Nevada

Silver (and Gold) State

Nevada is the 7th largest land-area state in the United States, stretching out a total of 110,577 square miles. However, in all of the state's space to spread out, nearly three-quarters of its residents live in Clark County, which contains the Las Vegas-Paradise metropolitan area.

Nevada is officially known as the "Silver State" because of the importance of silver to its history and economy. Gold and silver mining shaped Nevada's economy for many years and also impacted the population anytime there was a rich strike in the area. Today, tourism is the state's largest employer. Mining still plays a major role in Nevada's economy though, as the state is currently the fourth-largest producer of gold in the world.

Hidden Oasis in Desert Landscapes

Nevada is mostly a desert landscape with the northern part of the state being almost entirely within the Great Basin of the U.S. The southern third of the state is within the Mojave Desert. The state's name comes from the Spanish word meaning "snow covered" after the Sierra Nevada mountain range which lies on the western edge of Nevada.

Although the majority of this giant state is a desert, Nevada has several rivers that drain from the Sierra Nevada eastward and the Humboldt River crosses the state from east to west. The Colorado River also forms much of the state's boundary with Arizona. There are dozens of lakes scattered throughout the state as well, some small and remote like an oasis, while others are larger and world-famous.

Nevada's Three Most Famous Lakes

Nevada is known for several famous people and places, especially anything that has to do with Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. But did you know the state also has three lakes which attract home buyers and vacationers world-wide?

Lake Tahoe, which borders Nevada and California, is the state's most-famous lake. It is the second deepest lake in the United States and is known for the breathtaking vistas provided by the surrounding mountains, forests, and crystal waters. Popular recreational activities include fishing, boating, and swimming, and snow activities like skiing in the wintertime. Visitors and residents can gamble at one of the casinos on the Nevada side of the lake.

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the U.S. in water capacity at full pool, and is the 16th largest man-made lake the world. This lake is located just 24 miles from downtown Las Vegas and has property types from condos, to townhomes, to two-story houses, and even a few apartments. There are also four marinas and a few casual public landing sites on the lake.

Lake Las Vegas is a Mediterranean-themed planned community centered around a 320-acre artificial lake that bears the same name. There are three resorts in the community as well, including the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort, Aston MonteLago Village Resort, and the Hilton Lake Las Vegas. Lake Las Vegas is only a 30-minute drive from Boulder City and was named the second safest city in America by Forbes magazine in 2011.

Never Far from Entertainment in Nevada

All of Nevada's lakes offer beautiful scenes to enjoy water sports, relaxation lakeside, and pretty great weather year-round. No matter what type of lake setting you are looking for in Nevada, whether it be quiet and tucked away in a beautiful desert landscape, or in the middle of a resort-like community, there is something for any taste in this state. Even the smaller, more remote lakes in the state are usually not located too far from world-class dining and entertainment!