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An introduction to the geography, history, economy, people, environmental issues, and interesting sites of Nevada. ... Read more

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Nevada (Hello USA)
A wonderful introduction to Nevada.Easy to read, very nice photos. ... Read more

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An overview of the history, geography, people, and living conditions of the state of Nevada. ... Read more

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Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Nevada City," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Nevada City in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Nevada City when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Nevada City, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

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Introduces the geography, history, government, people, culture, and attractions of Nevada. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

very informative
i really had enjoyed reading this book on nevada. it includes some really interesting facts that i didn't know. for example, the residents in nevada don't have to pay any property taxes because they have the casinos doing that for them. i like how this book includes little facts and stats as you go on each page. i think this book is better than "celebrate the states" books. this book breaks it down for you. ... Read more

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This book is an adventure story that pulls in the reader. Four kids and a TV talk show host are stuck in a runaway hot air balloonand as they travel around the state, readers try to figure out where theyare based on the geographical features glimpsed from above and cluesfrom the characters' conversations.Students get one point for everycorrect answer.Excellent for a classroom game, school-wide competitionor individual reading.This is a great geography skill-builder + encouragesresearch, map reading and more.Free teacher's guide gives specificsuggestions and instructions on how to get max educational value fromthis book.Put this title high on your list! ... Read more

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Chapters: Doñana National Park, Sierra Nevada, Despeñaperros, Alpujarras, Surco Intrabético, Depression of Granada, Depression of Ronda, El Portil, Hoya of Guadix, Hoya of Antequera, Hoya of Baza, Sitio de Calahonda, Islote de Sancti Petri, Punta de Tarifa, Bellavista, Seville, Roca Del Toro, Baetic Depression, Sierra de Mijas. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 54. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Doñana National Park -Doñana National Park is located in Andalusia, in the provinces of Huelva and Seville, and covers 543 km², of which 135 km² are a protected area. The park is an area of marsh, shallow streams, and sand dunes in Las Marismas, the Guadalquivir River Delta region where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The original area was established in 1963 when the World Wildlife Fund joined with the Spanish government and purchased a section of marshes to protect it. There has been a constant threat to the eco-system, that of drainage of the marshes, the use of river water to boost agricultural production by irrigating land along the coast, and the expansion of tourist facilities. In 1989 the surroundings of the national park were given more protection when a buffer zone was declared a natural park under the management of the regional government. The two parks, national and natural, have since been classified as a single natural landscape. In 1994 UNESCO designated the park a World Heritage Site. UNESCO has also recognised the park as a Biosphere reserve. It is a wetland of international importance on the list of the Ramsar Convention. The park has a biodiversity that is unique in Europe, although there are some similarities to the Camargue, with which Doñana is twinned. Doñana contains a great variety of ecosystems and shelters wildlife including thousands of European and African m...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=55460 ... Read more

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The austere landscape of the Great Basin has inspired diverse responses from the people who have moved through or settled in it. Author Richard V. Francaviglia is interested in the connection between environment and spirituality in the Great Basin, for here, he says, "faith and landscape conspire to resurrect old myths and create new ones."

As a geographer, Francaviglia knows that place means more than physical space. Human perceptions and interpretations are what give place its meaning. In "Believing in Place," he examines the varying human perceptions of and relationships with the Great Basin landscape, from the region's Native American groups to contemporary tourists and politicians, to determine the spiritual issues that have shaped our connections with this place. In doing so, he considers the creation and flood myths of several cultures, the impact of the Judeo-Christian tradition and individualism, Native American animism and shamanist traditions, the Mormon landscape, the spiritual dimensions of gambling, the religious foundations of Cold War ideology, stories of UFOs and alien presence, and the convergence of science and spirituality.

"Believing in Place" is a profound and totally engaging reflection on the ways that human needs and spiritual traditions can shape our perceptions of the land. That the Great Basin has inspired such a complex variety of responses is partly due to its enigmatic vastness and isolation, partly to the remarkable range of peoples who have found themselves in the region. Using not only the materials of traditional geography but folklore, anthropology, Native American and Euro-American religion, contemporary politics, and New Age philosophies, Francaviglia has produced a fascinating and timely investigation of the role of human conceptions of place in that space we call the Great Basin. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Joseph Campbell meets Barry Lopez
This book held my attention and is a rich experience in the geography, history, comparative religion and spirituality of the Great Basin. If the mythologist Joseph Campbell sat down with the poet Barry Lopez the resulting discussion might look a lot like this book. Yet the book is richer than such a discussion because of Francaviglia's rich nuances and deeply personal take on the Great Basin. This is a stunning book and taught me a great deal about appreciating the many levels of the Great Basin. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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This is the story of the beginnings of the southern Sierra Nevada, the High Sierra region, from its birth to the historic era. It describes the geologic history, natural history, and prehistoric cultures of this major land feature, which has evolved its own unique plant and animal communities and has nurtured human habitation and growth for thousands of years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An historical thumbnail
this is a proper requisite for "Defying the Odds". this stops when the other starts.

