Population: 2 723.322 thousand people (2011)
Area: 286367.0 sq. km
According to citypopulationreview.com, Nevada, a silver state, is one of the driest regions in the United States. Its main territory lies within the ridges of the Great Basin of the Cordillera system. The height of the mountains sometimes reaches more than 3.5 thousand meters. This mountainous state is crowned by the peak of Boundary Peak (4005 meters). The average heights are at the level of 1200 meters. The southern part of Nevada is occupied by the Mojave Desert.
The state got its name from the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which lies within California. Nevada means “snowy” in Spanish.
Almost the entire territory of Nevada is covered with semi-deserts with sparse vegetation. Forests are found at considerable heights. Nevada experiences significant seasonal temperature fluctuations, from 45°C in dry summers to -30°C in winter. Due to the low amount of precipitation, many rivers and lakes do not have a permanent water supply and therefore dry up. There are both salty and freshwater lakes (Pyramid, Tahoe ). The Colorado River is the southeastern border of the state.
Until 1861, Nevada was part of the Utah Territory. This sparsely populated region separated from Utah shortly after the discovery of rich silver deposits in 1859. Gold diggers, miners, merchants, adventurers flocked here. Then Nevada got the nickname “Silver State”. In 1864, at the height of the Civil War, Nevada joined the United States as the 36th state. Because of this, she received another nickname – the State born in battles. Gambling establishments, popular in the Nevada mining communities, were banned in 1909 as part of a government anti-gambling program. However, due to the crisis and the decline in agricultural activity in the region, gambling establishments were legalized.
Las Vegas is the most popular gambling city in the USA. Its entire economy is connected with numerous gambling houses and casinos. There are many luxury hotels, concert venues, restaurants. Also, fountains, a copy of the Eiffel Tower, Venetian canals with gondoliers were built for tourists. Outdoor recreation is also popular: excursions to national parks, mountains, skiing, rock climbing. The Hoover Dam on the Colorado River – a grandiose hydraulic structure is also among the visited objects.
CARSON CITY
Population: 55.274 thousand people (2010)
Area: 435.0 sq. km
Founded: 1858
Time zone: UTC-8, summer UTC-7
Altitude: 1463 m
Carson City is the capital of Nevada and is an independent city, meaning it is not part of any county. It is located in the west of the state, near the border with California and Lake Tahoe in a dry river valley. There are several smaller lakes in the vicinity. See Nevada counties.
The territory of the city was the original place of residence of the Washo Indians. “Whites” appeared here in 1843, when John Fremont’s research expedition wandered into this area. The river flowing in the region was blocked by Carson – in honor of one of the explorers, and the valley on which the city was later spread – Eagle.
Until 1858, there was a lone ranch in the valley. Entrepreneur Abraham Kerry bought land in the valley and laid the settlement with an eye to the fact that it would later become the capital of Nevada, he even left a special place for the capitol. In 1864, what Carrey planned happened. Somewhat earlier, deposits of silver and gold were discovered in the Carson City area, which caused the rapid growth of the city. At one time, it even housed a branch of the US Mint.
Modern Carson City positions itself as one of the largest state capitals in the United States. Tourists are attracted to the city, first of all, by natural attractions. The surrounding ranges of the Sierra Nevada are chosen by extreme sportsmen (skiers in winter), and the coast of Lake Tahoe serves for beach lovers. There are several national parks in the Carson City area, where areas of untouched nature have been preserved. The city itself has all the necessary infrastructure for recreation. Mills Park, with its narrow gauge railway, stands out in particular.
NORTH LAS VEGAS
Population: 216.961 thousand people (2010)
Area: 203.3 sq. km
Founded: 1946
Time zone: UTC-8, summer UTC-7
Altitude: 672 m
North Las Vegas is a city in southern Nevada, which lies on the territory of the Mojave Desert. As the name suggests, North Las Vegas is located north of the gambling capital of the United States and is actually its suburb and part of the agglomeration. Sky Haven Airport operates in North Las Vegas, which, by the way, is 5 years older than the city itself. It operates regional flights, in particular to the Grand Canyon. Also located in the city is the Nellis Air Force Base.
North Las Vegas as an independent settlement appeared in 1946. Prior to this, this part of the Las Vegas valley was occupied by a few ranches. The largest growth dynamics of the city was recorded in the 1990s, when the population of North Las Vegas grew by 2.5 times. Now the city is the industrial center of the Las Vegas Valley, and the Apex Industrial Park is another confirmation of this. High and “green” technologies are developing especially intensively in North Las Vegas.
North Las Vegas has a wonderful golf complex “Shadow Creek” and amusement park “Craig Ranch Regional”, there are several sports arenas.
