Nevada

Nevada is located on the south west side of the United States. It is bordered north by Oregon and Idaho, east by Arizona and Utah and southwest by California. The US government, in one form or another National Parks Service, Department of Defense, Fish and Wildlife, the Forest Service owns over 80 percent of the land.

Mountainous, with high elevation and grand expanses of desert, Nevada is the seventh largest state in the nation, but with less that 12 persons to a square mile it is the 37th largest in populations, which stands slightly over 1,200,000. More than half the population lives in and around Las Vegas.

Nevada appeals to tourists in other parts of North America and from around the globe. Top highlights include glitzy gambling casinos, high-quality entertainment, rugged scenery, recreational national parks and a diverse climate that ranges from year-round sunny and warm temperatures on the southwest side and snow-covered freezing winters on the northeast side. Even in the hot summer days, nights can be very cool and temperatures, particularly in the desert, can drop 40 degrees from day to night.

Mining in gold, silver and copper, was the first profitable venture in Nevada. In fact, Nevada is on the top of the list of gold output. Testing of nuclear weapons began in 1951, including the (3,800 feet below the surface) setting off of a hydrogen bomb in 1968. Today, gambling is Nevada's number one source of income, although farming in livestock and crops is still a viable commodity.

Scenic attractions include Lake Mead, Lake Tahoe, Hoover Dam and a spattering of old ghost towns including Virginia City.

Historically, Nevada was part of New Mexico, owned either by Spain or Mexico. It became part of the United States in 1848. Carson City has been the capital since 1861.