West End Wash facts for kids
West End Wash is a special kind of stream in Clark County, Nevada. It's called an ephemeral stream, which means it only flows with water after it rains a lot. Most of the time, it looks like a dry riverbed or a "wash."
West End Wash connects to Lake Mead at a place called Callville Bay. When Lake Mead is full, the wash joins the Callville Wash at about 1,250 feet (381 meters) above sea level. Because Lake Mead's water level changes, the exact spot where West End Wash meets the lake can move. Currently, it's found near 36°08′24″N 114°42′57″W / 36.14000°N 114.71583°W.
What is West End Wash?
A "wash" is a dry streambed that can quickly fill with water during heavy rain. West End Wash is a perfect example of this. It's usually dry, but when big storms hit the area, water rushes through it, carrying sand and rocks. This makes it an important part of the desert's natural drainage system.
Where Does It Start and End?
West End Wash begins high up in the Gale Hills. Its starting point, or "source," is at about 3,083 feet (940 meters) above sea level, near 36°15′55″N 114°43′58″W / 36.26528°N 114.73278°W. From there, it flows downhill, eventually reaching Lake Mead. The place where it ends, or its "mouth," is at Callville Bay.
A Changing Name and Path
Before Lake Mead was created, West End Wash had a different name: West Fork Callville Wash. Back then, it flowed directly into Callville Wash. The spot where they joined is now underwater, covered by Callville Bay. When Lake Mead was formed by building the Hoover Dam, the landscape changed a lot. The old West Fork Callville Wash now flows into the lake itself, and so it was renamed West End Wash. This shows how human projects can change natural features over time.
