leeward
leeward
It is called a rain shadow, and is true. It can be wetter on the prevailing windward side and drier on the lee side of a mountain range.
The Sierra Nevada mountain range is located east of Bakersfield in California. It is known for its stunning peaks, including Mount Whitney which is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States.
A mountain range that runs side by side is called a parallel range.
Deserts are typically found on the leeward side of a mountain range. On the windward side, there is a lot of vegetation and precipitation.
The prevailing winds will force the clouds to climb when they reach the mountain range. As the clouds rise they drop their moisture. So the windward side of the mountain will get rain, and the leeward side of the mountain will be drier.
The Andes mountain range runs down the western side of South America, spanning seven countries from Venezuela to Chile. It is the longest continental mountain range in the world.
deserts
The Sierra Madre Occidental is the main mountain range of western Mexico.
The prevailing winds will force the clouds to climb when they reach the mountain range. As the clouds rise they drop their moisture. So the windward side of the mountain will get rain, and the leeward side of the mountain will be drier.
One side of a mountain range will have significantly less precipitation than the other side due to the height of the mountain. The clouds that carry the water for precipitation, may be blocked by the tall mountains.
Scandanavian