Geography of Nevada
{{Short description|none}}
File:Digital-elevation-map-nevada.gif
The landlocked U.S. state of Nevada has a varied geography and is almost entirely within the Basin and Range Province and is broken up by many north–south mountain ranges. Most of these ranges have endorheic valleys between them.
Overview
Much of the northern part of the state is within the Great Basin, a mild desert that experiences hot temperatures in the summer and cold temperatures in the winter. Occasionally, moisture from the Arizona Monsoon will cause summer thunderstorms; Pacific storms may blanket the area with snow. The state's highest recorded temperature was {{convert|125|°F|°C|0}} in Laughlin (elevation of {{convert|605|ft|disp=or|sp=us}}) on June 29, 1994.National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, N.C., and Storm Phillips, Stormfax, Inc. The coldest recorded temperature was {{convert|-52|°F|°C|0|lk=on}} set in San Jacinto in 1972, in the northeastern portion of the state.
The Humboldt River crosses the state from east to west across the northern part of the state, draining into the Humboldt Sink near Lovelock. Several rivers drain from the Sierra Nevada eastward, including the Walker, Truckee, and Carson rivers. All of these rivers are endorheic basins, ending in Walker Lake, Pyramid Lake, and the Carson Sink, respectively. However, not all of Nevada is within the Great Basin. Tributaries of the Snake River drain the far north, while the Colorado River, which also forms much of the boundary with Arizona, drains much of southern Nevada.
The mountain ranges, some of which have peaks above {{convert|13000|ft}}, harbor lush forests high above desert plains, creating sky islands for endemic species. The valleys are often no lower in elevation than {{convert|3000|ft}}, while some in central Nevada are above {{convert|6000|ft}}.
File:Charge! Little Finland, NV.jpg rock formation in Nevada]]
The southern third of the state, where the Las Vegas area is situated, is within the Mojave Desert. The area receives less rain in the winter but is closer to the Arizona Monsoon in the summer. The terrain is also lower, mostly below {{convert|4000|ft}}, creating conditions for hot summer days and cool to chilly winter nights.
Nevada and California have by far the longest diagonal line (in respect to the cardinal directions) as a state boundary at just over {{convert|400|mi}}. This line begins in Lake Tahoe nearly {{convert|4|mi}} offshore (in the direction of the boundary), and continues to the Colorado River where the Nevada, California, and Arizona boundaries merge {{convert|12|mi}} southwest of the Laughlin Bridge.
The largest mountain range in the southern portion of the state is the Spring Mountain Range, just west of Las Vegas. The state's lowest point is along the Colorado River, south of Laughlin.
Nevada has 172 mountain summits with {{convert|2000|ft}} of prominence. Nevada ranks second in the United States by the number of mountains, behind Alaska, and ahead of California, Montana, and Washington.[https://peakvisor.com/adm/nevada.html Nevada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130175829/https://peakvisor.com/adm/nevada.html |date=November 30, 2020 }}. PeakVisor. Retrieved June 23, 2020
Climate
{{further|Climate change in Nevada}}
File:Köppen Climate Types Nevada.png of Nevada, using 1991-2020 climate normals.]]
Nevada is the driest state in the United States.{{cite web |last=Osborn |first=Liz |url=http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/driest-states.php |title=Driest states |publisher=Currentresults.com |access-date=January 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117095100/http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/driest-states.php |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |url-status=live }} It is made up of mostly desert and semi-arid climate regions, and, with the exception of the Las Vegas Valley, the average summer diurnal temperature range approaches {{convert|40|F-change|C-change}} in much of the state. While winters in northern Nevada are long and fairly cold, the winter season in the southern part of the state tends to be of short duration and mild. Most parts of Nevada receive scarce precipitation during the year. The most rain that falls in the state falls on the east and northeast slopes of the Sierra Nevada.
The average annual rainfall per year is about {{convert|7|in|mm}}; the wettest parts get around {{convert|40|in|mm}}. Nevada's highest recorded temperature is {{convert|125|F|C}} at Laughlin on June 29, 1994, and the lowest recorded temperature is {{convert|-50|F|C}} at San Jacinto on January 8, 1937. Nevada's {{convert|125|F|C}} reading is the third highest statewide record high temperature of a U.S. state, just behind Arizona's {{convert|128|F|C}} reading and California's {{convert|134|F|C}} reading.
