California, Arizona and Nevada - Border Crossings on Waymarking.com you are not logged in. [log in] California, Arizona and Nevada - Border Crossings on Waymarking.com Welcome to Waymarking.com! We hope you've been able to find what you are looking for. We would also like to encourage you to take some time to browse some of the other aspects of our site. We recommend viewing our featured waymarks , or perhaps the newest waymarks . You can also create a free membership to track your progress online and share your locations with others. Click here to view the complete waymark directory N 35° 00.858 W 114° 39.706 11S E 713350 N 3877127 Quick Description: This marker commemorates the iron column erected in 1873 at the southernmost tip of the boundary survey line run by Allexey W. Von Schmidt, U.S. astronomer and surveyor.

Location: California, United States Date Posted: 1/3/2008 9:57:04 PM Waymark Code: WM2X8Z .KML File (Google Earth) Long Description: The line dividing Nevada and California was based on preliminary geodetic work by Lieutenant Joseph Christmas Ives. Ives determined the Colorado River end of the proposed oblique California-Nevada boundary. Von Schmidt calculated and ran the first complete survey of the boundary. His solar observations erred slightly--the actual line now being 3/4 mile to the north. THe information below can be found at the following URL: or, Not Just the Rails Were Crooked by Bruce A. Metcalf In his article "Riding the Roadbed: Part I, The Route to the Tunnel," in the April-May-June 1984 issue of the Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge Society Bulletin, William Kaminsky compares two photographs of the California/Nevada state line marker. The first, found in Mallory Hope Ferrell's "Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge" (page 53) show an 1888 Carson & Colorado train standing by the marker.

The second shot, taken sometime after 1929, is reproduced in George Turner's "Slim Rails Through the Sand" (page 20). These two photos show the marker in two obviously different locations. Kaminsky then goes on to describe finding two possible locations for the marker during a September 1983 survey "less than ¼ miles" apart, and asks, "Did the C&C engineers make a mistake ... or ... did the location of the state line move?" The two photos do indeed show different locations, and quite properly so. The California/Nevada border moved not once, but several times between the dates of the two photos, and indeed, is still the subject of not a little controversy [US DOI 1962, Uzes 1977]. The 1849 California Constitution described this part of the boundary as a straight diagonal line from 42° North, 120° West to the intersection of the 39th parallel with the Colorado River [Uzes 1977] -- a casual political description that has been the source of both aggravation and litigation ever since.

One of the first delegations the Nevada Territory sent to Sacramento asked that the border be made the crest of the Sierras, arguing that it did not pass through populated territory, and that during the winter months the area east of the divide was inaccessible except from Nevada anyway. Their request fell on ears both deaf and incomprehending. The precise location of this boundary was not a subject of practical concern to the California politicians. Indeed it wasn't until 1852 that Captain L. Sitgraves discovered, to everyone's surprise and consternation, that the "corner" of the border was actually in the middle of Lake Tahoe, and title to some of the land around that lake is still in the courts today. There were two events that made the prompt and accurate location of the boundary a matter of some urgency. One was the 1859 discovery of the Comstock silver lode, which was the proximate cause of the Carson & Colorado and most other industrial development in the area. The other event was the sad case of the community of Susanville [Lillard 1949].

The California Legislature felt that Susanville was part of Plumas County, California, while the government of the Nevada Territory felt the town and surrounding agricultural area belonged in Roop County, Nevada. To exercise their political might, both jurisdictions caused the election or appointment of a full complement of government officers. This came to a culmination in early 1863 when the citizens of Susanville got into a bit of a spat over just where they were. Speaking for Nevada were Judges Gordon Mott and John Ward, Sherrif William H. Naileigh, and community leader Isaac Roop, for whom Roop County, Nevada was named. Opposing them were Plumas County, California officials from the county seat at Quincy, including Judge William Young, Judge Hogan, Sherrif E. H. Pierce, a hundred man posse, and a piece of artillery, caliber unknown. Let's see if I can keep this straight: Judge Mott came to Susanville, Nevada, to hold court. Judge Young enjoined him from practicing in Susanville, California. Judge Ward then enjoined Judge Young from practicing in Susanville, Nevada; had him arrested, tried, and fined $100.

