Establishment of Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park lies in southeastern California, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. It protects a landscape of rock formations, boulders and desert plains, named after the Joshua tree, a tall yucca that is characteristic of the Mojave Desert and is said to have been named by Mormon settlers, who saw in its raised branches the arms of the biblical Joshua. It was first a national monument, and it became a national park with the California Desert Protection Act. The park is a popular destination for rock climbing and stargazing. Climate change is a major threat, since scientists warn that Joshua trees may lose much of their suitable habitat as temperatures rise.

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