Great Basin

The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America. It is noted for both its arid climate and the basin and range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than 100 miles (160 km) away at the summit of Mount Whitney. The region spans several physiographic divisions, biomes/ecoregions, and deserts.

Definition

The term "Great Basin" is applied to hydrographic,biological,floristic, physiographic,topographic, and ethnographic geographic areas. The name was originally coined by John C. Frémont who, with information gleaned from Joseph R. Walker as well as his own travels, recognized the hydrographic nature of the landform as "having no connection to the ocean". The hydrographic definition is the most commonly used, and is the only one with a definitive border. The other definitions not only yield different geographical boundaries of "Great Basin" regions, but regional borders that vary from source to source.

Mount Katahdin

Mount Katahdin (pronounced /kəˈtɑːdən/, "kə-TAH-dən") is the highest mountain in Maine at 5,270 feet (1,606 m). Named Katahdin by the Penobscot Indians, which means "The Greatest Mountain", Katahdin is the centerpiece of Baxter State Park. It is a steep, tall mountain formed from a granite intrusion weathered to the surface. The flora and fauna on the mountain are typical of those found in northern New England.

Katahdin was known to the Native Americans in the region, and was known to Europeans at least since 1689. It has inspired hikes, climbs, journal narratives, paintings, and a piano sonata. The area around the peak was protected by Governor Percival Baxter starting in the 1930s. Katahdin is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, and is located near a stretch known as the Hundred-Mile Wilderness.

The mountain is commonly called just "Katahdin", including by Baxter State Park in official publications. The official name is "Mount Katahdin" as decided by the US Board on Geographic Names in 1893.

Great Basin (disambiguation)

Great Basin may refer to:

Places