page_title: Pahute Mesa
section_title: Geology and climate
hierarchical_section_title: Pahute Mesa / Geology and climate
caption_attribution_description: English: Nevada Test Site. Pahute Mesa.
context_page_description: Pahute Mesa or Paiute Mesa is one of four major nuclear test regions within the Nevada National Security Site. It occupies 243 square miles in the northwest corner of the NNSS in Nevada. The eastern section is known as Area 19 and the western section as Area 20.
context_section_description: Pahute Mesa is part of the Tonopah Basin and includes the Silent Canyon caldera complex of the Southwest Nevada volcanic field.
  Rugged terrain features and harsh winter conditions make year-round operations difficult.
caption: Aerial view of Pahute Mesa
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