Industry is dominated by the manufacture of gaming devices, chemicals, and aerospace products.
Agriculture is not highly developed because of the arid climate and rough terrain, but cattle, dairy products, hay, and potatoes are produced. Nevada lies mostly within the Great Basin, its mountain ranges and high plateaus alternating with valleys running north to east. The Colorado River, which flows along the state's southwestern border, is dammed by Hoover Dam to create Lake Mead, the largest of many water projects in this arid state. During the 1970s and 1980s Nevada experienced the fastest rate of population increase of any state, more than doubling in size. The largest city in Nevada, it is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the U.S. Revenue from gambling, entertainment, theme parks, and other tourist industries forms the backbone of its economy, although in the 1970s diversified industry began to play a more important role.