Those of us who live here know that Nevada is already a great state. While its impressive entertainment, tremendous food scene, world-class hotels, and more casinos than one can count are obvious reasons why Nevada is a pretty cool place to be, there is much more to the Silver State that has placed it atop the list of Coolest States in America. Aside from the aforementioned obvious, here are 15 ways that the Silver State has quietly become the coolest state in America.
1. There's no shortage of places to watch wild horses roam.
Nevada is home to approximately 25,000 wild horses and burros.
2. Nevada has some of the best rock climbing in the U.S.
From Red Rock Canyon to Lamoille Canyon to Lake Tahoe and everywhere in between, there are so many tremendous places to rock climb.
3. Our state and national parks look like this...
Valley of Fire State Park, Overton
...this, and...
Great Basin National Park, Baker
this.
Floyd Lamb State Park, Las Vegas
4. Nevada has more mountain ranges than any other of the 48 contiguous states.
With 314 named ranges and 40 peaks over 10,000 feet, this is an impressive claim to fame.
5. The year-round outdoor activities are endless.
Experiencing all four seasons gives Nevadans a plethora of outdoor activities. From sailing to fishing to skiing to snowboarding to hiking and beyond, there is an endless number of things to do in this wonderful state.
6. We have singing sand.
Sand Mountain Recreation Area is one of the handful of places in the world with this phenomenon that results from a perfect combination of the shapes of the grains of sand and the way they rub together.
7. Nevada is home to North America's largest alpine lake.
Lake Tahoe straddles the border between Nevada and California. In addition to being the largest alpine lake in the U.S. it is also the nation's second deepest after Oregon's Crater Lake. And it's truly stunning.
8. Despite being named the Silver State, Nevada produces nearly 80 percent of all U.S. gold.
Our plentiful state is also among the top gold producers in the world.
9. We have the incredible Burning Man Festival.
With the perfect desert atmosphere, Nevada has been the home of this unique festival since the 1980s.
10. There are more hot springs here than in any other state.
Over 300 of them, as a matter of fact.
11. Nevada has some of the best stargazing areas.
Once you escape the harsh neon of Las Vegas and Reno, there are many areas where the skies are so dark, you can see stars forever. Gerlach, in fact, is the darkest town in the U.S.
12. There are tons of ghost towns here.
With Nevada's storied mining history, ghost towns abound. And, of course, many of them are rumored to be haunted.
13. We don't pay state income tax.
Nope, none. Thank you, casinos.
14. We have aliens.
Well, we have Area 51, the infamous black mailbox, and the Extraterrestrial Highway. There's got to be some aliens lurking around, right?
15. Hoover Dam is in Nevada (and Arizona, actually.)
This impressive modern marvel has also created the country's largest man-made reservoir: Lake Mead.
Can you think of any other ways Nevada has quietly become the coolest state in America? Please share your thoughts below.
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