. It was formerly known as Muroc Dry Lake.

Geology

During the extremely brief rainy season, it is possible for there to be standing water on the lakebed, which pools at the approximate low-point elevation of 2,300 ft for the region. The lake is adjacent to the smaller Rosamond Lake which through the Holocene, together made up one large water-body.[5]

Edwards Air Force Base

Many of the notable aeronautical achievements at Edwards have taken place at Rogers Lake. It is also famous for the world's largest compass rose painted into the lake. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.[3]

There are seven other official runways on the Rogers lakebed:

See also

References

  1. Johnstone, Robert (January 16, 1986). "Muroc (Rogers) Dry Lake" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Inventory Nomination Form. National Park Service. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  2. Staff (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. 1 2 NHL Summary
  4. Public Affairs (25 July 2006). "About Edwards: History: The Dry Lake Beds". Edwards Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 2006-12-07. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  5. Reheis, Marith C.; Hershler, Robert; Miller, David M. (2008). Late Cenozoic Drainage History of the Southwestern Great Basin and Lower Colorado River Region: Geologic and Biotic Perspectives. Boulder, Colorado: Geological Society of America. pp. 273–275. ISBN 978-0-8137-2439-3. Retrieved 2009-09-05.

External links

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