Mention the name “Nevada” and what comes to mind for most people is the brightly lit strip that runs four miles through the city of Las Vegas. In reality though, there is much more to Nevada than just neon lights and casinos. Also known as the Silver State, Nevada is the seventh largest state in the United States. The desert location means that the temperatures range from 13 F to 104 F depending on the area. Most areas see less of a temperature range, however. Rainfall is very low in Nevada, with averages around seven inches. The capital of Nevada is Carson City, though many people think that it is Las Vegas, likely due to the fact that Las Vegas contains about 35 times as many residents as the capital. Reno is the other most major city in the state.

Nevada is famous for its legalized gambling resorts and casinos and rightly so. There are over 175 casinos in the state of Nevada. However, there are many other things to do in Nevada as well. If you’re not exclusively interested in gambling, Nevada also has a myriad of attractions that don’t involve gambling though many of them are in some way attached to casinos. For those who enjoy the outdoors there are many activities in Nevada that are sure to please. Visitors and residents alike can tour the Hoover Dam, go hiking, rock climbing, white-water rafting, golfing, or visit the many lakes or wildlife refuges in the state. At Lake Tahoe, near the California border, there are many opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and sledding in the winter; while the lake itself is popular for water sports in the summer.

In addition, there are many art galleries, museums, zoos, theme parks, aquariums, and even mine tours of local gold and opal mines. For the more adventurous, you can even tour the Nevada Test Site where the US military has performed 928 nuclear tests. Nevada is a state that sees great climatic diversity in its various regions. The state has lowland deserts in the south and cool mountain forests in the North. The principal climatic features are bright sunshine, small annual precipitation and heavy snowfall in the higher mountainous regions. Nevada is indeed a unique state to visit; the diversity of its terrain and attractions make it a fascinating tourist destination as well as a great place to live.

Nevada is the seventh biggest state in the US and is located in the Midwest of the country between California to the west and Utah to the east. Nevada has unique and interesting animals with unique characteristics.There are some highly venomous snakes, which are active in southern Nevada. The various animals that are found in Nevada are mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk, antelope, black bear, beaver, raccoon, brush rabbit, kit fox, mountain lion and many more. There are many amazing birds that have made Nevada as their home.

Spring brings venomous snakes out into the open. Hikers and other outdoor people are advised to be aware of their surroundings and take a few precautions to minimize encounters with snakes. In winter, viewing hawks, eagles and other raptors is a fun family activity. Moopa valley provides a perfect setting for viewing them and can be viewed easily using equipment like binoculars and spotting scopes. The other kinds of birds that can be viewed in this season are waterfowl.

Nevada’s wide open spaces, like the empty grounds provide a great opportunity for hunting. Urban development has created an artificial wildlife friendly environment that is attracting several species of wildlife. On the flip side many of these species invite unwanted predators. Landscaping with trees, shrubs etc., done for urban beautification provide food, shelter and water for several species belonging to Nevada wildlife. Nevada’s climatic conditions sometimes affect the population growth of animals to quite an extent. Threatened and endangered species serve as a red flag for overall health of the environment. One of the most critical processes threatening wildlife conservation is the conversion of shrubs to annual grasses and other kinds of vegetation.

Nevada has established a department called the “Nevada Department of Wildlife” that protects and restores the wildlife in Nevada. It also ensures safe boating in Nevada waters. Another important organization, which was established as a leading voice for the issues that affect wildlife, is the “Nevada wildlife federation.” Nevada department of wildlife maintains and continuously updates a species management program.