Nevada Geography
The United States of America (U.S.) is a land of lush countryside, purple mountains, and freedom for all. It's lands are composed of fifty states each having their own land and geography, and Nevada is a more unique state than others. A hot climate and low amounts of rain makes Nevada seem like a desert but it's much different with a more interesting landscape than most. Nevada has towering mountains, endless rivers, many cold refreshing lakes, and four different and compelling land regions. Nevada is an oasis in a scorching desert that all should desire and look for in a time of need.
Basic Facts
Nevada is located in the western inland region of the United States. There are five states bordering Nevada. California is to the west of Nevada. Oregon is to the north along with Idaho. Finally, Arizona is to the southeast. Nevada is the seventh largest state covering 110,561 square miles. Nevada’s area can be a horrible wasteland or a place for one of the biggest cities in the world.
​
Nevada has many different climates within the state. The desert climate is a dry and blistering climate that covers much of southern Nevada. The semiarid climate has a short rainy season. Nevada gets most of its rain from the Sierra Nevada region in western Nevada. The Highland climate varies with the elevation and covers the rest of the Sierra Nevada region and all of the Columbia Plateau region. The average high temperature of Nevada is 93°F and the average low is 49°F. The highest recorded temperature was 125°F in Laughlin in 1994 and the lowest was -49°F in San Jacinto in 1937. The average yearly rainfall is 4.3 inches of rain. Nevada is the driest state in the United States. Nevada still only has the 35th highest rainfall in the US. Nevada’s climate can be unbearable in the summer and lukewarm in the winter because of its hot location.
Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada is one of the three major mountain ranges in the U.S. Three major rivers start in the Sierra Nevada: the Carson River, the Truckee River, and the Walker River. Granite peaks rise abruptly from the desert of the Great Basin with the highest being Boundary Peak at 13,140 feet tall. Some of the mountains on the endless range are snow capped year-round. The Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe areas get the most rainfall in Nevada. The Sierra Nevada is more than 400 miles long with most of it being in California. The Sierra Nevada is one of the most important parts of Nevada and also is the smallest region in Nevada.
Columbia Plateau
The Columbia Plateau is a region covering much of northern Nevada. The plateau is on the northern border with Idaho, extending west to Oregon and north to Washington from northern Nevada. The rivers and streams run through the plateau’s deep canyons. Nevada’s Owyhee River starts at the Columbia Plateau and runs into Idaho’s Snake river which is 1038 miles long. Deep lava bedrock lies under the entire 81,000 square mile region with most of the region not being in Nevada because it extends farther north. The Columbia Plateau has many features that make it a fun place to visit.
The Great Basin
The Great Basin is the biggest region in Nevada and has a hot and dry climate. The Humboldt River is the biggest river at 500 miles long in Nevada and runs almost entirely through the Great Basin region of Nevada. More than 160 mountain ranges run through the Great Basin region of Nevada. The valleys of the basin are land where many cattle graze. Lake Mead on the Arizona border is an artificial lake created by Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. Some small lakes lie high on Nevada’s hills and mountains in the Great Basin. The Great Basin is one of the most interesting parts of Nevada
Conclusion
In a desert of flaming heat and dry earth Nevada is the oasis that one would need. Nevada is an important part of the fifty states that make up this great nation. Each state has its own geography filled with searing deserts, purple mountains, deep lakes, bountiful rivers, and wide plains. Each state should be recognized and admired for their beauty. The greatest part of every nation is their unique geography that all can admire.