Judge Hogan issued an injunction against Judge Ward and Sheriff Naileigh, which Sheriff Pierce served, only to be served himself with an injunction. Pierce arrested Naileigh and Ward, and was returning them to another part of California, when Roop and other good citizens intervened and prevented Pierce from taking his prisoners out of the Territory of Nevada. I think this is where the posse brought up the artillery, but I may have missed a volley or two. Things got out of hand, and gunfire erupted at what is now known as Roop's Fort (actually it was some poor farmer's barn). The "Sagebrush War" was on, and it claimed a number of casualties in several hours of fighting. Pretty soon common sense reasserted itself, and commissions composed of members of both parties were dispatched to the state and territorial governments with a call for decent survey. Further south, the town of Aurora found a better way to deal with such uncertainties [Lillard 1949]. The town was the county seat for both Esmeralda County, Nevada, and Mono County, California. They elected two judges, two sheriffs, and representatives to both the California and Nevada legislatures.

Election day was cause for great celebration there, as the two polling places were at opposite ends of the main street, with all of the interveing saloons doing land office business. The phrase, "Vote early and often," might well have begun here, and if you didn't prevail in one election, you might well win in the other. Thus it was in 1863 that California Surveyor General J.F. Houghton and Nevada Land Commissioner Butler Ives headed a survey of the boundary to settle the claims of thesee and other communities [Uzes 1977]. After first establishing the border between Lake Tahoe and the Oregon border, they turned their attention to the southern half. Just past Bodie, they found their line of survey to be occupied by a very large party of Indians performing a ceremony. Not wishing to disturn them, partly out of respect for Indian culture, but mostly ouot of respect for the high military odds against them, they proceeded to wait the ceremony out, and were caught by an October snowstorm that left eight of the men suffering from frostbite, and the rest in no mood to continue.

The survey resumed two years later, extending the line almost halfway to the Colorado before work was called off because of the growing war. (The war my great granddad wanted me to call, "The War Between the States"). By 1872, the peace was firm enough (and the federal government solvent enough) to allow the U.S. General Land Office to contract with surveyour Allexey W. Von Schmidt to survey the entire eastern boundary of California, and to erect stone markers each mile. He spent much time that year trying to reconcile his instructions with the difficult topography, questionable prior surveys, and disgruntled Indians along the northern half of the border. The following year he ran the line from Lake Tahoe south, with many of the same difficulties. Upon reaching the Colorado River, he discovered his line to be off by several miles. This is not too bad for dead reckoning over four hundred miles of unmarked territory. The routine for retracing a line and making corrections to the original survey was one well understood by surveyours of the nineteenth century.

Von Schmidt, however, was working on the short end of a fixed price contract in an area of no perceptible economic value, with knowledge that the last surveying team was caught in an early snowstorm and had suffereed severely. He elected to correct the line not back to its start at Lake Tahoe, but only about a third of that distance, producing a "straight line" with a pronounced kink in the middle. Apparently, it was on the basis of this survey that the Carson & Colorado construction crews placed the state boundary marker, locating it accurately on the line set by Von Schmidt. When the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey resurveyed the area between 1893 and 1899, they discovered not only Von Schmidt's kink, but that the end points for his line were not accurately located either. As a result, the C&C was presented with a new state boundary crossing, and it seems they moved the monument about two thousand feet to the southwest accordingly, which agrees not too badly with Kaminsky's estimate of the distance between the suspected monument sites.

The United States Geologic Survey 15 minutes series "Benton, Nevada" quadrangle map includes Montgomery Pass, the Queen Valley, and the C&C/SP crossing of the state line [US DOI 1962]. This map shows prominently two of the many different boundary lines: the Von Schmidt line of 1873, upon which the range and township boundaries are still based; and the US C&GS line of 1893-1899, which has formed the official border only since 1943. All of which goes to show three things: History is funnier than Comedy; it's not just earthquakes that move California; and some very moving monuments commemorate lazy men. Bibliography: "Desert Challenge: An Interpretation of Nevada." Knopf, 1949, pp. 57-59. United States, Department of the Interior, Geological Survey. "Benton Quadrangle, Nevada-California", 15 Minute Series, 1962. Uzes, Francois D. California Geography from NETSTATE North to South 560 miles: greatest distance East to West. 1,040 miles: greatest distance North to South.

