Today, Obama is scheduled to announce national monument status for parts of Southern California’s Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, which will almost double the public land the president has protected thus far. The Mojave is famous for its native desert mice, sloping sand dunes, and Shania Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much” video.
One of the sites, Mojave Trails, will connect the Mojave National Preserve to Joshua Tree National Park, another popular destination for artists such as U2 and First Aid Kit. The designation will hopefully keep the natural landscapes of California’s deserts pristine for the use of campers, hikers, climbers, and music video shoots.