Can you visit China Lake?
NAWS China Lake is not open to the general public. Everyone that wishes to gain access to the installation must go through a vetting process prior to being approved for a badge. The type of badge received will depend on the purpose and duration of the visit.
What is the thing north of Ridgecrest California?
China Lake
China Lake is situated next to the town of Ridgecrest, a thriving town with a population of nearly 30,000. China Lake/Ridgecrest is located near three major highways, US Hwy 395 and California State Highways, 14 and 178.
What happens at China Lake?
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake on July 5, 2019, whose epicenter was within the boundaries of NAWS China Lake, resulted in the facility being temporarily evaluated as “not mission capable” due to damage….Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.
| Runways | |
|---|---|
| Direction | Length and surface |
| 08/26 | 2,167.4 metres (7,111 ft) Concrete |
What is China Lake known for?
Naval Air Weapons Station
Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake is a large military installation in California that supports the research, testing and evaluation programs of the U.S. Navy. It is part of Navy Region Southwest under Commander, Navy Installations Command, and was originally known as Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS).
Is Ridgecrest in Mojave Desert?
Ridgecrest is surrounded by four mountain ranges; the Sierra Nevada on the west, the Cosos on the North, the Argus Range on the east, and the El Paso Mountains to the South. Ridgecrest is the only incorporated community in the Indian Wells Valley and is located in the Mojave Desert, west of Death Valley National Park.
Is China Lake a real lake?
China Lake is a dry lake. Its name comes from Chinese prospectors harvesting borax from the lake bed, approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Paxton Ranch. The operation was known locally as “The Little Chinese Borax Works”.
What happened at China Lake?
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake on July 5, 2019, whose epicenter was within the boundaries of NAWS China Lake, resulted in the facility being temporarily evaluated as “not mission capable” due to damage.
Where is the US Navy Air Weapons Station China Lake?
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake 1 Administration Circle China Lake, CA 93555-6100 Stay Connected This is an Official US Navy Website
What happened to China Lake Air Force base?
At the same time, the physical plant at China Lake was designated as a Naval Air Weapons Station and became host of the NAVAIR Weapons Division, performing the base-keeping functions. In 1982 the community area of China Lake, including most of base housing, was annexed by the City of Ridgecrest.
What does NAWS China Lake do for the Navy?
NAWS China Lake provides and maintains land, facilities and other assets that support the Navy’s research, development, acquisition, testing and evaluation (RDAT&E) of cutting-edge weapons systems for the warfighter. NAWS China Lake is located in the Western Mojave Desert region of California, approximately 150 miles north of Los Angeles.
Where is the Naval Weapons Center located?
In July 1967, NOTS China Lake and the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Corona, California, became the Naval Weapons Center. The Corona facilities were closed and their functions transferred to the desert in 1971.