Happy Wilderness Wednesday from the Mojave...

The Old Woman Mountains in the distance viewed from Cadiz Dunes. Photo by Bob Wick.

The Old Woman Mountains at the far end of Cadiz Valley. Photo by Bob Wick.

View of the Old Woman Mountains Wilderness from the Cadiz Dunes Wilderness. Photo by Bob Wick.

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Happy Wilderness Wednesday from the Mojave Wilderness!

This spring, the BLM completed the purchase of seven parcels within two Wilderness Areas in California - Sheephold Valley Wilderness and Old Woman Mountains Wilderness.

The 183,500-acre Old Woman Mountains Wilderness is home to a granite monolith resembling the figure of an old woman, known as the Old Woman Statue. The Old Woman Mountains are also the discovery site of the Old Woman Meteorite, the largest meteorite found in California and the second largest in the United States.

The Wilderness encompasses many different habitats and is home to a permanent population of bighorn sheep, mule deer, bobcat, cougar, coyote, black-tailed jackrabbit, ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, quail, chuckar, roadrunners, rattlesnakes, several species of lizards, numerous raptor species, several species of songbirds, and the threatened desert tortoise.

The land, purchased through Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriations, protects a spectacular desert landscape. CLICK HERE. to learn more about the #LWCF. #LWCF50