What Nevada is known for

The state of Nevada was the 36th state to be admitted into the United States of America. The state has a variety of nicknames; the most notable are "Sagebrush State," "Silver State," and "Battle Born State." Nevada is well known for its gambling casinos and activities within some of its greater cities.[1] The area is popular for those looking to visit both for an exciting weekend or for longer stays. Over the last few years, statistics have been taken to show how many people visit the state yearly, and it has been found that upwards of fifty million people visit the area every single year.[4] A large reason for people's visits is for the cities of Las Vegas and Reno. Las Vegas has been known as one of the most entertaining cities in the entire world. The Strip is a very popular section of the city and is open throughout the night. On the Strip, visitors will find world-famous resorts, unique restaurants, theatres, gardens, and more. Other activities in Las Vegas include light shows, concerts, or trips to the famous stratosphere tower, which is a major tourist attraction.[5] 

Reno is another big city that people enjoy visiting. Many different types of artistic places line the streets of downtown Reno where the Riverwalk is. The area boasts of having many independently-owned businesses in the area that have made a name for themselves. The city of Reno calls itself the "Gateway to Nevada Adventure," inviting all people who visit the state for adventures and travel to come and explore.[6]

Beyond these cities, there are many other reasons why people visit the region as well. The Hoover Dam, Lake Tahoe, and multiple state and national parks are available for all people hoping to spend some time in the outdoors.[5] An interesting event that attracts thousands of visitors every year is called The Burning Man. The Burning Man event occurs at the end of August and through the beginning of September in the Black Rock Desert. A community is built here every year that creates a half-circle with different events throughout it, the main ones occurring at its epicenter. What started as a bonfire ritual in California soon became so large that it was moved to the open desert, where people of all kinds now come to express themselves in whatever artistic way they want to. Towards the end of the event, a large wooden man is erected and then burned as a sign for radical self-expression. The community then packs up a few days later and meets up again the next year. This event has consistently grown in popularity as the years have gone by.[7]

Geography

Nevada is located next to the west coast of the United States of America. To the north of the state are Oregon and Idaho, with Utah on its east, Arizona to the southeast, and California on the west. The state is primarily made up of desert, though there are areas throughout it that contain different terrain. Nevada is the 7th largest state in America in size, but it also is one of the least populated states. The capital of Nevada is Carson City, which is in the western part of the state.[2] Carson City is one of the smaller cities in the region, reaching just over 57,000 people. The next largest city is called Sparks, and it has nearly 100,000 people living there.[3] The total population of the state of Nevada is approximately 3.08 million people. [9]

The state has a couple of national parks and historic attractions that people are able to visit if they would like to. The national parks in the area include Death Valley and Great Basin. Death Valley is the lowest, hottest, and driest national park in America. The valley is actually below sea level and is in a perpetual drought. During the summer months, the valley also has record high temperatures that make it difficult to travel through the park without the proper preparations. Despite its heat and drought, there are many different kinds of wildlife and plant life in the park. Great Basin, on the other hand, can reach past 13,000 feet in elevation and is even more diverse in terrain. The night sky of the Great Basin has a reputation of being one of the darkest, allowing its visitors a greater view of the stars in the sky.[14]

Nevada is generally known as a relatively dry state due to the amount of desert terrain and climate present in the area. The climate is fairly diverse due to the mountains in the northern parts of the state, but Nevada is still the driest state in the nation.[10] Temperatures are often in the hundreds during the summer months, causing many people to choose not to visit until after the extreme heat has dissipated. Instead, tourists often choose to visit the state during the months of October through April when the temperature is cooler, and the activities in the big cities are still available.[11]

A wide variety of plants and animals grow in the region. Some of these animals consist of bighorn sheep, the western fence lizard, the desert horned lizard, a large variety of birds, and more. Plants in the area include hair spine prickly pear, desert trumpet, great basin bristlecone pine, etc. Most of the plants and animals that can be seen in Nevada are those that are able to withstand copious amounts of heat with a relatively small amount of water.[12]

Though Nevada is the driest state in the United States, there are many crops produced therein wherever the land is able to be irrigated. The main crop that is grown and sold in the area is alfalfa hay. The hay is generally sold to a variety of other dairy farms in the nearby states. Other crops that are grown in Nevada are potatoes, wheat, barley, oats, corn, onions, and a variety of both fruits and vegetables.[13]

History

Before Nevada was made a state in America, the Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe tribes all inhabited the area. The region was eventually explored by people from Spain but was later incorporated as part of the Utah Territory. The area was never really inhabited except by some small settlements of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints due to the extremely hot weather. When silver was discovered in the region, more and more people started to lay down roots there. Eventually, a Nevada territory was made and then turned into a state. The state had many economic failures, causing the population of people to decline slowly, but major gambling became popular in the state during the early 1900s, causing yet another population boom.[15]

The state of Nevada became part of the United States of America in the year 1864 on October 31st. The people at the time of its statehood were pushing for a quick decision on becoming a state in hopes that if they could have things work in their favor, they would be able to have three extra electoral votes for the election of Abraham Lincoln. These American citizens got what they were hoping for and were able to put their voices up for the famous president.[15]

Today, people still typically visit the state for its gambling and abundance of events, but others still visit the area for its desert and wildlife. There are many things that people can see and do in Nevada, including visiting the national parks of Death Valley and Great Basin, driving over the Hoover Dam, or visiting Lake Tahoe. In essence, the state has become something that many people now visit to have fun in ways that they may not find in other places.[15]