A Manual for Man
You won't see many signs of people down there. Here they face all the same problems that all life faces. There's
almost no usable water; summer is sizzling hot; saltpan and barren rock make poor places for homes or dens,
or sending down roots.
In the past few people managed to survive here continuously.
Small bands of desert-dwelling Shoshoni Indians, a few hardy
prospectors, and borax miners moved to higher elevations
during the heat of summer. Even today not many people live
here all year.
The limits of population density are quickly reached in this
desert. It's too hot and dry. The resources for abundant life just
aren't here.
Imagine how this landscape would look with fifty inches of moisture a year -
heavily forested mountains surrounding a blue lake. All it takes is water!
