The Mojave Desert is the smallest of the North American deserts, located in the Southwestern United States. It is primarily defined by the presence of the Joshua Tree, which grows only in this region. The Mojave contains Death Valley, which holds the record for the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth (56.7°C). Geologically, it is a transitional desert between the hot Sonoran Desert to the south and the cold Great Basin Desert to the north. The landscape is a mix of mountain ranges, salt flats, and sand dunes. It is home to several major cities, including Las Vegas. Despite its harshness, the Mojave supports a variety of life, including the desert tortoise and the Mojave green rattlesnake. It is also a significant area for solar energy production due to its high number of cloudless days.