Nevada

Nevada has the most desolate geography in the nation. Most of the state is wasteland, scrub desert which sustains little life. As a result, much of the state is held in reserve by the federal government, with roughly half of the state used by the U.S. armed forces for military bases and weapons testing.

But the desert has its own peculiar beauty. The western edge of the Mojave Desert lies in Nevada and is home to some of the most spectacular desert scenery on the continent. The Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area outside Las Vegas has miles of hiking trails through the dazzling terrain of the red earth. And in the northern part of the state, the Sierra Nevada Mountains provide a magnificent backdrop for Lake Tahoe, one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States.

Lake Tahoe offers a full array of outdoor recreation and entertainment possibilities. The skiing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is some of the best in the country. The lake itself is the largest alpine lake in North America, and is the perfect place for boating, swimming and water skiing. And, since no Nevada town would be complete without gambling, Lake Tahoe is home to a dozen casinos, offering plenty of opportunities to lose all your money.

For the real gambling connoisseur, however, there is no substitute for Nevada's great gambling mecca, Las Vegas. Vegas is the neon oasis which draws most of the state's visitors. Typically, the city's casinos take all of the visitor's money and sends him or her home with fond memories of roulette wheels, craps tables and one-armed bandits. But the gambling millions seem to enjoy it anyway. No one is quite sure why, but the city prospers because of this odd relationship between pleasure and loss.