=Climate data=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;"
|+Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected cities in Nevada{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=NV&statename=Nevada-United-States-of-America|title=Nevada climate averages|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=November 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009031701/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=NV&statename=Nevada-United-States-of-America|archive-date=October 9, 2015|url-status=live}} | ||||||||
| rowspan="2" |Location
! colspan="2" |July (°F) ! colspan="2" |July (°C) ! colspan="2" |December (°F) ! colspan="2" |December (°C) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max
!Min !Max !Min !Max !Min !Max !Min | ||||||||
| Las Vegas | 106 | 81 | 41 | 27 | 56 | 38 | 13 | 3 |
| Reno | 92 | 57 | 33 | 14 | 45 | 25 | 7 | –4 |
| Carson City | 89 | 52 | 32 | 11 | 45 | 22 | 7 | –5 |
| Elko | 90 | 50 | 32 | 10 | 37 | 14 | 2 | –9 |
| Fallon | 92 | 54 | 33 | 12 | 45 | 19 | 7 | –7 |
| Winnemucca | 93 | 52 | 34 | 11 | 41 | 17 | 5 | –8 |
| Laughlin | 112 | 80 | 44 | 27 | 65 | 43 | 18 | 6 |
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Las Vegas (Köppen BWh){{efn|1991-2020 normals. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}}
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 87
|Mar record high F = 92
|Apr record high F = 99
|May record high F = 109
|Jun record high F = 117
|Jul record high F = 117
|Aug record high F = 116
|Sep record high F = 114
|Oct record high F = 103
|Nov record high F = 87
|Dec record high F = 78
|Jan avg record high F = 68.7
|Feb avg record high F = 74.2
|Mar avg record high F = 84.3
|Apr avg record high F = 93.6
|May avg record high F =101.8
|Jun avg record high F =110.1
|Jul avg record high F =112.9
|Aug avg record high F =110.3
|Sep avg record high F =105.0
|Oct avg record high F = 94.6
|Nov avg record high F = 80.5
|Dec avg record high F = 67.9
|year avg record high F=113.6
|Jan high F = 58.5
|Feb high F = 62.9
|Mar high F = 71.1
|Apr high F = 78.5
|May high F = 88.5
|Jun high F = 99.4
|Jul high F = 104.5
|Aug high F = 102.8
|Sep high F = 94.9
|Oct high F = 81.2
|Nov high F = 67.1
|Dec high F = 56.9
|year high F= 80.5
|Jan mean F = 49.5
|Feb mean F = 53.5
|Mar mean F = 60.8
|Apr mean F = 67.7
|May mean F = 77.3
|Jun mean F = 87.6
|Jul mean F = 93.2
|Aug mean F = 91.7
|Sep mean F = 83.6
|Oct mean F = 70.4
|Nov mean F = 57.2
|Dec mean F = 48.2
|year mean F = 70.1
|Jan low F = 40.5
|Feb low F = 44.1
|Mar low F = 50.5
|Apr low F = 56.9
|May low F = 66.1
|Jun low F = 75.8
|Jul low F = 82.0
|Aug low F = 80.6
|Sep low F = 72.4
|Oct low F = 59.6
|Nov low F = 47.3
|Dec low F = 39.6
|year low F= 59.6
|Jan avg record low F = 29.8
|Feb avg record low F = 32.9
|Mar avg record low F = 38.7
|Apr avg record low F = 45.2
|May avg record low F = 52.8
|Jun avg record low F = 62.2
|Jul avg record low F = 72.9
|Aug avg record low F = 70.8
|Sep avg record low F = 60.8
|Oct avg record low F = 47.4
|Nov avg record low F = 35.2
|Dec avg record low F = 29.0
|year avg record low F= 27.4
|Jan record low F = 8
|Feb record low F = 16
|Mar record low F = 19
|Apr record low F = 31
|May record low F = 38
|Jun record low F = 48
|Jul record low F = 56
|Aug record low F = 54
|Sep record low F = 43
|Oct record low F = 26
|Nov record low F = 15
|Dec record low F = 11
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.56
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.80
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.42
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.20
|May precipitation inch = 0.07
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.04
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.38
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.32
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.32
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.32
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.30
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.45
|year precipitation inch= 4.18
|Jan snow inch = 0.0
|Feb snow inch = 0.0
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.2
|year snow inch = 0.2
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.1
|Feb precipitation days = 4.1
|Mar precipitation days = 2.8
|Apr precipitation days = 1.6
|May precipitation days = 1.1
|Jun precipitation days = 0.4
|Jul precipitation days = 2.5
|Aug precipitation days = 2.2
|Sep precipitation days = 1.8
|Oct precipitation days = 1.7
|Nov precipitation days = 1.5
