The Amargosa River is an intermittent waterway stretching 185 miles (298 km), located in southern Nevada and eastern California in the United States. It is one of two rivers that flow through the California portion of the Mojave Desert with a perennial stream. The Amargosa originates from high desert regions, such as the Amargosa Valley in the northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, flowing into the Mojave Desert and eventually disappearing into an underground aquifer in Death Valley.
Except for a small section of its route through Amargosa Canyon in California and a small part in Beatty, Nevada, the river flows above ground only after rare rains wash the region. A 26-mile (42 km) stretch of the river between the Shoshone Dunes and Dumont Dunes is protected as a National Wild and Scenic River.
Several species of fish inhabit the Amargosa River and its surroundings, some of which are very rare and adapted to specific desert life conditions. The most notable among them is the Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis), which inhabits small pools, springs, and streams connected to the Amargosa River. This fish species has adapted to extreme desert environments, including high water temperatures and significant fluctuations in salinity. The Amargosa pupfish is critically endangered due to limited habitat and changes in water resources.
There are other endemic fish species adapted to specific habitats in the Amargosa Valley and Death Valley, but the Amargosa pupfish stands out as the most prominent. These fish represent a fascinating example of adaptation to extreme conditions and are an important part of the ecosystem in these desert areas.
