[Mariner]

"With ships periodically being uncovered"

Surely you mean canoes.

[R_Kangel]

.... Weeeeeeell ...... Local southwest lore of ancient ships such as galeons, viking ships etc supposedly found in California's Colorado, Mojave and other Deserts. Since after the U.S. Civil War, stories have been told about buried ships hidden in the desert lands north of the Gulf of California.

Aparently The Salton Sea was once part of an inland water network. It was called Lake Cahuilla by Native Americans.

[Caipirabob]

I’ve read legends of Spanish ships being sighted in Death Valley. Interesting legend...