BLACK ROCK DESERT, NEVADA

 

HOME | BIOLOGY | FILMS | GEOGRAPHY | HISTORY | INDEX | INVESTORS | MUSIC | SOLAR BOATS | SPORT

 

 

The Black Rock Desert is a dry lake bed in northwestern Nevada in the United States. Considered one of the flattest surfaces on the earth, the desert is part of the extended playa of the lake bed of prehistoric Lake Lahontan, which existed between 20,000 and 9,000 years ago during the last ice age. During the lake's peak around 12,700 years ago, the desert floor was under approximately 500 feet (150m) of water.

 

 

 

BLM sign - Black Rock Desert

 

 

The desert extends for approximately 100 miles (160km) northwest from the town of Gerlach-Empire, between the Jackson Mountains to the east and the Black Rock Range to the west. It is partially drained by the intermittent Quinn River, which has no outlet but evaporates as it crosses the desert.

 

The flatness of the surface has led to its use as a proving ground for experimental land vehicles. It was the site of the most recent successful attempts on the World Land Speed Record. In 1983, Richard Noble drove the jet-powered Thrust2 car to a new record of 633 miles per hour. Noble also headed up the team that beat the Thrust 2 record. In 1997, ThrustSSC became the world's first, and so far only, supersonic car.

 

The area is also used by the Tripoli Rocketry Association for the annual rocket festivity "BALLS", where the ceiling, or maximum altitude, is 100,000 feet. It is the USA's most prized launch site for high power rocket hobbyists.

 

It has become famous as the site of the annual Burning Man festival. It is informally referred to as "the playa."

 

 

Hot springs in the Black Rock Desert vicinity

  • Black Rock (coordinates: 40.972 119.007)[1]

  • Trego / Butte (coordinates: 40.770 119.113) [2]

  • Double Hot (coordinates: 41.051 119.028) [3]

  • Springs (coordinates: 40.830 119.538) [4]

  • Coyote Spring (coordinates: 40.763 119.172) [5]

  • name unknown (coordinates: 40.948 119.002) [6]

  • name unknown (coordinates: 40.674 119.364)

  • Mud Springs (coordinates: 40.653 119.378)

  • Great Boiling Spring (coordinates: 40.662 119.365)

  • Fly Ranch (coordinates: 40.857 119.328)

Some of these are of recreational use, some are dangerous, some are mostly geological curiosities. Some are on private land.

 

 

 

Black Rock Desert

 

 

Fly Geyser

 

At Fly Ranch, the Fly Geyser is one of two geysers at the ranch - the other being dormant, possibly because of the upheaval of the second geyser. The Fly Geyser continuously sprays hot water onto what was once desert land.

 

 

External links

 

LINKS

 

 

WORLD GEOGRAPHY

 

 

 

Adelaide 

Aden - Yemen

Africa

Alaska

Amsterdam

Antarctic

Argentina

Athens

Australia

Austria

Aztecs - Mexico

Bangladesh

Beachy Head, England

Belgium

Berlin

Black Rock Desert, Nevada

Bonneville, Utah - History

Brazil

Brighton - West Pier

Bulgaria

Canada

Canary Islands

Cape York - Au

Cayman Islands

Chichester Harbour

China

Columbia - S. America

Columbo - Sri Lanka

Cowes, Isle of Wight

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechoslovakia

Darwin - Australia

Daytona Beach - Florida USA

Denmark

Eastbounre Pier, England

Earthquakes

Egypt

Equator

Europe

Falmouth, Cornwall

Fiji

Finland

Florida

France

Galapagos Islands

Geography Links

Geography Records

Geography Resources

Geography Statistics

 

 

Germany

Gibraltar - Links

Greece

Greenland

Hawaii

Holland the Nertherlands

Hollywood, California, LA

Hong Kong

Hungary

Hurricanes

Iceland

India

Indonesia Links

Iran

Iraq

Ireland

Isle of Man

Isle of Wight - The Needles

Israel

Italy

Jakarta - Java

Jamaica

Japan

Kent, England

Korea

Kuwait

Life on Earth

London - Big Ben

London Eye

London Houses Parliament

London - Buckingham Palace

London - Old Bailey

London - Overview

London - The City

London - Tower Bridge

London - Trafalgar Square

Luxembourg

Malta

Maya Empire - Central America

Melbourne, Australia

Mexico

Mountains

Naples- Italy

National Geographic

New York

New Zealand

Norway

Oceans and Seas

Pakistan

 

 

 

Palermo - Sicily

Palma - Malorca

Panama Canal - Links

Paris

Pendine Sands - Carmarthen

Planet Earth

Poland

Port Moresby - PNG

Port Said - Egypt

Portugal

Rome

Russia

Salt Lake City - Utah

Saudi Arabia

Scotland

Singapore

South America

Southampton

Spain - Espana

Sri Lanka - Links

Stonehenge

Suez Canal

Sussex, England Index

Sweden

Switzerland

Tahiti - Polynesia - Links

Taiwan

Thailand

Tokyo, Japan

Tonga - Polynesia

Toronto

Trinidad - Lesser Antilles

Tsunami

Tunbridge Wells, England

Turkey

UAE - United Arab Emirates

UK Statistics

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United Kingdom - Gov

USA

Venice

Vienna

Vietnam

Volcanoes

Wales

Washington D.C.

Wealden iron industry

Wendover, Utah

World Peace Supporters

 

 

 

 


 

A taste for adventure capitalists

 

 

Solar Cola - a healthier alternative

 

This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2006  NJK.   The bird logo and name Solar Navigator are trademarks. All rights reserved.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.       Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.

 AUTOMOTIVE  |  BLUEBIRD  |  ELECTRIC CARS  |  ELECTRIC CYCLES  |  SOLAR CARS