The Joshua Tree is a lily of the family Yucca Brevifolia. It is a desert plant prefering the higher altitudes or the Mojave Desert. Its distinctive name most likely is an attribute of its distinctive appearance. The Biblical knowledge of the Mormon pioneers is apparently responsible for the name. The strange-appearing trees, with limbs turned up toward the heavens, invited an analogy with the Biblical Joshua.
Joshua Tree, California is located on the geographical boundaries of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. It is located between 29-Palms, which is the home to Marine Air and Ground Combat Center, the largest Marine Corps Base in the world, and Yucca Valley, also named for a plant that prefers our altitude, the Yucca Plant. Joshua Tree is the scenic gateway to the Joshua Tree National Park, mandated a Desert Preservation area by Congress.
We have an average altitude of 3,100 feet and offer a near perfect climate for year-round living. We have reached temperatures up to 120 degrees, and as low as 15 degrees. We have had snow up to 3 feet deep. Those are not regular occurrences, however, they may happen. Our population is around 10,000 but some are only weekenders and summerhome residents.
Desert creatures abound in Joshua Tree in spite of the seemingly dry, hot, and desolate desert. The kit fox, coyotes, pack rats, squirrels, jackrabbits, and a variety of mouse species are more or less expected, but bighorn sheep, badgers, and bobcats have also found homes here. Many types of birds find this a place to earn a livelihood; From golden eagles and turkey vultures, owls, roadrunners and quail and many small birds.
Many reptiles are routinely seen in Joshua Tree, including the protected desert tortoise, various lizards, and several varieties of snakes including green Mojave rattlesnakes, which is more deadly than the king cobra.
The desert can be your friend but can also be your enemy. I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world. It is well worth the trip if you are in the area. The sun rises in different vibrant colors every morning and sets with the same brilliance.
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Tell Them "You saw 'Their Web Page'on the Web at JoshuaTreeVillage.com."
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