Great Basin

American  

noun

1. a region in the Western U.S. that has no drainage to the ocean: includes most of Nevada and parts of Utah, California, Oregon, and Idaho. 210,000 sq. mi. (544,000 sq. km).

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Great Basin British  

noun

1. a semiarid region of the western US, between the Wasatch and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, having no drainage to the ocean: includes Nevada, W Utah, and parts of E California, S Oregon, and Idaho. Area: about 490 000 sq km (189 000 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

They occur when a large area of high pressure becomes established over the interior of western US, centred around the Great Basin, which includes much of Nevada and parts of Utah, Idaho and south-east Oregon.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2025

"It makes available to solar areas that are ecologically sensitive, areas that include sensitive species. It stands to significantly impact and alter ecosystems across the Great Basin and Mojave Desert."

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2024

Great Basin National Park might just challenge your conception of the state of Nevada: It’s not all desert!

From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2024

A cold storm from the Great Basin made its way to Southern California early Thursday, bringing strong Santa Ana winds that have already exceeded 70 and 80 mph in some areas.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2024

Deer in the Northeast; alligators in the Everglades; buffalo in the prairies; grasshoppers in the Great Basin; rabbits in California; moose in Alaska: all were pursued by fire.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann