Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge

{{Short description|Wildlife refuge in Nevada, USA}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge

| iucn_category = IV

| map = USA#USA Nevada

| relief = 1

| map_caption = Location of the wildlife refuge

| map_width = 300

| photo = 2013-10-20_14_21_47_Entrance_sign_at_Ruby_Lake_National_Wildlife_Refuge.JPG

| photo_caption =

| photo_width =

| location = Elko County, White Pine County, Nevada, United States

| nearest_city =

| coordinates = {{coord|40.202|N|115.493|W|region:US-NV|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref =

| area_acre = 39928

| established = 1938

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

| website = [https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ruby_lake/ Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge]

}}

The Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in southwestern Elko County and adjacent northwestern White Pine County in the remote Great Basin area of the northeastern section of the state of Nevada in the Western United States. Established in 1938, near the end of the Great Depression of the 1930s, under the presidential administration of 32nd President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945, served 1933-1945), as of 2023 it encompasses {{convert|39928|acre|km2}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ruby-lake|title=Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge}} of wetlands in Ruby Valley, just east of the Ruby Mountains and just south of Harrison Pass. It is {{convert|16|mi|km}} long, up to {{convert|3|mi|km}} in width, and lies at an elevation of {{convert|6000|ft|m}}. Once the bed of an ancient {{convert|200|ft|m|adj=on}} deep lake, it is now a network of spring-fed marshes and shallow ponds serving as a habitat for hundreds of species of native and migratory birds and mammals.

The Refuge is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a longtime agency unit of the United States Department of the Interior. A Visitor's Center (located at {{Coord|40.202167| -115.492833|type:landmark_region:US-NV|display=inline|format=dms}}) and auto-tour route allow for discreet viewing of waterfowl.

{{wide image|RubyValleyNV.jpg|700px|Ruby Valley, looking north from near Overland Pass. The Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Nevada is the dark geen area in the valley floor at left.||none}}