Geographic Center Explanation The geographic center of California is located 38 miles east of Madera. Longitude: 120° 4.9'W Latitude: 36° 57.9'N Borders California is bordered by Oregon to the north. In the south, California shares an international border with Mexico. To the east, Nevada and Arizona share the California border. California meets the Pacific Ocean on the west. Total Area California covers 163,707 square miles, making it the third largest of the 50 states . Land Area 155,973 square miles are land areas. Water Area 7,734 square miles of California are covered by water. Highest Point The highest point in California is Mt. Whitney at 14,494 feet. Mt. Whitney is the highest mountain in the contiguous 48 states. Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in Alaska , rises 20,320 feet above sea level and is the highest point in the United States. Lowest Point The lowest point in California is in Death Valley .

Death Valley lies 282 feet below sea level and is the lowest point in the United States. Mean Elevation The Mean Elevation of the state of California is 2,900 feet above sea level. Major Rivers Sacramento River, San Joaquin River, Colorado River Major Lakes Lake Tahoe , Salton Sea , Owens Lake , Searles Lake The Land California is the third largest state, behind Alaska and Texas, and runs almost 800 miles from north to south. It is not surprising that it offers a contrasting landscape and a diverse topography . California's general coastline is 840 miles long. Along much of the coast, the Coast Ranges rise from the shore in steep cliffs and terraces. Southern California has many wide, sandy beaches. California's topography can be characterized by defining eight main regions within the state; Klamath Mountains: In the northwest corner of the state are the Klamath Mountains . They are comprised of many small forest covered ranges and are higher than the coastal mountains to the south. Many mountains range from about 6,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. The small ranges are separated by deep canyons.

Coastal Ranges: The Coastal Ranges in the north reach inland 20 to 30 miles extend from the Klamath Mountains in the north south to Santa Barbara. The Coastal Ranges include many smaller chains of mountain ranges including the Diablo and Santa Cruz Mountains. Some of the valleys separating these ranges are the Napa Valley, north of San Francisco and the Santa Clara and Salinas Valleys to the south. The Coastal Range is home to California's legendary Redwoods and, less fortunately the San Andreas Fault. The San Andreas Fault enters California from the Pacific Ocean near Port Arena and extends southeast into the state. Earthquakes are caused by movement of the earth's crust along this fault. Yosemite, Tunnel View Courtesy of Robert Holmes The Sierra Nevada: The Sierra Nevada mountain range in the east runs about 430 miles from north to south and forming a giant wall rising to over 14,000 feet. The range varies from around 40 to 70 miles wide. Many peaks in the range reach over 14,000 feet above sea level, with Mt. Whitney, at 14,494 feet, the highest peak in the United States south of Alaska.

Mountain streams and glacial action have cut deep valleys into the western part of the Sierras. Yosemite Valley is one of the most spectacular of these valleys. Visit the Sierra Nevadas at the United States Geological Survey. Central Valley: The Central Valley lies between the Coastal Range and the Sierra Nevada range and is home to the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers. Sometimes called the Great Valley, the Central Valley is about 450 miles long from points in the northwest to the southeast. A level, broad fertile plain, the Central Valley is the most important farming area west of the Rocky Mountains and comprises about three-fifths of California's productive farmland. Mount Shasta Courtesy of Robert Holmes Cascade Mountains: The Cascade Mountains extend north from the Sierra Nevada mountain range. They were formed by volcanoes unlike the other mountain ranges in California and support one still-active volcano; Lassen Peak. Lassen is 10,457 feet high and located in the southern Cascades. The Cascade Mountains are also home to Mt. Shasta, once and active volcano. Mt. Shasta rises 14,162 feet above sea level. Basin and Range Region: The Basin and Range Province contain the southeastern deserts of California.

The Basin and Range Region is part of a large region that extends into Nevada, Oregon, and other states. In the north, much of the area is a lava plateau. This was formed thousands of years ago when the region was flooded with molten lava flowing out of cracks in the earth's surface. In the south, a good deal of the area is wasteland and includes the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert . Death Valley lies near the California-Nevada border and features some of the most inhospitable territory in the world. Some areas of the Basin and Range Region have been made quite productive, however, due to large irrigation projects that have made farming feasible. Two of these areas are the Imperial and the Coachella Valleys near the California border with Mexico. The Los Angeles Ranges: The Los Angeles Ranges, between Santa Barbara and San Diego counties, are a group of small mountain ranges that extend east to west. Because of this general east-west direction, the Los Angeles Ranges are sometimes called the Transverse Ranges. Most mountain ranges in California run generally from north to south. Included in the Los Angeles Ranges are the Santa Ynez, Santa Monica, San Gabriel, and San Bernardino mountains.

