TRAVEL > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES > NEVADA

THE SILVER STATE

Nevada is not only known for its casino and entertainment cities of Las Vegas and Reno; it is also home to the Great Basin National Park. The Sierra Nevada Mountains that sit to the west of Nevada create a rain shadow across this state, a barrier preventing many Pacific storms from reaching the land. The mountainous high desert is rich in metal ores and was a destination particularly for silver prospectors in the 19th century; the state is still the largest producer of silver and gold in the country.