When Tro'qhill, the Eagle, Created the World
Ancient folklore holds together this book's two parts, one the hard science of geology, climate, and biology, the other the anthropology of Indian cultures thriving in the Sierras before the first `white' man made his appearance in the mid-16th century. Monache Indians, for example, tell of a devastating winter of terrible storms "a long time ago, before my grandfather, his grandfather, and his grandfather," which drove the people to starvation, cannibalism, and migration. The Tubatulabal tribe recount how the Prairie Falcon, Lim'-ik, created the Sierra mountain range. These tribal stories lead into Jackson's discussion of the region's climate and geology. Each tribe whose descendants still inhabit the southern Sierras--Tubatulabal, Yokuts, Western Monache, Sierra Miwok, Yosemite and Paiute--possesses distinctive folk tales illuminating the linguistic, cultural, and social differences among the tribes. Photographs of cultural artifacts, such as basketry and grinding slabs, and of habitats and hunting gear, reveal something of daily village life, and show how the tribes adapted to their particular environment, whether high sierra, foothill, or coastal region. Detailed maps demonstrate the extent of habitation, and intertribal trading patterns. Jackson, an amateur historian with a passion for her subject, provides extensive notes, references, and both detailed bibliography and index.

Reviewed by Zara Raab

Chapters cover the land's geology, climate, vegetation, animals, and human settlement
The Sierra Nevada Before History: Ancient Landscapes, Early Peoples is a solid study and presentation of California's Sierra Nevada prior to written historical records. Chapters cover the land's geology, climate, vegetation, animals, and human settlement, with specific focus on the Tubatulabal, the Yokuts, the Western Monache, the Sierra Miwok, the Yosemite, and the Paiute. Black-and-white photographs on almost every other page illustrate this enthralling, reader-friendly tour of a rugged and wild land's prehistory. "The soil in the High Sierra was salt-poor and the streams were low in minerals, so animals that preferred the highlands had to adapt. Some rodents, such as the chickaree, or red squirrel, that were normally vegetarian ate meat in the highest regions in order to obtain sufficient salt. Other animals and birds searched out fire ashes or mud at mineral springs to satisfy their cravings." ... Read more

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From the manmade glitter of the Las Vegas strip to the natural splendor of Lake Tahoe, Nevada's riches go beyond the silver and gold found in Virginia City."S is for Silver" showcases the hardy wildlife (the Desert Bighorn Sheep and the desert tortoise) and even hardier pioneers (the builders of the Hoover Dam) who shaped Nevada's landscape and character. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Disappointed
I bought this after reading "M is for Mitten; A Michigan Alphabet" because I live in Michigan and the book was Fabulous. It was a hit with me and my son and everyone else who read it. Too bad "S is for Silver" was done by different people. I ordered it sight unseen and was very disappointed. The verses were not as well written and the content was not near as good as the Michigan book. I never would have bought it as a gift for someone had I read it first...

S is for Silver
The "Discover America State By State, Alphabet Series" is wonderful.
The books are written so they include a version for children and a more detailed history for the whole family.
We have purchased four of the books.Our 5 year old granddaughter requested the Nevada one as she lives there. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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Chapters: Ojos Del Salado, Sierra Nevada de Lagunas Bravas, Laguna Verde, Chañaral Island, Incahuasi, Nevado Tres Cruces, Cerro Bayo Complex, Cerro El Muerto, Cordón Del Azufre, Falso Azufre, Cerro Solo, Nevado San Francisco, Huasco River, Copiapó River, Bahía Inglesa, Copiapó Volcano, Monturaqui Crater. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 44. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Ojos del Salado -There is no doubt that Ojos del Salado is a recently active volcano, but the question of whether it should be considered currently (or "historically") active is arguable. According to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the most recent known eruption was around 1300 years ago, with large error bars. However, there is also some evidence for a minor ash emission in 1993, which would definitely qualify the volcano as historically active. The presence of fumaroles high on the mountain and recent-looking lava flows, albeit of uncertain age, also argues in favor of a categorization as "active." By these definitions Ojos del Salado is the highest historically active volcano on earth. If the older date is accepted, the title of "highest historically active volcano" might reside instead with the somewhat lower Llullaillaco volcano, which certainly has erupted in historic times (most recently in 1877) and should still be considered active. Definitions of "active" being themselves controversial and somewhat arbitrary, the point is mainly of trivial interest. The elevation of Ojos del Salado has been the subject of debate. Contrary to widely reproduced claims made by Argentine authorities in 1994, which still appear in some maps, publications and websites, Ojos del Salado is about 100 m (330 ft) higher than Argentina's nearby Monte Pissis (6,793 m). An article in Andes magazine in 2006...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=1261966 ... Read more

