Virgin Valley
Encyclopedia
The Virgin Valley is a valley in northwest Arizona
and southeast Nevada
on the Virgin River
. The Virgin River drains southwest Utah
and southeast Nevada; parts of Arizona, especially the Arizona Strip
region drain southwards into the Virgin River and Valley.
The Virgin Valley begins as the Virgin River exits the Virgin River Gorge
between the Beaver Dam Mountains and Wilderness
north, and the northeast of the Virgin Mountains
on the south of the Gorge.
Lake Mead
on the Virgin River
extends slightly upstream into the Virgin Valley.
is located at the exit of the Virgin River Gorge, as well as two outfalls from two washes that flow south from the Beaver Dam Mountains. Mesquite, NV
is downstream, and on Interstate 15 in Nevada
, about 10 miles (16.1 km). Mesquite is the approximate center of the valley.
The South Virgin Mountains
are southeast of the Virgin Valley and Mountains, and separate the northern Overton Arm of Lake Mead
from the Colorado River
arm. The area north of the South Virgin Mountains is the Mormon Mesa, the southwest border of Virgin Valley. Mormon Mesa is an extension south from the Mormon Mountains
which are separated east from the Meadow Valley Wash
tributary to north Lake Mead.
The Virgin Valley is vertically bisected, north-south by the Nevada-Arizona border. The downstream Nevada half of the valley has the very beginnings of Lake Mead
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) upstream, where the Virgin River used to flow.
Littlefield, AZ
in the valley's northeast is located at 36°54′0"N 113°56′0"W.
Mesquite, NV
in the valley's center is located at 36°48′9"N 114°4′56"W.
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and southeast Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
on the Virgin River
Virgin River
The Virgin River is a tributary of the Colorado River in the U.S. states of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. The river is about long. It was designated Utah's first wild and scenic river in 2009, during the centennial celebration of Zion National Park.-Course:...
. The Virgin River drains southwest Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and southeast Nevada; parts of Arizona, especially the Arizona Strip
Arizona Strip
The Arizona Strip is the part of the U.S. state of Arizona lying north of the Colorado River. The difficulty of crossing the Grand Canyon causes this region to have more natural connections with southern Utah and Nevada than with the rest of Arizona....
region drain southwards into the Virgin River and Valley.
The Virgin Valley begins as the Virgin River exits the Virgin River Gorge
Virgin River Gorge
The Virgin River Gorge, located between St. George, Utah, and Littlefield, Arizona, is a long canyon that has been carved out by the Virgin River in northwest Arizona. The Virgin River rises on the Colorado Plateau and created the topography of both Zion National Park and the Virgin River Gorge...
between the Beaver Dam Mountains and Wilderness
Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness
The Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness is a wilderness area located in northwestern Arizona and southwestern Utah, USA, within the arid Colorado Plateau region. The jagged mountains and gently sloping alluvial plain of the Beaver Dam Mountains straddle the border between the two states...
north, and the northeast of the Virgin Mountains
Virgin Mountains
The Virgin Mountains is a range northeast of Lake Mead about 10 to 16 miles south of the town of Mesquite, Nevada. Located in the Lower Colorado-Lake Mead watershed , 91.6% of the range is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The range has many species of lizards, as well as the Panamint...
on the south of the Gorge.
Lake Mead
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam, it extends behind the dam, holding approximately of water.-History:The lake was...
on the Virgin River
Virgin River
The Virgin River is a tributary of the Colorado River in the U.S. states of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. The river is about long. It was designated Utah's first wild and scenic river in 2009, during the centennial celebration of Zion National Park.-Course:...
extends slightly upstream into the Virgin Valley.
Description
The Virgin Valley is about 25 miles (40.2 km) long. Upstream in the valley's northeast, Littlefield, AZLittlefield, Arizona
Littlefield is an unincorporated community in Mohave County located in the Arizona Strip region of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is located along Interstate 15 approximately 10 miles northeast of Mesquite, Nevada...
is located at the exit of the Virgin River Gorge, as well as two outfalls from two washes that flow south from the Beaver Dam Mountains. Mesquite, NV
Mesquite, Nevada
Mesquite is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the Arizona state line and northeast of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,277. The city is located in the Virgin River Valley...
is downstream, and on Interstate 15 in Nevada
Interstate 15 in Nevada
In the U.S. State of Nevada, Interstate 15 begins in Primm, continues through Las Vegas and it crosses the border with Arizona in Mesquite. The freeway runs entirely in Clark County. Many motorists use Interstate 15 to visit Las Vegas, as it is the only primary Interstate Highway in the city. The...
, about 10 miles (16.1 km). Mesquite is the approximate center of the valley.
The South Virgin Mountains
South Virgin Mountains
The South Virgin Mountains are a mountain range in Clark County, Nevada....
are southeast of the Virgin Valley and Mountains, and separate the northern Overton Arm of Lake Mead
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam, it extends behind the dam, holding approximately of water.-History:The lake was...
from the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
arm. The area north of the South Virgin Mountains is the Mormon Mesa, the southwest border of Virgin Valley. Mormon Mesa is an extension south from the Mormon Mountains
Mormon Mountains
The Mormon Mountains are located in Lincoln County, Nevada, between 16 and northwest of Mesquite, and southeast of the Meadow Valley Mountains. The highest point in the range is Mormon Peak, at above sea level. Another smaller mountain range lies to the east, called the East Mormon Mountains...
which are separated east from the Meadow Valley Wash
Meadow Valley Wash
The Meadow Valley Wash is a southern Nevada stream draining the Meadow Watershed that is bordered on 3 sides by the Great Basin Divide. The wash's Lincoln County headpoint is in the Wilson Creek Range, and the wash includes 2 upper confluences . Panaca is along the upper wash, and downstream of...
tributary to north Lake Mead.
The Virgin Valley is vertically bisected, north-south by the Nevada-Arizona border. The downstream Nevada half of the valley has the very beginnings of Lake Mead
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam, it extends behind the dam, holding approximately of water.-History:The lake was...
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) upstream, where the Virgin River used to flow.
Littlefield, AZ
Littlefield, Arizona
Littlefield is an unincorporated community in Mohave County located in the Arizona Strip region of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is located along Interstate 15 approximately 10 miles northeast of Mesquite, Nevada...
in the valley's northeast is located at 36°54′0"N 113°56′0"W.
Mesquite, NV
Mesquite, Nevada
Mesquite is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the Arizona state line and northeast of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,277. The city is located in the Virgin River Valley...
in the valley's center is located at 36°48′9"N 114°4′56"W.