Sometimes the San Jacinto and Santa Ana Mountains are included as part of the Los Angeles Ranges. The San Diego Ranges: The San Diego Ranges cover most of San Diego county in the southwestern corner of California. These mountains, sometimes called the Peninsular Ranges, include the Agua Tibia, Laguna, and Vallecito mountains and extend southward into the Mexican peninsula known as Baja California. The general coastline of California is 840 miles long. Much of the coast is characterized by the Coast Ranges rising from the shore in steep cliffs and terraces. In southern California many wide, sandy beaches can be found. Snow Blows From the Slopes of Mt. Whitney Purchase print From the peak of Mt. Whitney to Death Valley, California's topographic diversity is exemplified. Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the 48 contiguous United States, and Death Valley, the lowest point in the United States, lie only 85 miles from each other. Read more about the major land areas of California, including the Cascade Range, the Klamath Mountains, and the Mojave Desert. This interesting overview is provided by the California Department of Conservation.

For more about the Coastal Geography of California, visit these pages from the California Coastal Resource Guide by the California Coastal Commission. Lake Tahoe Map - South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Casinos, Heavenly Ski Resort - Worldatlas.com Lake Tahoe Casinos Lake Tahoe casinos are plentiful and always exciting, filled with eager Nevada travelers looking for a little good luck and a lot of fun! The east side of South Lake Tahoe, California and its neighboring town of Stateline, Nevada are home to casinos big and small. Everything from high stakes poker to penny slots are available at dynamic venues like Monte Bleu, Harvey's, Harrah's Lake Tahoe, and the Horizon Resort Casino. Many of these locations offer fantastic Lake Tahoe vacation packages and world class entertainment. Food and drink are plentiful, so as long as you set a limit at the slot machines, Lake Tahoe Casinos can be a great deal for a California vacation Vikingsholm Castle Located at the head of Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe California, this majestic 38-room reproduction of a ninth-century Norse fortress is accessible by bus, car or a one-mile hiking trail. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight decided in 1929 to build a structure that would incorporate the feel and design of an old Viking stone castle.

Noted for its outstanding architecture and spectacular setting, the Vikingsholm Castle is a gem enhanced by the natural beauty of the surrounding woodlands and mountains of the Lake Tahoe area. Heavenly Ski Resort At 4,800 acres, Heavenly is California's largest ski resort. Straddling the Nevada-California border on the south part of Lake Tahoe, one can experience skiing in either Nevada or in California, or do both in the same day! On the California side, the view of the deep-blue Lake Tahoe surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountain peaks is glorious. Living up to its name, Lake Tahoe Heavenly Ski Resort is indeed a paradise for skiers and for those seeking to enjoy the mountain in its entire splendor. Nevada Geography from NETSTATE The Land The Nevada landscape is represented by sandy deserts, rugged, snow covered mountains, forested mountain slopes, and grassy valleys. Located almost entirely within the Great Basin (desert area the reaches into six states), Nevada can be divided into three main land regions; the Columbia Plateau, the Sierra Nevada, and the Basin and Range Region. In the northeastern corner of Nevada, the land is supported by lava bedrock.

Rivers and streams have cut deeply into the bedrock, leaving deep canyons with steep ridges. Near the Idaho border the land turns to open prairie. This is part of the Columbia Plateau. The Sierra Nevada is the rugged mountain range that cuts across a portion of Nevada south of Carson City. Lake Tahoe, a beautiful glacial lake, on the California/Nevada border lies in one of the valleys of the Sierra Nevada. The rest of the state is part of the Basin and Range Region. This region is divided by more than 150 mountain ranges running from north to south. The Basin and Range Region is bordered on the west by the Sierra Nevada. In the center of the state are the Toiyabe and Toquima mountain ranges. In the east are the Snake and Toana mountain ranges. Scattered between all of the ranges are buttes (single lone hills) and mesas (flat-topped mountains) as well as flat valleys with lakes or alkalie flats. Hot springs and geysers are remnants of the dying volcanoes that once populated Nevada. Climate (All temperatures Fahrenheit) Highest Temperature The highest temperature recorded in Nevada is 125°, Fahrenheit.

