▁ ▁Much ▁of ▁the ▁desert ▁lies ▁at ▁an ▁alt itude ▁of ▁over ▁, ▁and ▁a ▁considerable ▁proportion ▁of ▁it ▁is ▁over ▁ ▁above ▁sea ▁level . ▁ ▁The ▁region ▁is ▁largely ▁un in hab ited , ▁possibly ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁un product ive ▁nature ▁of ▁the ▁extreme ▁winter ▁climate . ▁The ▁town ▁of ▁W ai our u , ▁with ▁its ▁army ▁camp , ▁lies ▁to ▁the ▁south ▁and ▁much ▁of ▁the ▁southern ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁desert ▁is ▁used ▁for ▁training ▁purposes . ▁To ▁the ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁desert ▁lies ▁the ▁Rang ipo ▁prison ▁farm . ▁ ▁Many ▁of ▁the ▁North ▁Island ' s ▁largest ▁rivers ▁have ▁their ▁head w aters ▁in ▁the ▁area , ▁particularly ▁around ▁the ▁s lop es ▁of ▁Mount ▁R ua pe hu , ▁the ▁North ▁Island ' s ▁highest ▁mountain . ▁These ▁include ▁the ▁Wa ik ato ▁and ▁Wh ang ae hu ▁R ivers , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁major ▁trib ut aries ▁of ▁the ▁Rang iti ke i ▁and ▁Wh ang an ui ▁R ivers . ▁ ▁The ▁desert ▁is ▁bis ected ▁by ▁only ▁one ▁se aled ▁road , ▁a ▁section ▁of ▁State ▁Highway ▁ 1 ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Des ert ▁Road . ▁The ▁road ▁is ▁closed ▁for ▁short ▁periods ▁most ▁winter s ▁with ▁bar riers ▁arms ▁due ▁to ▁severe ▁snow ▁storm s ▁and ▁ icy ▁road ▁conditions . ▁Tur ang i ▁emer gency ▁services ▁monitor ▁the ▁northern ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Des ert ▁Road ▁and ▁the ▁N Z DF ▁Military ▁Police ▁at ▁W ai our u ▁is ▁responsible ▁for