Virgin Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Virgin Valley |
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view of Mesquite, NV from Virgin Peak,
(center of valley) |
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 Virgin Valley
Location in Arizona
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| Length | 25 miles (40 km) |
| Width | 12 miles (19 km) |
| Geography | |
| Population centers | Littlefield, AZ, Mesquite, NV |
| Borders on | Beaver Dam Mountains & Wilderness-NE Virgin Mountains-E & S Mormon Mesa-SW |
| Rivers | Virgin River |
The Virgin Valley is a beautiful valley located in the states of Arizona and Nevada. It's named after the Virgin River, which flows through it. This river helps drain water from parts of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.
The valley starts where the Virgin River leaves a narrow canyon called the Virgin River Gorge. This gorge is surrounded by the Beaver Dam Mountains to the north and the Virgin Mountains to the south. A small part of Lake Mead, a large lake, also reaches into the Virgin Valley.
Contents
History of the Valley
The Virgin Valley is famous for its rich opal mines. Opals are beautiful gemstones known for their shimmering colors. These special stones were first found in the valley around 1913.
The "Opal Queen"
Some of the best opal mines were owned by a woman named Flora Haines Loughead. She was a writer and a farmer before she became involved in mining. Flora bought several mining claims after she was sent to write a story about the area for a newspaper called the San Francisco Chronicle.
Flora became known as the "Opal Queen" because she owned important mines like the Rainbow, Stonetree, and Bonanza mines. She also had a claim called the "Giant Tree" Opal Claim. Around 1918, she sold the "Giant Tree" claim and focused on her Rainbow and Bonanza mines.
About the Virgin Valley
The Virgin Valley stretches for about 25 miles (40 kilometers). At the northeast end of the valley, you'll find the town of Littlefield, Arizona. This town is located right where the Virgin River leaves the Virgin River Gorge.
Further downstream, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) away, is the city of Mesquite, Nevada. Mesquite is located near the center of the valley and is a major town along Interstate 15 in Nevada.
Valley Borders
To the southeast of the Virgin Valley are the South Virgin Mountains. These mountains help separate the northern part of Lake Mead (called the Overton Arm) from the main Colorado River arm.
The area to the north of the South Virgin Mountains is known as the Mormon Mesa. This mesa forms the southwest border of the Virgin Valley. The Mormon Mesa extends south from the Mormon Mountains.
Nevada and Arizona Divide
The Virgin Valley is split almost in half by the border between Nevada and Arizona. The downstream part of the valley, which is in Nevada, is where Lake Mead begins to extend upstream into the valley.
Town Locations
- Littlefield, Arizona is in the northeast part of the valley at 36°54′0″N 113°56′0″W / 36.90000°N 113.93333°W.
- Mesquite, Nevada is in the center of the valley at 36°48′9″N 114°4′56″W / 36.80250°N 114.08222°W.
Gallery
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Virgin Peak, part of the southwest Virgin Mountains, seen from Virgin Valley, south of Mesquite.
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A map showing the watershed (the area of land that drains into) of the Virgin River.
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A view of the Virgin Valley downstream from Mesquite.
