Nevada is named for mountains capped with snow—nevada in Spanish. But its state animal, the desert bighorn sheep, is a reminder that Nevada is the driest of the 50 states, with rivers that evaporate before they reach the sea. Although it does have mountains—some of which are snow-capped—Nevada also boasts some pretty low land for a western state. In fact, the lowest spot in the United States is in an area of Death Valley just across the California border.
With its arid climate, steep slopes, and infertile soils, Nevada boasts one of the lowest populations of any state. The nickname Sagebrush State is more appropriate than Nevada. Sagebrush is one of the most characteristic plants of the Great Basin. The Sierra Nevadas form the western boundary of this great depression which swallows up almost all of Nevada. In fact, Great Basin National Park is in Nevada.
Nevada also lies within the Basin and Range geological region. Basins are separated by slender mountain ranges trending north-south. With trees growing on top, they resemble giant furry caterpillars resting in the desert.
If the Great Basin is a great water trap, the many basins of the Basin and Range region can be thought of as smaller traps. Many of them have no permanent rivers or lakes, especially in central and southern Nevada. Flat beds left by evaporated lakes are called “playas” or “sinks.”
The state’s longest permanent river, the Humboldt, rises in the northeast near Wells and flows generally westward. But not even the Humboldt reaches the sea—it reaches a dead end in Humboldt Sink.
A river wouldn’t have a ghost of a chance of even approaching Death Valley, which straddles the Nevada-California border. The lowest elevation in the United States is just across the border in California. And boy is it hot!
Cooler mountains and large lakes farther north are popular vacation areas. Here are Reno and Lake Tahoe.
In southern Nevada is Las Vegas, an entertainment mecca long famous for its legal gambling. Not far from Las Vegas’ bright lights, the Colorado River was dammed to form two of the nation’s best known manmade lakes. Lake Mead was formed by Hoover Dam, Lake Mohave by Davis Dam. Together they make up Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which Nevada shares with Arizona.
A scarcity of vegetation in this arid state and a lack of agriculture and other industries promote mining. Nevadans proudly proclaim their love for Earth’s treasures. They share their official semiprecious gemstone, turquoise, with Arizona and New Mexico. More unique is Nevada’s official precious gemstone, Virgin Valley black fire opal. Sandstone is Nevada’s state rock. And the official metal is silver, the obvious choice for the Silver State.
Lying beyond the Colorado Plateau, Nevada is not dinosaur country. Abundant volcanic and metamorphic rocks make it tough to find any fossils in the west, except for MESOZOIC leaves and diatoms. Nevada’s best fossil grounds are generally in the east. Nevada’s most abundant fossils are marine invertebrates, such as brachiopods, pelecypods, gastropods, and cephalopods, a reminder of its marine heritage.
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