10 Things You Didn't Know About Nevada

Today I want to talk to you about one of my new favorite states, Nevada. Yes I said it. Nevada. The state ranking very high on the 'Forgettable Scale'. I believe it would rank somewhere around Delaware, Indiana, and Wyoming. But I have fallen in love with this strange state, perhaps for the same reasons I love Kpop, no one knows about it. Anything, at all. Name one thing that doesn't involve Las Vegas? You can't. But I can.



Here are the top 10 things you didn't know about Nevada
(Note: I'll be taking all Images from Wiki, because I'm lazy)

1.) Nevada is considered the 'Most Mountainous State' in the contiguous United States. Alaska ofcourse ranks #1.

The reason for this is simple. Look at the physical relief map on the right. The entire state is flooded with little veins of mountains, all except the basin where the Mojave sits and a few small basins in the west. Each line is a separate mountain range, and none connect. This is why they are counted as separate ranges, unlike say the expansive Rockies and Appalachians. So it has hundreds of mountain ranges, and each range has a peak on it over 2000ft. 172 mountain summits infact.

What this does is make driving through Nevada a beautiful experience. You drive through valley after valley, each time passing by a new mountain range. When these mountains get tall enough (perhaps over 11,000ft) they start creating their own climate and support sub-alpine trees and much colder climates.


Which brings me to the next point:
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2.) Nevada contains beautiful landscapes reminiscent of the Rockies and Sierra Nevadas, with big pines, flowing rivers, and snowcapped peaks. These places act as biological hotspots that bring in tons of birds, mammals, and high plant diversity. The Nevada Department of Wildlife has introduced many animals into these ranges including Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Goats, and the ever famous Himilayan Snowcock. At this point I don't know of any adverse biological problems associated with these species, and they are all hunted regularly.

 Many of these areas include the Spring Mountains (pictured), Great Basin National Park, and the Ruby Mountains (home of the Snowcock). Don't worry it also includes desert, LOTS OF IT. But also includes these other nice places.


None of this even includes my next point:
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3.) Lake Tahoe is in Nevada. Well part of it. Lake Tahoe is on the border of California and Nevada and both share towns around the lake. Tahoe is known locally as having the best skiing and has nationally the most ski resorts per area.

This very large mountain lake was formed by strong fault activity pushing the mountains around it up and splitting a gap in the middle. Add heavy glacial activity, and you have a rather large beautiful lake in the mountains. Lake Tahoe is the 2nd deepest lake in the US at 1600 feet and the 26th largest lake in the world. Not too shabby.

This expansive landscape is frequented by outdoor enthusiasts year round in winter by skiing and snow mobiling, and summer hiking, fishing, and boating. Other sites include The Tahoe Rim trail, which circles the entire lake via the mountain tops, taking you from peak to peak.

With its average mean temperature in summer never above 80 degrees, and it's not hard to tell why it's homeowners are the extremely wealthy and extravagant.

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4.) It's climate is the 2nd highest in extremes and it's tied for 4th (with Florida) as the longest spanning state in latitude. The highest point recorded was in the Mojave at 125 F and the lowest was in the northern border at -50 F (Beat out barely by Californias 135 F and -45 F respectively) This added to the fact it's an extremely arid climate, and you always have some part of the state at a temperature you're looking for.

The southern portion of Nevada the most arid of the region, caused by the extreme portion of the Sierra Nevadas rain shadow, while having an extremely hot (Las Vegas averages around 110 in July/August), and has extremely mild winters. Reno in comparison which is still hundreds of miles from the northern border averages a wonderful 90 F in July/August and thanks to cooling of arid regions is an average 50 F at night in the July/August.

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5.) Nevada is perhaps the most liberal state in the Union. Thats right. The most Liberal state in the Union. You may lump it in there with the crazy states like Utah and Arizona, but they infact voted for Barrack Obama in the last election (due in large part to Vegas and Reno). While there are many crazies in Nevada, their unique history and extreme need for tourism have made them to pass  many unique laws.

