Nevada Fun Facts -- Nevada Landmarks

Nevada Fun Facts
Here are some of the more interesting facts wacky "Did you know's" about the Silver State. I usually demand an explanation when people claim that Nevada is nothing more sagebrush and cheap buffets. I dare them to read these and then draw a conclusion. Enjoy.

Gambling & Reno/Las Vegas

In Nevada, it is mandatory that all video slot machines pay a minimum average of 75 percent.
Over 38.9 million people visit Las Vegas each year.
The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, covering 171,500 square feet, is America's largest hotel and second largest in the world.
The average annual room rate in Las Vegas as of 2003 was $83.00 per night.
Nevada is the only state in America with legalized prostitution...
...However, any county with a population greater than 400,000 is prohibited from exercising brothels and prostitution. In sparsely populated Nevada, this only accounts for Clark and Washoe Counties.
Although Nevada itself allows legalized prostitution, Nevada's seventeen counties are given the right to prohibit the practice. The counties that do not allow prostitution include Carson City, Clark, Douglas, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Pershing and Washoe Counties (8 out of 17).
Ironically, the only city in Nevada where gambling is ILLEGAL is Boulder City, located twenty four miles south of Las Vegas.
Approximately 45% of Nevada's revenue derives from taxes on gambling.
The exact odds of hitting a natural Royal Flush on any video poker machine is 1:645,253.
Gambling is Nevada's prime source of income, averaging around 75% of the state's annual revenue. Mining is the second source, while tourism is third.
There are nearly 150,000 slot machines in Clark County alone (That's about one for every nine people).
Sadly, Las Vegas has the highest rate of water consumption in the world. Vegas uses a staggering 375 gallons of water per person per day to sustain its paradise-in-the-desert scheme. This is twice the rate of Phoenix, three times the rate of Los Angeles and four times the rate of New England!
The Las Vegas Strip has over 15,000 miles of neon lights along its three mile length.
About 150 couples get married in Las Vegas each day, equalling to about 119,000 weddings performed annually in Las Vegas alone.
Opening in 1906, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino was the first hotel and casino to open in Las Vegas.
The Stratosphere is the tallest free-standing observation tower in the U.S. and the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River.
In 1999, Nevada had 205,726 slot machines (One for 10 Nevadans).
17 of the 20 biggest hotels in the U.S. are located in Las Vegas.
Did you know... it would take 288 years for one person to spend one night in every hotel room in Las Vegas?

Natural Nevada

Approximately 40% of Nevada is covered by sagebrush.
Nevada has a total of 315 counted mountain ranges, making Nevada the most mountainous state in America.
There are 9 mountain ranges in Nevada that have one or more peaks exceeding 11,000 feet in height...
...While 5 mountain peaks in Nevada tower more than 12,000 in height! These peaks are: Boundary Peak (13,140), Wheeler Peak (13,063), Jeff Davis (12,771), Mount Baker (12,298) and Mount Moriah (12,067).
Did you know... The lowest temperature ever recorded in Nevada was -50 degrees? This plunge in the mercury occurred on January 8, 1937 at the site of San Jacinto near Jackpot.
In comparison, did you know the highest temperature ever recorded in Nevada was 125 degrees? This stifling heat was recorded on June 29, 1994 in Laughlin.
The amount of forest land in Nevada is a staggering 8.6 million acres!
Did you know... Nevada has more open space than any place in the lower 48 states? Over 80% of Nevada land is designated for public and recreation use.
Nevada is the driest state in America, with a statewide annual rainfall of only 9 inches.
Did you know... Nevada has the largest number of wild horses in America? 75%, or an estimated 28,000 wild horses roaming free in the U.S are found in Nevada.
Did you know... Nevada is the only state to possess a complete skeleton, approximately 55 feet long, of an Ichthyosaur? This extinct marine reptile is evidence of Nevada's once underwater history.
Lake Mead is the only Nevada lake with an outlet to the sea...
The Colorado River is the only river in Nevada to reach the ocean. In most years however, the Colorado never makes it to the ocean due to excessive diversions for agriculture by California and Mexico.
Nevada has more than 44,000 acres of man-made reservoirs, 2,760 miles of streams and 14 designated wilderness areas covering 798,067 acres. Talk about a wild state!

Other Facts

There is only one summit in Nevada to have four consecutive numbers for its elevation. Geiger Summit in Storey County sits at an elevation of 6,789 feet.
Nevada ranks 1st in silver production in the U.S, producing 10 million troy ounces of silver in 2003!
Nevada is the largest gold-producing state in the nation and 2nd in the world behind South Africa!
Hoover Dam, the largest single public works project in the history of the United States, contains 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete, enough to pave a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York.
Nevada has one of the least population densities in America with only 21 people per square mile. If you dismiss Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada's population density would be the lowest in the country with 0.21 persons per square mile!
Nevada has the lowest percentage of native born residents. Only 1 of every 5 Nevadans were born in the state.
Nevada has one of the highest count of cattle ranches in the U.S, ranging close to 1,600 statewide.
Pershing County features only 1 of 2 round courthouses in the United States. The other is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania constructed in 1960. However, if you're going for superlatives, you could say Pershing's courthouse is the oldest round courthouse in America.
Nevada has about 50,000 miles of paved roads, much of it featured in films like "Vanishing Point," "Breakdown," "Rainman," and "Lethal Weapon 4."
About 25 million vehicles enter Nevada by way of its Interstates, US Routes and state highways every year.
The smallest incorporated city in Nevada is Gabbs (pop. 160), 140 miles S of Reno.
To drive from Los Angeles to Reno, the direction traveled is to the... west? Yes, due to the shape of California's coastline, Reno is actually located slightly WEST of Los Angeles.
To break the tie in a Nevada Governor's race, the winner is still determined the old fashioned way: a hand of high card. Highest card wins the race.
Wyatt Earp started his career as a lawman as Sheriff of Tonopah.
Virginia City miners were at one time, the highest paid miners in the world, earning an outstanding $28 a week compared to $5/week for miners elsewhere in the world. (If you compare that to today's value, Comstock miners would be earning about $3,000/week.)
Nevada is one of only three states with less than five statewide area codes! Nevada only has two area codes, 775 for northern and rural Nevada and 702 for Las Vegas and Clark County.

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