This record high has been recorded on June 29, 1994 at Laughlin. Lowest Temperature The lowest temperature in Nevada, -50°, was recorded on January 8th, 1937 at San Jacinto. Average Temperature Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 104.5 degrees to a low of 19.5 degrees. Climate Average yearly precipitation for Nevada, from 1971 to 2000, is shown on this chart from Oregon State University. Sources: The World Almanac of the U.S.A. by Allan Carpenter and Carl Provorse, Copyright © 1998 Christopher H. Exline and James W. Hulse, "Nevada," World Book Online Americas Edition, August 15, 2001. The United States Geological Survey Website Nevada travel guide - Wikitravel Time Zone UTC -8/-7, UTC -7/-6 Nevada is an arid state of the USA , lying between California and Utah . Most of the state is within the Great Basin , but parts of the northeast drain into the Snake River and the the southern portion is within the Mojave desert and the Colorado river drainage.

Please note that while many outsiders pronounce the state's name as "ne-VAH-duh", the correct local pronunciation is [nəˈvædə], with a short "a" as in apple,. Although the majority of tourists only visit Las Vegas, Reno and Tahoe to gamble, watch shows, and indulge themselves in food and drink, Nevada offers the more discerning traveler western frontier experiences verging on horse opera cliche, and landscapes utterly different from Europe, East Asia or more populated parts of North America. In this more primitive environment, gambling seems not so much a high-tech means of fleecing the overly optimistic as the direct descendent of the itinerant cardsharp. Legal brothels are another holdover, from the "soiled doves" of frontier times. It isn't that Nevadans approve, so much as they haven't gotten around to outlawing all of their long-running traditions yet. Understand[ edit ] Nevada achieved statehood in 1864, becoming the 36th state, despite its tiny population. The primary purpose of this early grant of statehood was to pack congress with two more Senators and thus help preserve Northern/Republican dominance in the post-civil war era.

At the time, Nevada's economy was dominated by the mining industry, thus tying the state to the industrialized North. Nevada was also seen as a counter-balance to the more agrarian and confederate-sympathizing California. Over the years, Nevada's economy has diversified somewhat into agriculture, light industry, distribution, and gaming. However, over 87% of the land in Nevada is still owned by the Federal Government. There are fairly large cultural differences between Urban and Rural areas, and therefore they are treated separately here. Urban[ edit ] The urban areas, consisting of the Reno and Las Vegas areas, are heavily dependent on tourism and thus very welcoming to outsiders. In addition, these areas have seen a huge influx of immigration in recent years from both inside and outside the USA and thus have a cosmopolitan feel. In a gambling town, everyone's your friend as long as you have money. Recent immigrants from California are widely complained about (especially by the less recent immigrants from California), but that's about the extent of it. Talk[ edit ] English is the official language of Nevada.

Spanish is also widely spoken in Nevada, and like much of the southwest Nevada is heavily influenced by the language, Hispanic culture, and history under Spanish and Mexican rule. Tagalog is also spoken among Filipino populations. Closed cities[ edit ] The closed off town of Mercury. If you plan on visiting rural Nevada, be carefull on where you are. As there is a closed city in Nevada called Mercury which the town not far away from Las Vegas. The town is involved in current nuclear testing programs by the U.S. government. This city like many other closed cities are closed off to the public, including foreigners. You will need special permission from the U.S. government in order to enter the town. Attempting to enter without the permission will get you arrested. Government facilities[ edit ] A sign warning those not authorised for entry to Homney Airport. Along with Mercury, there is also another, more secretive place called Homey Airport, you may know it better as Area 51 . It is a two hour drive from Las Vegas, and is closed off to the public, and authorization from the U.S. government is needed for entry. Attempting to enter it will be met with excessive force, as those guarding it are ordered to shoot anyone comming near it.

Also, Homey Airport will not appear on your GPS, though if you drive on the road, you'll notice the a sign stating that you are near Homey Airport. By plane[ edit ] Las Vegas and Reno are the biggest airports in the state, with the most destinations served. Elko, Boulder City and North Las Vegas are small regional airports with limited flights. By bus[ edit ] Greyhound serves the state, with service to small towns along the interstates. Megabus run between Reno and Sacramento/Bay Area. To Vegas, several companies have buses from locations around Southern California. By train[ edit ] California Zephyr runs between the Bay Area, Reno and Chicago. There is no train service to Las Vegas. By car[ edit ] The interstates are the quickest way to get to the state. The population centers are on the western part of the state. Get around[ edit ] Nevada is big, but it's population is not. Of the 2.75 million residents in the state, 2.5 live in either the Las Vegas or Reno metropolitan area. Most of the state is empty or consists of small towns. The transportation infrastructure is not as developed as other parts of the United States.