This all started with Gold Rush, that brought many miners and created many new wealthy people in the area. These backwater towns and new wealth led to many sinful practices that were later put into law after statehood.

Some of the laws include:
     -Legal Gambling- Casinos are everywhere, and video slots are put in every place imaginable, from gas stations to grocery stores.
     -Legal prostitution- This became popular after the new wave of immigrants and miners entering the near lawless Nevada territory in the 1860's. The strange part of this law is that Las Vegas and Reno are not included, this compared to Carson City that voted separately to ban it. The only restriction is they have to be in licensed brothels, so no street walking for you girls out there! I've heard these girls make 6 figures a year, and only work half the year, just incase anyone wanted to argue this poin.
     -The most liberal divorce laws- That's why you get married randomly in Vegas, you can get divorced in Vegas just as easily.
     -No state liquor laws (only federal)- Check this link out here for reference. There are no laws concerning sell of alcohol, bar closing times, open container laws, or even percent alcohol caps. The most interesting part is it is legal in Nevada to be 'Publically Intoxicated', yep, do what you want, folks. The only state that comes close is my other favorite lawless state, Louisiana, who has really light laws on things like taking glass bottles in public and many of these lack of laws apply to only New Orleans.
     -Nevada recognizes same sex unions- BAM. Enacted in 2009, this law was actually vetoed by the Governer, and then OVERRIDDEN by the state legislature to become law. Pretty nice to see parts of checks and balances actually being used.

And the most interesting part of this equation:
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6.) 87% of Nevada is Federal land. The Homestead act granted land west of Mississippi to any willing participant. Typically this land was 160 acres. The problem is Nevadas extremely arid climate and low nutritional value in the vegetation require area much larger than 160 acres to do much of anything. This explains why the only private land is in Las Vegas, Reno, and surrounding rivers were Agriculture and Ranching are possible. The homestead act ended, and the government was left with the rest. Fun fact 2/3rds of the people in Nevada live in 1 county (Clark county surrounding Las Vegas)

So what does all this mean? You can do anywhere in Nevada and do anything you want. Pull over on the side of the road, and just go walking. Anywhere. Just go. Climb a mountain. Scream from it. It's ok. From the outside this may not seem true, as there are fences everywhere. However, unlike Texas, where you'd get shot for entering these fences. In Nevada it's 'Trespass Please' unless otherwise stated. So land owners will kindly place 'No Trespassing' signs on their property and lock gates. Usually there aren't gates on public land, but few times there are, they just come with signs that say 'Please close gate'.

For a Texan this has lead to alot of anxiety. The beginning of my tenure here contained lots of yelling at my co-worker not to enter a property or else we'll die. It's however, never true. Mostly. No one ever questions what you're doing out there either. Go camp anywhere, run around naked, they don't care. Except The Nature Conservancy, because they're jerks.


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7.) Nevada ranks in the top 5 of most Vanity plates in the country. I can't explain this one, and neither can the internet. It may be the boredom of people in Nevada ormaybe the cheap price ($20/year). Added to the fact the entire population live in Reno or Las Vegas and it very well may seem like every other car has a vanity plate. The problem with this, is its very distracting. I stop paying attention to the road while trying to figure out if your (SXSTR) plate is because you are a sex star, sixth sister, sax star, snowboard trail builder, or 7 times straight.

 (This post has my 1 stolen image, above), I believe it's FUCK ala If You Seek Amy style, though I'm unsure. I personally like the quick read translation of 'I fuse steak'.

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8.) The desert is beautiful. And luckily there's alot of it in Nevada. I can't explain the amount of times I've driven in the desert and just been struck by its raw beauty. It's expansive and its colorful. The bare mountains make way for gorgeous colors of all different types of rocks and geologic events. You can tell the history of the area just by looking at the mountains. Each layer is intricately drawn out, explaining volcanic, fault movements, deep underground laval flows, and chemistry. From the red rocks in southern Nevada, to the areas near Death Valley, and across to the northern sagebrush areas of Nevada. There's something about the desert that gets me. (This pictures actually mine!)

