THE GREAT BASIN 7 



tation. Much of the range region is comparatively level, lying 

 between elevations of 4,000 and 5,000 feet, although there are 

 some marked depressions, such as Death Valley, with a general 

 level below the sea, and some elevated mountain ranges, such 

 as the Wasatches, ascending to a height of more than 11,000 

 feet. Because of the limited rainfall, averaging from 6 inches 

 per annum in the most arid parts of Nevada to about 30 inches 

 over restricted foothills and mountain lands, the vegetation is 

 largely of a desert or semi-desert type (Fig. i). The most con- 



- TYPICAL DESERT RANGE OF THE GREAT BASIN REGION USED EXTEN- 

 SIVELY IN WINTER FOR SHEEP GRAZING. 



Sagebrush, shadscale, and mountain ricegrass constitute a large part of the forage. 



spicuous vegetation consists of several species of sagebrush, 

 saltbush, greasewood, scrub oak, shadscale, and a number of 

 drought-enduring bunchgrasses. 



In the Great Basin region, as in the Great Plains, dry farming 

 is restricted to limited areas favored by deep, rich soil but having 

 insufficient rainfall for the extensive production of farm crops. 

 Stock grazing, therefore, must constitute the main agricultural 

 pursuit, so far as the lands are at all suited for agricultural 

 purposes. In those parts of Utah, however, where water is 



