Most of Nevada lies within the Great Basin of the Basin and Range region of
North America. The rivers in the southeast belong to the Colorado River system,
while those of the extreme north drain into the Snake. Its mountain chains generally run north and south,
further segmenting the state. On the California border stand the lofty Sierra
Nevada [snowy range]. In the driest state in the nation, days and nights are
generally clear. In the north and
west winters reach extreme cold, while in parts of the south the summers
approach ovenlike heat. Carson City is the capital; Las Vegas is the largest city, and Reno the
second largest. Outside the cities, visitors are attracted to Hoover Dam and
Lake Mead, with its facilities for fishing, swimming, and boating. Las Vegas is all about glamour for its own sake, over-the-top hustle and
flash as means and end. It's crowds of people in polyester pantsuits, big hair
and gold chains, staring at neon signs and spinning lemons like deer hypnotised
by headlights. Not that Vegas doesn't have a serious side - billions are at stake on the
tables and in the theme parks. But you're given enough distractions to ignore
it, until you lose. If you tire of tugging on the slot machines, the surrounding
area has some of the region's most beautiful scenery.
It's impossible to talk about Las Vegas without using the term 'world-class',
because so many of the city's hotels, restaurants and extravagant entertainment
options are truly that. Step outside the neon environs and even the splendours
surrounding Sin City are world beaters - the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and the
magnificent wind- and water-carved landscapes of the southwest's red rock
desert.