Sand Springs Range facts for kids
The Sand Springs Range is a small mountain range located in western Nevada, United States. It stretches about 10 miles (16 km) long and is found in Churchill County. This range helps separate Salt Wells to the west from Fairview Valley to the east. To the north, Sand Springs Pass separates it from the Stillwater Range. South of the range is Gabbs Valley.
Discovering the Sand Springs Range
A Special Test Site
The Sand Springs Range was once the location for something called Project Shoal. This was an underground test that happened on October 26, 1963. Scientists wanted to understand how underground explosions create signals similar to earthquakes. They compared the signals from this test to real earthquakes that happened in the area in 1954. This helped them learn how to tell the difference between natural earthquakes and underground tests.
The test device was about 12 kilotons in size and was set off 1,211 feet (369 meters) below the ground. No hole or crater was formed on the surface, so it's hard to tell that anything ever happened there just by looking. The area is open to the public and isn't marked.
Military Connections
The Sand Springs Range also has several large military radar installations. These are important for nearby military training areas. They are connected to the bombing range in Fairview Valley, the electronic warfare range in Dixie Valley, and Naval Air Station Fallon. These installations help with training and defense.
Tallest Peak
The most noticeable peak in the Sand Springs Range is Big Kasock Mountain. It stands tall at an elevation of 7,150 feet (2,179 meters).
