: Rich Schweickert, Will Barber
: Journeys Across Nevada's Wild Lands A photographic exploration
: BookBaby
: 9781098326913
: 1
: CHF 9.50
:
: Reiseführer
: English
: 500
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
Nevada, a land of extremes in topography, aridity, and geology, is a vast and wild area, the seventh largest state. Its 109,826 square-mile land area is roughly equivalent to that of the United Kingdom and Denmark. Nevada's rugged, mountainous topography contrasts dramatically with that of most surrounding regions in the western U.S. Its landscapes and geology are very diverse, beautiful, and far more interesting than first meets the eye. Our photos may surprise you! In addition, the geology of Nevada is remarkably complex. Other states will seem tame by comparison. A little geology background, just enough to be dangerous, will enable you to see and understand things you never knew were there. This is a book with captivating scenery, colors, patterns, and landscapes, and some surprising historic vignettes. Additionally, it is a travel companion that will make your Nevada trips more informative and enjoyable and will assist in your exploration and adventure. We present photos, maps, and brief explanations of what you are seeing when you drive through Nevada, from a geological perspective. We have tried to inform you, the traveler, about Nevada's geological resources and geologic history, about human impacts, and the 'law of unintended consequences.' You will share in discovery of many wild places and points of interest, and you may find a few nuggets of information here and there. Because this book is designed for use on road trips, we assume you are a voyager with a companion, your navigator/copilot. While you are driving or stopping to admire a view, your copilot reads, directs, and narrates the scenery and geologic story of Nevada. You will find that the best times for seeing Nevada are early to mid-morning and late afternoon to early evening, when colors and shadows are most dramatic. Join us and enjoy the journey.
CHAPTER 1--ABOUT NEVADA AND HOW THE EARTH WORKS
Nevada, a land of extremes in topography, aridity, and geology, lies astride several major transcontinental highways, flight paths, and transportation routes. In fact, nearly every highway traveler, airline or train passenger traveling between the central and eastern U.S., the Pacific coast and California will pass through or over parts of Nevada. Nevada is a vast, arid area, the seventh largest state, 320 miles at its widest part by 480 miles in its greatest N-S dimension. Its 109,826 square-mile land area is roughly equivalent to that of the United Kingdom and Denmark.
Nevada’s rugged, mountainous topography (Figure 1-1) contrasts dramatically with that of most surrounding regions in the western U.S. In detail, this rugged topography is defined by about 200 mountain ranges (depending on who’s counting), most extending north-northeast to south-southwest, and looming 4,000 to 6,000 feet above narrow, intervening valleys. This is the characteristic “basin-and-range-topography” of the western U.S.
Figure 1-1. Digital shaded relief map of the western United States, with outline of Nevada, modified from Simpson, D.W., and Anders, M.H., 1992.
Most of Nevada is extremely arid, high desert, which, along with parts of southeastern California and western Arizona, makes up one of the driest areas of the U.S. In most of the state rainfall averages less than 10 inches a year. Most of the state, referred to as the “Great Basin,” has no throughgoing drainage, and “rivers go here to die” (Meldahl, 2012).
It is no surprise that Nevada is mostly unpopulated. The only major population centers are near the southern tip (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas) and along the western edge (Reno-Sparks and Carson City)(Figure 1-2), both areas near major rivers. Of an estimated population of 2.8 million (2014), about 1.7 million are in these two metro areas. The rest of the state is nearly empty of people, one of the emptiest such regions in the U.S., averaging fewer than 2.5 persons per square mile.
E-W and N-S routes covered in this book. I-80, U.S. 50, U.S. 6, and I-15, all at a high angle to the topographic grain, are considered east-west routes. I-80, the most heavily traveled land route, follows the courses of two major rivers that dry up, the Truckee River in the west and the Humboldt River in the north-central part of the state.
Figure 1-2. Nevada routes described in this book, plotted on shaded relief map. The block arrows show the directions taken in this book (e.g., I-80, west to east).
U.S. 395, S.R. 447, U.S. 93, and S.R. 375, which generally follow the topographic grain, are grouped as north-south routes. In reality, I-15 and S.R. 375 don’t fit this classification very well, as they run northeast and southwest, respectively.
Nothing seems more permanent than the Earth or, for that matter, Nevada’s landscape. During our eyeblink of existence on this planet, very littl