|Dec precipitation days = 3.0
|year precipitation days=25.8
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.0
|Feb snow days = 0.1
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.1
|year snow days = 0.2
|Jan sun = 245.2 |Jan percentsun = 79
|Feb sun = 246.7 |Feb percentsun = 81
|Mar sun = 314.6 |Mar percentsun = 85
|Apr sun = 346.1 |Apr percentsun = 88
|May sun = 388.1 |May percentsun = 89
|Jun sun = 401.7 |Jun percentsun = 92
|Jul sun = 390.9 |Jul percentsun = 88
|Aug sun = 368.5 |Aug percentsun = 88
|Sep sun = 337.1 |Sep percentsun = 91
|Oct sun = 304.4 |Oct percentsun = 87
|Nov sun = 246.0 |Nov percentsun = 80
|Dec sun = 236.0 |Dec percentsun = 78
|year percentsun = 86
|humidity colour =
|Jan humidity = 45.1
|Feb humidity = 39.6
|Mar humidity = 33.1
|Apr humidity = 25.0
|May humidity = 21.3
|Jun humidity = 16.5
|Jul humidity = 21.1
|Aug humidity = 25.6
|Sep humidity = 25.0
|Oct humidity = 28.8
|Nov humidity = 37.2
|Dec humidity = 45.0
|year humidity= 30.3
| Jan dew point C = −5.5
| Feb dew point C = −4.6
| Mar dew point C = −4.5
| Apr dew point C = −4.4
| May dew point C = −2.1
| Jun dew point C = −0.6
| Jul dew point C = 4.8
| Aug dew point C = 6.7
| Sep dew point C = 2.8
| Oct dew point C = −0.9
| Nov dew point C = −3.7
| Dec dew point C = −5.4
|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990){{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=vef |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=October 11, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023169&format=pdf |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date =October 11, 2021}}{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72386.TXT |title=WMO Climate Normals for LAS VEGAS/MCCARRAN, NV 1961–1990 |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803055030/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72386.TXT |archive-date=2023-08-03 |url-status=dead |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}
}}
{{Weather box
|location= Reno (Köppen BSk){{efn|Mean maxima and minima (i.e., the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020. Official records for Reno kept January 1893 to 10 November 1905 at "Reno", 11 November 1905 to February 1937 at Reno Weather Bureau Office (CRB), and at Reno–Tahoe International Airport since March 1937. For more information, see [http://threadex.rcc-acis.org/ Threadex]}}
|single line= Yes
|collapsed= Yes
|width = auto
|Jan record high F = 71
|Feb record high F = 75
|Mar record high F = 83
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 104
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 106
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 77
|Dec record high F = 71
|Jan avg record high F = 61.2
|Feb avg record high F = 65.3
|Mar avg record high F = 73.9
|Apr avg record high F = 80.9
|May avg record high F = 89.4
|Jun avg record high F = 97.0
|Jul avg record high F = 102.1
|Aug avg record high F = 100.0
|Sep avg record high F = 94.5
|Oct avg record high F = 85.0
|Nov avg record high F = 71.5
|Dec avg record high F = 61.7
|year avg record high F = 102.6
|Jan high F = 47.7
|Feb high F = 52.1
|Mar high F = 59.2
|Apr high F = 64.7
|May high F = 74.1
|Jun high F = 84.6
|Jul high F = 93.9
|Aug high F = 92.1
|Sep high F = 83.8
|Oct high F = 70.4
|Nov high F = 56.7
|Dec high F = 46.7
|year high F = 68.8
|Jan mean F = 36.9
|Feb mean F = 40.6
|Mar mean F = 46.6
|Apr mean F = 51.6
|May mean F = 60.3
|Jun mean F = 69.2
|Jul mean F = 77.2
|Aug mean F = 75.1
|Sep mean F = 67.0
|Oct mean F = 55.1
|Nov mean F = 43.8
|Dec mean F = 36.2
|year mean F = 55.0
|Jan low F = 26.1
|Feb low F = 29.0
|Mar low F = 34.0
|Apr low F = 38.5
|May low F = 46.6
|Jun low F = 53.8
|Jul low F = 60.4
|Aug low F = 58.1
|Sep low F = 50.3
|Oct low F = 39.7
|Nov low F = 31.0
|Dec low F = 25.7
|year low F= 41.1
|Jan avg record low F = 12.2
|Feb avg record low F = 16.1
|Mar avg record low F = 21.3
|Apr avg record low F = 26.2
|May avg record low F = 34.0
|Jun avg record low F = 41.0
|Jul avg record low F = 50.7
|Aug avg record low F = 48.5
|Sep avg record low F = 39.0
|Oct avg record low F = 27.4
|Nov avg record low F = 17.4
|Dec avg record low F = 11.3
|year avg record low F = 6.6
|Jan record low F = -17
|Feb record low F = -16
|Mar record low F = -3
|Apr record low F = 13
|May record low F = 16
|Jun record low F = 25
|Jul record low F = 33
|Aug record low F = 24
|Sep record low F = 20
|Oct record low F = 8
|Nov record low F = 1
|Dec record low F = -16
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.25
