Basin countries United States Max. width 11 km (6.8 mi) Shore length 61 km (38 mi) Year built 1933 Added to NRHP 3 October 1985 | Max. length 19 km (12 mi) Surface area 112 km (43 sq mi) Area 112 km² Settlement Edwards Air Force Base Lake type Endorheic basin | |
Location Mojave Desert
Kern County, California
Los Angeles County, California | ||
Rogers Dry Lake is an endorheic desert salt pan in the Mojave Desert of Kern County, California. The lake derives its name from the Anglicization from the Spanish name, Rodriguez Dry Lake. It is the central part of Edwards Air Force Base as its hard surface provides a natural extension to the paved runways. It was formerly known as Muroc Dry Lake.
Contents
Map of Rogers Dry Lake, California 93523, USA
Geology
During the extremely brief rainy season, it is possible for there to be standing water on the lakebed, which pools at the approximate low-point elevation of 2,300 ft for the region. The lake is adjacent to the smaller Rosamond Lake which through the Holocene, together made up one large water-body.
Edwards Air Force Base
Many of the notable aeronautical achievements at Edwards have taken place at Rogers Lake. It is also famous for the world's largest compass rose painted into the lake. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.
There are seven other official runways on the Rogers lakebed: