Western Desert Development Opportunities

Farming

Why does it happen?

Mineral Extraction

Tourism

Why does it happen?

Temperature

Challenges

Wilderness - lots of space

Unique environment

Amazing physical features

e.g. Grand Canyon in Western Desert

Why does it happen?

National Parks

e.g. Grand Canyon National Park

e.g. Joshua Tree National Park

Heritage of Native American people

Entertainment

e.g. Las Vegas - 37 million people visit per year.

e.g. Lake Powell & Lake Mead - 2 million people per year

Native American people & tourists

Damage to the environment

Too many people in the national park

Impact on pathways

Large-scale impact, unlike Lake District

Energy for Las Vegas

Conflict over water

Large-scale - lots of space

Water from aquifers and canals

e.g. Sonora in the Coachella Valley

Grow vegetables, peppers, lemons, grapes

Causes a wine industry

Challenges

Lack of water

High temperatures may ruin crops

May end up conflict over land use with tourism and mineral extraction

80% of Colorado water used for agriculture, when it makes up only 10% of the economy

Rich in minerals

Lots of sunlight means solar power can be used

Copper, uranium, lead, zinc & coal in Ajo, Arizona

Challenges

Underground water found allow mining

Conflict between other land uses

Especially tourism: Mining doesn't look aesthetically pleasing

Havasupai people halted uranium extraction, due to risk of wildlife being endangered.