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.03
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.80
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.44
|May precipitation inch = 0.55
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.41
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.20
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.24
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.21
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.50
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.62
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.10
|year precipitation inch= 7.35
|Jan snow inch = 5.2
|Feb snow inch = 5.2
|Mar snow inch = 2.9
|Apr snow inch = 0.4
|May snow inch = 0.1
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.1
|Nov snow inch = 1.8
|Dec snow inch = 5.2
|year snow inch= 20.9
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.9
|Feb precipitation days = 7.0
|Mar precipitation days = 5.5
|Apr precipitation days = 4.5
|May precipitation days = 4.4
|Jun precipitation days = 3.1
|Jul precipitation days = 1.7
|Aug precipitation days = 1.6
|Sep precipitation days = 2.0
|Oct precipitation days = 2.9
|Nov precipitation days = 4.3
|Dec precipitation days = 6.6
|year precipitation days = 50.5
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.4
|Feb snow days = 3.3
|Mar snow days = 2.0
|Apr snow days = 0.7
|May snow days = 0.2
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 1.2
|Dec snow days = 3.0
|year snow days = 13.9
|Jan humidity = 68.0
|Feb humidity = 60.2
|Mar humidity = 52.7
|Apr humidity = 45.9
|May humidity = 43.2
|Jun humidity = 39.9
|Jul humidity = 36.2
|Aug humidity = 39.3
|Sep humidity = 44.0
|Oct humidity = 50.7
|Nov humidity = 61.2
|Dec humidity = 67.6
|year humidity = 50.7
|Jan sun = 195.6
|Feb sun = 204.2
|Mar sun = 291.0
|Apr sun = 332.1
|May sun = 375.8
|Jun sun = 393.8
|Jul sun = 424.0
|Aug sun = 390.8
|Sep sun = 343.9
|Oct sun = 295.2
|Nov sun = 212.0
|Dec sun = 187.5
|year sun = 3645.9
|Jan percentsun = 65
|Feb percentsun = 68
|Mar percentsun = 78
|Apr percentsun = 83
|May percentsun = 84
|Jun percentsun = 88
|Jul percentsun = 93
|Aug percentsun = 92
|Sep percentsun = 92
|Oct percentsun = 85
|Nov percentsun = 70
|Dec percentsun = 64
|year percentsun = 82
|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990){{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=rev|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=National Weather Service Climate |access-date=2021-10-13}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023185&format=pdf |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date =2021-10-13}}
{{cite web
| url= ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72488.TXT
| title= WMO Climate Normals for NV Reno Tahoe INTL AP 1961–1990
| publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230630050250/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72488.TXT
| archive-date= 2023-06-30
| url-status= dead
| access-date= February 12, 2017}}
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Carson City (Köppen BSk) {{efn|1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present}}
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|width = auto
|Jan record high F = 72
|Feb record high F = 76
|Mar record high F = 81
|Apr record high F = 88
|May record high F = 94
|Jun record high F = 101
|Jul record high F = 107
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 75
|Jan avg record high F = 59.3
|Feb avg record high F = 62.4
|Mar avg record high F = 70.7
|Apr avg record high F = 77.9
|May avg record high F = 85.6
|Jun avg record high F = 93.6
|Jul avg record high F = 99.0
|Aug avg record high F = 96.5
|Sep avg record high F = 91.9
|Oct avg record high F = 82.7
|Nov avg record high F = 70.7
|Dec avg record high F = 60.5
|year avg record high F = 99.0
|Jan high F = 45.5
|Feb high F = 49.5
|Mar high F = 56.2
|Apr high F = 61.7
|May high F = 70.4
|Jun high F = 80.9
|Jul high F = 89.5
|Aug high F = 87.8
|Sep high F = 80.7
|Oct high F = 68.0
|Nov high F = 54.5
|Dec high F = 44.6
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = 34.8
|Feb mean F = 38.3
|Mar mean F = 43.9
|Apr mean F = 48.8
|May mean F = 56.6
|Jun mean F = 65.0
|Jul mean F = 72.1
|Aug mean F = 70.2
|Sep mean F = 63.1
|Oct mean F = 52.2
|Nov mean F = 41.4
|Dec mean F = 34.2
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 24.1
|Feb low F = 27.1
|Mar low F = 31.6
|Apr low F = 35.8
|May low F = 42.9
|Jun low F = 49.2
|Jul low F = 54.8
|Aug low F = 52.5
|Sep low F = 45.6
|Oct low F = 36.3