By plane[ edit ] Las Vegas to Reno is the only direct air corridor in the state and has plenty of flights daily. This is the best way to get from Reno to Vegas. By train[ edit ] Amtrak has its route from Emeryville (in the San Francisco Bay Area) to Chicago, stopping at Reno, Winnemucca and Elko within the state. In Las Vegas, there is a 4 mile monorail connecting much of the Strip. Desert travel[ edit ] There's an awful lot of desert to explore in Nevada, and it's very easy to leave civilization behind. While that is a worthy goal, common sense is necessary to avoid life-threatening situations. Here's some tips for traveling to the more remote desert areas of Nevada: What to Drive: Vehicle breakdown and getting stuck are the easiest ways to get into serious trouble in the desert. Don't travel far from the pavement in a low-clearance vehicle. Four wheel drive is strongly recommended for the winter months, and is advised for unpaved mountain roads anytime. It is best to travel in a convoy of multiple vehicles, so that one breakdown will not strand you.

Gas stations are few, far between, and often not open around the clock, so it is a good idea to carry extra fuel. If you do break down or run out of fuel, your best bet is to stay with the vehicle unless you're within 10 miles or so of civilization - Odds are that someone will come by in a day or two. Nevada Desert Trees - Palm Trees Roads: Nevada is criss-crossed with unpaved roads, some of which are maintained, most of which are not. Due to the slow growth rate of vegetation, once a road is established it can remain passable for decades with no maintenance and little traffic. Few roads have culverts, so be on the look-out for washed out areas. These generally aren't a problem if traversed slowly, but can cause serious damage if you don't slow down in time. Fences: The boundaries between grazing allotments are fenced as are the boundaries between public and private land. On higher volume roads there will be a "cattle-guard" on the road which is passable by vehicles but not by cattle (although flush with the road, cattle feel uneasy about traversing them and will not cross). Lower volume roads will have a gate across the road.

Always leave the gate in the same condition as you found it - if open leave it open, if closed make sure you close it behind you. Gates leading into private land will sometimes be locked or marked with a "No Trespassing" sign, in which case you should respect the property owner's wishes and find another way to get where you want to go. Livestock: In open rangeland (just about everywhere in Nevada), cattle have the right-of-way. It is not uncommon for ranchers to leave hay and water for their stock close to a road, and thus it is not uncommon to encounter herds of cattle on or near the road. You should always slow way down for these herds, as the calves especially have a nasty habit of running out in front of cars. You break it, you buy it. Cattle are half-wild, often ornery. Don't approach them closely on foot. Navigation: Navigation in Nevada is fairly easy if you keep your wits about you. The poverty of vegetation gives astonishingly long sight distance, and mountain ranges are ubiquitous for reference. Large-scale topographic maps of the entire state are available in bound form at most bookstores and many gas stations.

These should be sufficient for most purposes. Smaller scale topographic maps are published by the US Geologic Survey (USGS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and can be purchased at outdoors-oriented stores (such as the REI in Reno ) or photocopied at the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) library. The BLM maps tend to be more up-to-date with regards to roads, but are more difficult to find. Due to the small scale of these maps, they are not practical for long-range vehicle travel, but can be very useful on hiking trips. Weather: Most of Nevada is cold desert above 4,000'/1,300m elevation with summer daytime temperatures around 85F/30C and nights cooling sharply to 50F/10C. Winter temperatures are more variable and can drop far below zero (fahrenheit or celsius). Lower elevations in the Las Vegas area create hot desert with summer daytime temperatures consistently above 100F/40C and little nighttime relief, but pleasant winters.

Carry extra clothing, sleeping bags and tire chains between October and April and remember that occasional snowstorms are possible above 4,000'/1,300m as late as June. Summer thunderstorms can be locally intense, causing flash-floods where roads cross normally-dry washes. Wear a hat, long shirt, long pants, sunblock; and drink plenty of water to avoid heat stroke and sunburn in the summer. Water: Away from municipal water districts, water supplies are few, far between, and usually contaminated by livestock except in the highest mountains. Bring enough in your vehicle for your entire trip, plus a few days reserve, with extra for your vehicle's radiator in case it starts leaking. When hiking, seek local knowledge about water supplies on multi-day trips. Don't rely solely on maps. See[ edit ][ add listing ] Great Basin National Park . [2] . One of the lesser known National Parks and one of the newest national parks in the system, and therefore not so crowded or over-developed. It also is somewhat small, but has some lovely campgrounds and some nice hiking trails. Beware the altitude as the upper campground is around ten thousand feet.