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9.) It is one of the quietest place in the United States. Only the desert can create such a silence. Lower quality habitat and arid climates lead to larger ranges for animals (birds especially), this creates zones were birds are not and therefore don't sing. The low population and fact very cars don't drive but on the major highways means you can step out of your car and hear, nothing. I've been to the quietest place on Earth (Haleakala Crater) and this comes close. Climb a mountain, on a not so breezy day and just sit down. You'll thank me later.

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10.) Nevada has 2 national parks. TWO! And a rather expansive National Forest.

     -Death Valley National Park- Granted it's more on the California side, but still this is a gorgeous and very unique place. It's nestled between two mountain ranges, and a relative stones throw from the highest peak in the contiguous united states, Mount Whitney. It's Whitney that actually creates this valley of death. Rain shadows are created by the extreme elevation in the Sierras, as the air rises above the sierras, the moisture is forced out of the air like ringing an atmospheric towel. This place is home to not only the hottest place on earth (that 135 F temperature) but also the lowest elevation in North America at -282 ft. That's right you can walk to a lower point elevationally than you can safely scuba dive. The incredible diversity in habitat from salt flats, sand dunes, canyon lands, and common arid vegetation makes it an International Biospehere Reserve, as long as you can stand the heat ofcourse. I'd suggest going in winter when the temperatures range from 40-70 F.

     -Great Basin National Park. Unfortunately I don't know much about this park as I have not visited it. But it's near the Utah border, and acts as one of those high elevation bio hotspots, sporting many high elevation endemics and natives. I hope to visit it on my journey out of Nevada.

     - Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest- This is another Nevada eccentric moment, but it is considered the largest by area national forest in the lower 48 (Alaska always wins every outdoor contest). This is strictly because the national forest is actually spread throughout the entire state. Every mountain range high enough and moist enough to sustain Ponderosa Pines is protected as part of the National Forest. So this expands across the Eastern Sierra Nevadas on the border of California, the Spring Mountains in the west, and Ruby Mountains in the North west. And every time you enter the National Forest you're in for a treat. The pictueresque pines lead to high biodiversity (again with the biodiversity!) and are always a treat to hike through. The best part is you can hike from the desert to pine trees in an hour and back again. 


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And what do all these variable environments and habitats I just mentioned really mean for us? (This counts as unofficial point 11) Very high bird diversity! Especially if you include migration, which we ofcourse will! 

From the high elevation species, to Pinyon-Juniper specialists, desert specialists, migrating song birds through the Eastern Sierras, the large natural lakes acting as an oasis for migrating waterbirds, and let's not forget the Nevada Department of Wildlifes special gift of 250 Himilayan Snowcocks! If you have the time to drive, you can see a ridiculous amount of birds. No it's not California, Arizona, Texas, or Florida, but it's still quite impressive if you put the entire years totals together. Thanks to the wonderful organization I work for, Great Basin Bird Observatory, I can say there are 488 reported species of birds in Nevada. Compare that to the 654 species of birds that occure naturally (no vagrants) in North America, and Nevada has seen 75% of all the birds in North America!

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My final note to anyone wanting to visit Nevada. Be prepared to travel and hike alot. Most of Nevada is empty, get gas when you can, always bring more water than you need. My biggest tip would be to have an off-road vehicle, while there are roads that go to almost everywhere in Nevada most of them are seriously only 4x4 accesible. Few dirt roads are maintained and many passes are impassible in the winter.

Also it should probably be noted, while I seemed to put in alot of pictures of beautiful mountains full of pines, the majority of nevada is arid desert. I'm just trying to trick you by not accurately representing picture percentages on my blog to reality.