|Nov low F = 28.4
|Dec low F = 23.9
|year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = 6.9
|Feb avg record low F = 11.7
|Mar avg record low F = 17.4
|Apr avg record low F = 22.3
|May avg record low F = 29.7
|Jun avg record low F = 35.8
|Jul avg record low F = 44.4
|Aug avg record low F = 42.1
|Sep avg record low F = 34.3
|Oct avg record low F = 21.8
|Nov avg record low F = 11.4
|Dec avg record low F = 6.2
|year avg record low F = 0.6
|Jan record low F = −27
|Feb record low F = −22
|Mar record low F = −5
|Apr record low F = 3
|May record low F = 18
|Jun record low F = 25
|Jul record low F = 33
|Aug record low F = 26
|Sep record low F = 17
|Oct record low F = 6
|Nov record low F = −5
|Dec record low F = −26
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.72
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.48
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.24
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.51
|May precipitation inch = 0.51
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.37
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.18
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.14
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.24
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.55
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.90
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.50
|year precipitation inch =
|Jan snow inch = 3.6
|Feb snow inch = 1.7
|Mar snow inch = 1.6
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.7
|Dec snow inch = 6.4
|year snow inch = 14.0
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.2
|Feb precipitation days = 5.6
|Mar precipitation days = 4.8
|Apr precipitation days = 3.2
|May precipitation days = 3.4
|Jun precipitation days = 1.7
|Jul precipitation days = 0.9
|Aug precipitation days = 1.0
|Sep precipitation days = 1.1
|Oct precipitation days = 2.4
|Nov precipitation days = 3.3
|Dec precipitation days = 4.8
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 1.8
|Feb snow days = 1.4
|Mar snow days = 1.0
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.6
|Dec snow days = 1.4
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00261485&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
}}
Retrieved on September 17, 2022.
|source 2 = National Weather Service
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=rev
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
}}
Retrieved on September 17, 2022
}}
Flora and fauna
{{main|Category:Flora of Nevada|Fauna of Nevada}}
File:Skorpion fg02.jpg is the largest scorpion in North America and is commonly found in Nevada.]]
Being the driest U.S. State, and with much of it located within large deserts like the Great Basin Desert and the Mojave Desert,{{cite web|url=https://www.infoplease.com/us/states/nevada|title=Nevada}} most of Nevada's organisms are adapted to a desert environment.
Even so, the ecosystem of Nevada is diverse and differs by state area. It contains six biotic zones: alpine, sub-alpine, ponderosa pine, pinion-juniper, sagebrush and creosotebush.{{cite book | title=Nevada: a guide to the Silver state | author=Federal Writers' Project | author-link=Federal Writers' Project | publisher=US History Publishers | year=1940 | isbn=978-1-60354-027-8 | page=11 }}
It contains 488 species of birds (such as bald eagles and mountain bluebirds),{{cite web|url=https://travelnevada.com/wildlife/find-your-flock-6-premier-perches-for-birding-in-nevada/|title=Nevada birds}} 61 species of mammals (such as desert bighorn sheep and coyotes),{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/nature/list-of-mammals.htm|title=Nevada mammals}} 16 species of scorpions,{{cite web|url=http://www.azscorpion.com/Nev.html|title=Nevada scorpions}} 52 species of reptiles (such as Great Basin rattlesnakes and desert tortoise){{cite web|url=https://www.washoecounty.gov/animal/files/images/Wildlife/NV_Ven_reptiles.pdf|title=Nevada reptiles}} and 48 species of fish (such as Lahontan cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish).{{cite web|url=http://dcnr.nv.gov/documents/documents/nevadas-fishes-2/|title=Nevada fish|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411222003/http://dcnr.nv.gov/documents/documents/nevadas-fishes-2/ |archive-date=2013-04-11 }}
Administration
=Counties=
{{Further|List of counties in Nevada}}
File:The Strip from Eiffel Tower (9176999807).jpg looking South]]
File:Nevada State Museum.jpg in Carson City. Carson City is an independent city and the capital of Nevada.]]
Nevada is divided into political jurisdictions designated as counties. Carson City is officially a consolidated municipality, meaning it legally functions as both a city and a county. As of 1919, there were 17 counties in the state, ranging from {{convert|146|to|18159|sqmi}}.
Lake County, one of the original nine counties formed in 1861, was renamed Roop County in 1862. Part of the county became Lassen County, California, in 1864, resolving border uncertainty. In 1883, Washoe County annexed the portion that remained in Nevada.{{cite web|url=http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/nsla/archives/political/historical/hist19.htm |title=Political History of Nevada |access-date=August 17, 2007 |website=Nevada State Library and Archives. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213541/http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/nsla/archives/political/historical/hist19.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}
In 1969, Ormsby County was dissolved and the Consolidated Municipality of Carson City was created by the Legislature in its place coterminous with the old boundaries of Ormsby County.
Bullfrog County was formed in 1987 from part of Nye County. After the creation was declared unconstitutional, the county was abolished in 1989.
Humboldt County was designated as a county in 1856 by Utah Territorial Legislature and again in 1861 by the new Nevada Legislature.
Clark County is the most populous county in Nevada, accounting for nearly three-quarters of its residents. Las Vegas, Nevada's most populous city, has been the county seat since the county was created in 1909 from a portion of Lincoln County, Nevada. Before that, it was a part of Arizona Territory. Clark County attracts numerous tourists: An estimated 44{{nbs}}million people visited Clark County in 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/visitors/Pages/default.aspx |title=Visitors |publisher=Clarkcountynv.gov |access-date=July 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717004427/http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/visitors/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=July 17, 2014 |url-status=live }}
Washoe County is the second-most populous county of Nevada. Its county seat is Reno. Washoe County includes the Reno–Sparks metropolitan area.
Lyon County is the third most populous county. It was one of the nine original counties created in 1861. It was named after Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union General to be killed in the Civil War. Its current county seat is Yerington. Its first county seat was established at Dayton on November 29, 1861.{{cite book |author= |title=Laws of the Territory of Nevada passed at the first regular session of the Legislative Assembly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oq0wAQAAMAAJ |location=San Francisco, CA |publisher=Valentine & Co. |pages=289–291 |date=1862 |access-date=May 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707140535/http://books.google.com/books?id=oq0wAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover |archive-date=July 7, 2014 |url-status=live }}
| class="wikitable collapsible sortable" style="margin:lem; margin-top:0;"
|+ Nevada counties | |||||||
| rowspan=2 |County name
!rowspan=2 |County seat !rowspan=2 |Year founded !rowspan=2 |Percent of total !colspan=2 |Area !rowspan=2 |Percent of total !colspan=2 |Population density | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sq mi
!{{nowrap|km2}} !per sq mi !per {{nowrap|km2}} | |||||||
| Carson City | Carson City | 1861 | style="text-align:right;" |58,993 | style="text-align:right;" |1.88 % | {{convert|157|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |0.14 % | {{convert|407.80|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Churchill | Fallon | 1861 | style="text-align:right;" |25,723 | style="text-align:right;" |0.82 % | {{convert|5,024|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |4.54 % | {{convert|5.22|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Clark | Las Vegas | 1908 | style="text-align:right;" |2,292,476 | style="text-align:right;" |72.92 % | {{convert|8,061|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |7.29 % | {{convert|290.52|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Douglas | Minden | 1861 | style="text-align:right;" |49,870 | style="text-align:right;" |1.59 % | {{convert|738|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |0.67 % | {{convert|70.24|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Elko | Elko | 1869 | style="text-align:right;" |53,915 | style="text-align:right;" |1.71 % | {{convert|17,203|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |15.56 % | {{convert|3.14|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Esmeralda | Goldfield | 1861 | style="text-align:right;" |743 | style="text-align:right;" |0.02 % | {{convert|3,589|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |3.25 % | {{convert|0.21|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Eureka | Eureka | 1869 | style="text-align:right;" |1,903 | style="text-align:right;" |0.06 % | {{convert|4,180|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |3.78 % | {{convert|0.46|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Humboldt | Winnemucca | 1856/1861 | style="text-align:right;" |17,648 | style="text-align:right;" |0.56 % | {{convert|9,658|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |8.73 % | {{convert|1.83|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Lander | Battle Mountain | 1861 | style="text-align:right;" |5,734 | style="text-align:right;" |0.18 % | {{convert|5,519|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |4.99 % | {{convert|1.04|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Lincoln | Pioche | 1867 | style="text-align:right;" |4,525 | style="text-align:right;" |0.14 % | {{convert|10,637|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |9.62 % | {{convert|0.43|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Lyon | Yerington | 1861 | style="text-align:right;" |60,903 | style="text-align:right;" |1.94 % | {{convert|2,024|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |1.83 % | {{convert|30.44|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Mineral | Hawthorne | 1911 | style="text-align:right;" |4,586 | style="text-align:right;" |0.15 % | {{convert|3,813|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |3.45 % | {{convert|1.22|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Nye | Tonopah | 1864 | style="text-align:right;" |53,450 | style="text-align:right;" |1.70 % | {{convert|18,199|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |16.46 % | {{convert|2.94|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Pershing | Lovelock | 1919 | style="text-align:right;" |6,741 | style="text-align:right;" |0.21 % | {{convert|6,067|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |5.49 % | {{convert|1.12|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Storey | Virginia City | 1861 | style="text-align:right;" |4,143 | style="text-align:right;" |0.13 % | {{convert|264|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |0.24 % | {{convert|15.75|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Washoe | Reno | 1861 | style="text-align:right;" |493,392 | style="text-align:right;" |15.69 % | {{convert|6,542|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |5.92 % | {{convert|78.29|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| White Pine | Ely | 1869 | style="text-align:right;" |9,182 | style="text-align:right;" |0.29 % | {{convert|8,897|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | style="text-align:right;" |8.05 % | {{convert|1.03|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
| Totals | Counties: 17 | style="text-align:right;" |3,143,991 | {{convert|110,572|sqmi|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} | {{convert|28.64|/sqmi|/km2|disp=table|sortable=on}} |
= Settlements =
{{Largest cities| country = Nevada
| list_by_pop =
| div_name =
| div_link = Counties of Nevada{{!}}County
| city_1 = Las Vegas, Nevada{{!}}Las Vegas
| div_1 = Clark County, Nevada{{!}}Clark
| pop_1 = 641,903
| img_1 = DowntownLasVegas.jpg
| city_2 = Henderson, Nevada{{!}}Henderson
| div_2 = Clark County, Nevada{{!}}Clark
| pop_2 = 317,610
| img_2 = Lake_Las_Vegas_aerial_view.jpg
| city_3 = Reno, Nevada{{!}}Reno
| div_3 = Washoe County, Nevada{{!}}Washoe
| pop_3 = 264,165
| img_3 = Reno,_Nevada_photo_D_Ramey_Logan.jpg
| city_4 = North Las Vegas, Nevada{{!}}North Las Vegas
| div_4 = Clark County, Nevada{{!}}Clark
| pop_4 = 262,527
| img_4 = Northlasv.jpg
| city_5 = Enterprise, Nevada{{!}}Enterprise
| div_5 = Clark County, Nevada{{!}}Clark
| pop_5 = 221,831
| img_5 =
| city_6 = Spring Valley, Nevada{{!}}Spring Valley
| div_6 = Clark County, Nevada{{!}}Clark
| pop_6 = 215,597
| img_6 =
| city_7 = Sunrise Manor, Nevada{{!}}Sunrise Manor
| div_7 = Clark County, Nevada{{!}}Clark
| pop_7 = 205,618
| img_7 =
| city_8 = Paradise, Nevada{{!}}Paradise
| div_8 = Clark County, Nevada{{!}}Clark
| pop_8 = 191,238
| img_8 =
| city_9 = Sparks, Nevada{{!}}Sparks
| div_9 = Washoe County, Nevada{{!}}Washoe
| pop_9 = 108,445
| img_9 =
| city_10 = Carson City, Nevada{{!}}Carson City
| div_10 = Carson City
| pop_10 = 58,639
| img_10 =
}}