Tourism in Extreme Environments The Example of Las Vegas
Southern Nevada
nline.co.uk/ McCarran Intl. Airport (664m) in Las Vegas
Growth of the city ggOmB4https:// ggOmB4
fire/6019/tour/591/
Challenges
Water supply LAKE MEAD, Nev. — The sinuous Colorado River and its slew of man- made reservoirs from the Rockies to southern Arizona are being sapped by 14 years of drought nearly unrivaled in 1,250 years. (NY Times, January 6, 2014, “Colorado River Drought Forces a Painful Reckoning for States”) Hoover Dam (1935) Lake Mead
Flash Flood A flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours. Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains that rip through river beds, urban streets, or mountain canyons sweeping everything before them. They can occur within minutes or a few hours of excessive rainfall. They can also occur even if no rain has fallen, for instance after a levee or dam has failed, or after a sudden release of water by a debris or ice jam. (National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office)
Electricity WXFbsl0https:// WXFbsl0