The aspens in autumn make this park SPECTACULAR!! Truly breathtaking! Pueblo Grande, Nevada Take part at a guided tour through the NTS, the former test site of nuclear bombs , but you may need to book one year in advance. Gambling[ edit ] Gambling is the major industry in Nevada, directly responsible for about 20% of total employment. Gambling establishments range from huge casinos boasting slot machines, table games and sports books to small bars and convenience stores with a few video poker games apiece. Las Vegas is the mecca for gambling and people from around the globe come to try their luck at winning big in Vegas' plethora of expansive casinos. If you can bet money on it, you will find a location within one of any of the casinos to do so. Keep in mind that strict restrictions are placed upon casinos concerning where minors may be present within a casino and these rules are harshly enforced. You must be 21 years of age to gamble or be present whatsoever in a gaming area, such as a casino. Brothels[ edit ] Nevada is the only jurisdiction within the United States in which prostitution is legalized.

Exceptions are Clark County, where it is prohibited by state law, and four jurisdictions where local or municipal law bans it—Washoe, Douglas, and Lincoln Counties, and the independent city of Carson City . Note that brothels with a Carson City address are actually outside the city limits. Some of the state's most popular brothels are located near Carson City and in Pahrump ; policies and prices vary. Condom use is MANDATORY at all establishments where sexual activities are conducted and you must be at least 18 years of age to participate. A few of Nevada's popular brothels include (WARNING - Websites contain adult content.): Moonlite BunnyRanch [3] , located just outside of Carson City, was established in 1955 and is perhaps the most well known brothel in state. It has been popularized by several notable famous personalities including Howard Stern, and is the focus of its own HBO series entitled "Cathouse" which follows the lives of its owner and the women who work there. The brothel sometimes features relatively well-known adult film actresses such as Chasey Lain, Delilah Strong, Kelly Skyline, Diamond Foxx and Sunny Lane.

The Love Ranch is the little sister of the aforementioned Moonlite BunnyRanch, as it is operated by the same management. It offers the same services as the Moonlite BunnyRanch, though it maintains a somewhat smaller profile. Sheri's Ranch [4] is located in Pahrump , sometimes features adult film actresses. It is less than one hour travel time from Las Vegas . World Famous Mustang Ranch ( ), located less than 15 minutes from the Reno-Tahoe Airport. Take Exit 28 off of I80 and we're located less than 5 minutes from exit Wild Horse Adult Resort and Spa [5] is an adult entertainment complex located just outside of Reno that features two separate and licensed brothels. The Cherry Patch Brothels [6] are located in Crystal . The Chicken Ranch [7] is located in Pahrump , and does not feature any adult film actresses. Festivals[ edit ] Burning Man Festival [8] The Burning Man festival, held annually in the northern Black Rock City in late August and early September, is a festival of "radical self-expression". The City of Black Rock could be considered one of the most environmentally unpredictable cities in Nevada, travelers going there should be prepared for anything.

Camping[ edit ] Most of Nevada is federal land managed by the BLM (U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management) or by the Forest Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service). Self-sufficient campers can camp free of charge on land under the management of either agency as long as camping doesn't interfere with other legitimate uses. Both federal agencies also have developed campgrounds where fees are usually charged. Fees vary by location, averaging about $5 at BLM campgrounds and $10 at Forest Service campgrounds. There are two National Parks (U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service) in Nevada: Great Basin N.P. in east-central Nevada and Death Valley N.P. straddling the California-Nevada state line. The Park Service offers developed campgrounds where fees are charged and no-fee primitive campgrounds. [9] Hiking[ edit ] Most of Nevada lies within the Basin-and-Range geographic province, so there are literally hundreds of mountain ranges. Some ranges are short, ten miles (16 km) or so, but others are over a hundred miles (161 km) long.

Several ranges have well developed trails, however others are just beginning to be discovered by enthusiastic hikers, who often make their own routes from backcountry jeep roads, cattle or game trails, desert washes, and crosscountry travel which the lack of dense forests makes fairly straightforward. Perhaps not the place for novices to venture alone, however intermediate hikers will find abundant opportunities. The highest peaks over 13,000' (4,000m) are right on the California border (Boundary Peak in the White Mountains and near the eastern border with Utah (Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park . Other ranges scattered all over the state rise into the alpine zone which begins above 11,500' (3,500m) in the south to as little as 9,000' (2,700m) in the north. Many peaks reaching into the alpine zone have evidence of past glaciation such as cirques, moraines and even glacial tarns (lakes), but Nevada has only one contemporary glacier on Wheeler Peak. The driest ranges are those of moderate elevation in the rainshadow of California's Sierra Nevada Mountains which parallels Nevada's southwest border.

