2011-08-21
Information
Info: Formed: 1864
Population: 2,700,551 people
Area: 286,367 sq/ kilometres
Nevada is a state located in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of 110,561 square miles (286,350 km2) and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its three largest incorporated cities. Nevada's capital is Carson City.Nevada is largely desert and semiarid, with much of it located within the Great Basin. Areas south of the Great Basin are located within the Mojave Desert, while Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains lie on the western edge. Approximately 86% of the state's land is owned by the US government under various jurisdictions, both civilian and military.The name Nevada is derived from the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains, which means "snow-capped mountain range" in Spanish. The land comprising the modern state was inhabited by Native Americans of the Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe tribes prior to European contact. It was subsequently claimed by Spain as a part of Alta California until the Mexican War of Independence brought it under Mexican control. The United States gained the territory in 1848 following its victory in the Mexican-American War and the area was eventually incorporated as part of Utah Territory in 1850. The discovery of silver at the Comstock Lode in 1859 led to a population boom that was an impetus to the creation of Nevada Territory out of western Utah Territory in 1861. Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864.The establishment of legalized gambling and lenient marriage and divorce proceedings in the 20th century transformed Nevada into a major tourist destination. The tourism industry remains Nevada's largest employer, with mining continuing to be a substantial sector of the economy as Nevada is the fourth largest producer of gold in the world.Nevada is officially known as the "Silver State" due to the importance of silver to its history and economy. It is also known as the "Battle Born State" because it achieved statehood during the Civil War and the "Sagebrush State" for the native eponymous plant.Nevada is the largest landlocked U.S. state that does not border Canada or Mexico.
My Experience
For my last state in the United States for my 2011 travels Nevada was quite the challenge to make it through. Route 50 - the lonliest highway in the USA offers challenging grades, minimal services, and sweltering heat. Towns come once per day, with minimal amenities and I had to be careful on how much water I carried with me. I met some great people and stayed for extended periods of time with them before stopping off at the Burning Man Festival. I stopped riding on August 28th, 2011.
Photos
Journal Entries
The following is a list of journal entries I wrote while traveling through Nevada. Click one to read!
Statistics
Totals
| Distance Traveled: 707.76 km Distance Ascended: 4,622 m Distance Descended: 4,977 m Energy Consumed: 33,767 calories | Overall Cost: $262.82 Food: $169.36 Drink: $50.46 Transport: $31.00 Entertainment: $0.00 Equipment: $12.00 Misc: $0.10 |
| Longest Day: 2010-10-17 - 119.93 km Most Climbed: 2010-10-09 - 782.00 m | Most Energy Burned: 2010-10-11 - 5298.00 calories Most Expensive Day: 2011-04-30 - $ 67.66 |
Daily Statistics
Date | Location | Distance (km) | Cost ($CAD) | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-05-02 | Edmundston, CA | 0.00 | $0.00 | |
| 2011-05-01 | Edmundston, CA | 0.00 | $16.27 | |
| 2011-04-30 | Saint John, CA | 78.80 | $67.66 | Map |
| 2010-10-17 | L'Aboiteau, CA | 119.93 | $38.93 | Map |
| 2010-10-16 | Brunswick, CA | 104.89 | $25.00 | Map |
| 2010-10-15 | Fredericton, CA | 0.00 | $0.00 | Map |
| 2010-10-14 | Fredericton, CA | 10.69 | $25.68 | Map |
| 2010-10-13 | Fredericton, CA | 73.78 | $31.00 | Map |
| 2010-10-12 | Millville, CA | 102.00 | $25.85 | Map |
| 2010-10-11 | Perth-Andover, CA | 112.62 | $21.43 | Map |
| 2010-10-10 | Edmundston, CA | 0.00 | $5.00 | Map |
| 2010-10-09 | Edmundston, CA | 105.05 | $6.00 | Map |