Pahranagat Valley facts for kids
The Pahranagat Valley is a unique landform located in Lincoln County, Nevada. It's part of the larger Great Basin Desert region.
This valley stands out as a narrow green strip, like an oasis, in the middle of the vast Nevada desert. It's about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and stretches for approximately 40 miles (64 km) from north to south. The valley gets its water from three big natural springs: Hiko Springs, Crystal Springs, and Ash Springs, along with many smaller ones.
The Pahranagat Valley is also home to four lakes. Nesbitt Lake and Frenchie Lake are found near the northern end of the valley. Towards the southern end, you'll find Upper Pahranagat Lake and Lower Pahranagat Lake. The southern part of the valley, including these two lakes, is a special home for wildlife called the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.
Mountains surround the valley. To the west, you'll see the Mount Irish Range and the Pahranagat Range. To the east, the Hiko Range forms its border. Two main roads, State Route 318 and U.S. Route 93, run through the entire length of the valley.
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Valley Communities
Several communities are located in the Pahranagat Valley, from north to south:
- Hiko
- Ash Springs
- Richardville
- Alamo
Alamo is the largest town in the valley. It's where all the schools for the area are located. The closest town outside the valley is Caliente, Nevada, which is over 50 miles (80 km) to the east.
Valley History
The Pahranagat Valley has an interesting past.
Early Travelers and Settlers
The Crystal Springs area was an important stop for travelers. It served as a watering spot and campsite along an alternate route of the Mormon Trail in the mid-1800s. In the late 1850s, the valley was known as a hiding place for people who had stolen cattle and horses. They would let their animals graze in the valley's green meadows.
Mining and Agriculture
In 1865, silver ore was discovered on Mount Irish. This led to the quick creation of a town called Logan, which existed only for a short time. A mill was built in Hiko to process the silver ore. You can still see the ruins of this old mill today.
Since the late 1800s, the Pahranagat Valley has mostly been an agricultural community. This means that farming and ranching have been the main ways people make a living. Today, some people who live in the valley also work in Las Vegas, even though it's a long drive of over 100 miles (160 km) one way.
Valley Geology
The geology of the Pahranagat Valley includes a fascinating event: the Alamo bolide impact. A bolide is a very large meteor that explodes in the atmosphere. This ancient impact scattered layers of special rock and debris across the area near Alamo. Scientists can still study these layers today to learn about the impact.
Valley Plants and Animals
The Pahranagat Valley is home to several unique and sometimes endangered species. These include:
- Fluminicola merriami (a type of snail)
- Bufo nelsoni (a type of toad)
- Endemic subspecies of fish like Gila robusta, Rhinichthys osculus, and Crenichthys baileyi
- Microtus montanus (a type of vole, which is a small rodent)
These special animals and plants show how important the valley's unique environment is for biodiversity.
