Geography & Climate
Industry
Snapshot | Economy/Cost of
Living
Education
| Recreation
& Entertainment | Transportation
History | Suggested
Reading List
Nevada is located in the western region of the United States and ranks as the 7th largest state in
total area by covering 110,567 square miles (286,367 square kilometers or 28,636,721 hectares). Land
areas of Nevada cover 109,806 square miles (284,396 square kilometers or 28,439,623 hectares), whereas
a scant 761 square miles (1,971 square kilometers or 197,098 hectares) of Nevada are covered by water,
ranking the Silver State as the driest state in the country. Nevada shares borders with Oregon and
Idaho to the north, California to the south, Utah and Arizona to the east, and to the west by
California.
Nevada contains a varied topography throughout the state. The geography of Nevada is distinguished
primarily by the Great Basin, in which most of the state resides, of the Basin and Range region of the
nation. Other interesting features include over 150 mountain ranges, valleys with lakes, hot springs
and geysers hearkening dying volcanoes, and alkali flats. Additional land regions include the Columbia
Plateau and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The Columbia Plateau resides in the northeastern corner
of Nevada and is comprised of lava bedrock, with rivers carving deep canyons into the land, and
distinguished by open prairie along Idaho’s border. The Sierra Nevada range stretches across Nevada
south of Carson City. Nevada’s highest point is Boundary Peak, with an elevation of 13,140 feet (4 kilometers) above sea level.
Rivers in the southeastern part of the state belong to the Colorado River system, and northern rivers
drain into the Snake River. However, many of Nevada’s rivers do not leave the state, and terminate in
alkali sinks unless otherwise diverted for irrigation and reclamation. Major rivers include the
Colorado, Columbia, Humboldt, Truckee, Carson, and Walker rivers. Major natural lakes include the
lovely glacial Lake Tahoe (shared with California), Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake, Topaz Lake, and Ruby
Lake; man made lakes include Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Lahontan, and Rye Patch Reservoir.
With a mean elevation of 5,500 feet (1.7 kilometers), Nevada’s rugged and mountainous topography
greatly influences its climate. Elevation ranges swing from over 10,000 feet (3.04 kilometers) above
sea level to as low as about 1,500 feet (457.2 meters). The climate is arid with abundant sunshine,
little rain, and heavy snowfall in the higher elevations. The northeastern part of the state
experiences short, hot summers and long, cold winters; the western part also experiences short and hot
summers, but with more moderate winters; and the southern part of the state endures long, hot summers
and short, mild winters. Aside from elevation effects, the mountains in the northeast of the state
provide a barrier to the coldest arctic air masses, and also to precipitation, with western Sierra
slopes receiving the warm, moist Pacific Ocean air; the air descending the eastern side of the range,
having lost its moisture as precipitation, contains very little moisture. A steppe and desert climate
results in the lower elevations. Temperatures swing widely from day to night due to the dry air,
sometimes varying as much as 30 to 35 degrees F (-1.1 to 1.7 degrees C). The average January high
temperature for Reno is 32 degrees F (0 degrees C), whereas the annual July average is 69 degrees F
(20.6 degrees C). Southern portions of the state can reach temperatures of over 100 degrees F (37.8
degrees C) in the summer. Average annual precipitation ranges from 7.5 inches (19.05 centimeters) at
Reno to abundant mountain snow, as much as 60 inches (152.4 centimeters) annually, on the highest
peaks.
Related Resources:
Back to Destination Nevada
|