Precipitation increases with elevation, to the north where the Sierra and Cascade ranges are lower, and to the east where the rainshadow effect lessens and moisture moving north from the Gulf of California comes into play. Hikers used to streams and mountain lakes will certainly find them in the Ruby and East Humboldt Ranges in the northeast, and in the Snake Range near Wheeler Peak, however drier ranges have unique landscapes not found in hiking venues elsewhere except perhaps in Central Asia, Africa and Australia. Dry ranges also have unique flora including open subalpine woodlands of Bristlecone and Limber Pine and lower down of Singleleaf Pinyon Pine which bear nuts that were a dietary mainstay of the Paiute and Shoshone tribes. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] Restaurants in and around casinos in Reno, Las Vegas and Tahoe especially cater to the dietary whims of urban California. Notable chefs have opened restaurants worth a detour from the usual tourist activities. Buffets in casinos are often heavily subsidized in hopes that those who come to eat will stay to gamble. The more upscale examples offer surprisingly good food and plenty of it. Outside of these tourist meccas, food takes on a western character.

This is certainly the rule in small town cafes, but also in casinos along borders with Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Arizona drawing a western clientele with different dietary preferences than Californians. Nevada and other parts of the larger intermountain region export beef and lamb, but are no cornucopia when it comes to fruit and vegetables. These are produced in very finite quantities because water is scarce and elevations usually high enough to induce late and early frosts. Accordingly cafes and restaurants with local clienteles serve 'meat and potatoes' fare. Coffee can be a weak disappointment. Nevertheless the food can be interesting in a regional way, often making inventive use of a limited range of ingredients. Chinese immigration drawn by railroad-building and mining opportunities established chinese-american cuisine even in remote towns. Urban sophisticates may find it quaintly amusing -- chow mein, sweet-and-sour, egg drop soup, fortune cookies and all. Basque sheepherders went everywhere green grass could be found. Their cuisine may not actually be very distinctive, but it is served in multiple courses -- perhaps three different entrees -- at long communal tables. Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] Nevada may very well have the most relaxed liquor laws in the entire country.

Although anti-drunk driving measures and the drinking and purchasing age of 21 are as strongly enforced as anywhere else, that's pretty much where it ends. Most bars are open 24-7. Privately-owned liquor stores tend to have an extremely comprehensive selection of liquor, beer and wine, especially in Las Vegas. While some bars may close they do so by choice, not by legal necessity. Indeed many Nevada bars have been continuously open every single second for well over 40 years, including holidays. Underage drinking is allowed on private, non alcohol-selling premises, no parental consent is required. However if the legal guardian(21 or older) is present, the minor must get permission. Underage drinking is allowed on alcohol selling premises with parental consent, the legal guardian must be 21 or older though. Underage drinking is allowed for religious purposes. However Underage drinking still counts as a misdemeanor. [10] Most bars feature some sort of casino gaming. Video poker machines are often built right into the bar itself. Indeed it's unusual to not see something like that in a Nevada bar. Bartenders may even offer you free drinks if you're actively playing.

As with the casinos, Nevada bars tend to take a decidedly cavalier attitude towards smoking; ask first, but chances are it's perfectly OK to light up if you so choose. If that bothers you, well, California isn't too far away ... Stay safe[ edit ] A high mountain environment containing some of the snowiest places in the US. During winter you should always carry tire chains in your car and know how to use them. When hiking or backpacking where you will be far from help, check the weather first. The first snows of Winter may come earlier than you expect. In summer during the North American Monsoon, thunderstorms often build up near the crest of the Sierra Nevada, particularly during late afternoon. It is unwise to be in a high, treeless place during a thunderstorm. If hiking far in summer, it's a good idea to carry a light rain jacket just in case. Marijuana is now legal in Nevada. Anyone must be 21 or older to consume, possess, or purchase marijuana - it doesn't matter if its for recreational or medicinal reasons and it is strictly enforced. Keep in mind that marijuana is still illegal under federal law, so you could still be under scrutiny.

Do not bring marijuana into and out of the state, into any Indian reservation that deemed it illegal, nor any federal enclave, or you will be charged under both state and federal law.

Question: What large lake can be found on the California-Nevada border?
Answer: Lake Tahoe