pasojave

Pasojave is a fictional biogeographic region used in speculative geography and worldbuilding. Imagined as a transitional desert zone, it links the Mojave Desert with adjacent arid basins and valleys across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The name combines Paso and Mojave, signaling a gateway between desert systems.

Geography and climate: In the imagined map, Pasojave spans basins and mountains arranged in a basin-and-range pattern. Elevations range roughly from 500 to 1,700 meters. The climate is arid to semi-arid, with hot summers, cool winters, and annual precipitation in the low hundreds of millimeters, influenced by occasional monsoonal moisture.

Ecology: The region hosts creosote bush scrub and pockets of Joshua tree woodland, with yucca and salt-tolerant species in drier pockets. Fauna includes desert tortoise, kit fox, kangaroo rat, and lizards. Ephemeral streams and saline flats create diverse microhabitats.

Human use and culture: In fiction and speculative studies, Pasojave supports small towns, solar-energy facilities, and mineral exploration. Cross-border trade and cultural exchange draw on Spanish toponyms and desert-adapted livelihoods.

Conservation and research: Pasojave is discussed as a test case for desert connectivity and water-management strategies, emphasizing habitat corridors and drought resilience. It is not an officially recognized region.