Which desert in Oregon contains the Alvord Lake playa?

The Oregon desert associated with the Alvord Lake playa is the Alvord Desert.

The Alvord Desert occupies a dry, fault-bounded basin in Harney County, southeastern Oregon, east of Steens Mountain. Its broad playa is the exposed floor of an ancient lake system, and seasonal water can still collect across the exceptionally flat surface.

Alvord Lake is a shallow, seasonal alkali lake in the same Alvord Basin. Its water level can range from completely dry to several feet deep, so the word “lake” does not imply a permanent body of water. The surrounding desert receives only about seven inches of precipitation annually.

The basin’s rain-shadow setting explains its aridity: the Coast Range and Cascades reduce moisture from the Pacific, while Steens Mountain rises along its western side. Visitors also know the playa for hot springs, wildlife, camping, and land-speed efforts, including Kitty O’Neil’s 1976 record run.