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Glaciers in sunny California? Many people will be surprised to learn that there are several hundred in this state, ranging in size from the impressive Whitney Glacier on Mt. Shasta and the Palisade Glacier in the Sierra Nevada to tiny glacierets. While California's glaciers are small compared to those in the northern Rockies or the European Alps, each one is interesting and some are suitable for exploring. Also of note is the fact that Ice Age glaciers carved California's most spectacular mountain scenery--the High Sierra was glaciated several times and glacial landforms are prominent features of the Sierran landscape today.
Bill Guyton summarizes the history of the discovery of Ice Age glaciation and modern-day glaciers in California, as well as the development of modern ideas about the state's glacial history. He describes the controversy about the origin of Yosemite Valley and quotes from the colorful accounts of early mountain explorers such as John Muir, Josiah Whitney, and François Matthes. His book provides a primer on glaciers and glacial landforms, a glossary of technical terms, helpful illustrations, and a 100-mile Sierra field trip guide for readers who want to see glaciers and glacial features for themselves. Glaciers of California will make any visit to the mountains more interesting, whether one is carrying a camera, crampons, or a fishing pole. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Short, sweet, and very understandable.
This is a basic, understandable review of the Ice Age and later glaciation of the mountains of California.The focus is on Yosemite, but other mountains in California are briefly covered.Glaciers that are present now date to the Little Ice Age, from 100- 700 years old only.They are shrinking fast.Butolder, "big" ice-age glaciers covered these mountains, starting with the glaciations of 1.5 million years ago.After reading the book, you understand why our mountains are so dramatically sculpted. The author briefly discusses the causes of cyclical changes in the temperature of the Northern hemisphere that accounts for recurrence of ice ages. There follows a good tour of Yosemite, by car,foot, and backpack, where you can see modern glaciers as well as the evidence of ancient ice ages.Many mountaineering terms (Col, Horn, Arête, Couloirs,etc) refer to mountain features that are products of glaciation, and are defined. There is a good glossary.Hikers, climbers, and mountain-visitors will enjoy this good book.

Great reference and read for California high country travelers
This is the most interesting and useful book on California glaciers, particularly in the High Sierra, that I have come across.

Author Bill Guyton is a Cal State Chico emeritus geology professor who has apparently done glacier field work, especially in the Palisades region, but the book is well written in a manner accessible to anyone with an interest in the topic.

Besides the general (apparently conventional but still evolving) history of California's Ice Age glaciations, a topic covered in a number of books on the Sierra, Guyton focuses on the details of prior epochs' alpine glaciations - the lower Northern California mountains and the southernmost documented glaciers that occurred in the San Gabriel Mountains just east of Los Angeles.

The most interesting section for hikers is Guyton's inventory of current high country glaciers on Mt. Shasta, in the High Sierra and some tiny ones in the Trinity Alps.Reviewing the calculations of other geologist and applying his own knowledge and definitions Guyton determines there are currently (as of 1998?) 509 California glaciers.Actually he counts 108 actual glaciers and 401 "glacierets".To me the "glacierets" category really represents what are presently (for the time being) permanent ice patches which are the remnants of previously active, i.e., flowing, glaciers.Given the rapid retreat of most Sierra ice it seems possible that each year one or more of the 108 "true" glaciers is becoming a "glacieret" each year.The winter of 2004-2005 was an extremely heavy snow year in the High Sierra, but by September, after an unusually warm spring and typical summer, the Yosemite high country did not seem to have significantly more end-of-season snow cover than usual although the September meadows were a bit greener and more mosquito infested than I would normally expect.Therefore I don't think anyone anticipates any of the "glacierets" will expand to become glaciers again in the near future.

One of the best features of the book for either hikers or car tourists interested in seeing actual glacier phenomenon is the section "Seeing for Yourself" that describes in detail a drive across Yosemite National Park from Glacier Point, over Tioga Pass and down to Lee Vining with suggested stops and day hikes to see both formerly glaciated landscapes and some living glacial remnants.

Guyton emphasizes the long run view of geologic history and refers more than once to the fact that periodic advances of California's alpine glaciers, followed by their total disappearance for long periods, has been the normal situation for eons.In doing so he subtly provides a reality check on some of the hysterical end-of-the-world global warming hoopla that pervades the media.

The book has lots of useful black and white photos plus a section of color photographs as well as typical geology text diagrams of glaciers and related phenomenon.There is one map showing the maximum extent of California glaciations and a map-like diagram of Mt. Shasta's current glaciers, but some more detailed maps of current glaciers in the two most described areas - the Palisades and Yosemite's Tioga Pass region - would have been useful.I'd also like to see some "then and now" comparison photos of some of the glaciers.

Highly recommended for hikers, climbers and amateur naturalists who want to know more about the glaciated landscape and Ice Age glacier remnants in California, particularly in the High Sierra.

Best compilation yet of a century of erroneous glacial study
Buy this book! It is destined to become a collector's item. Prof. EmeritusBill Guyton of Cal State Chico laboriously reviewed perhaps hundreds ofresearch papers on California's past glaciers and he has presented hissynopsis in a highly readable, enjoyable book. For his effort, I give him 5stars. Unfortunately, he was a compiler, not a field glaciologist, so hehas seen very little of the total past-glacial evidence. Moreunfortunately, for the Sierra Nevada, which easily contained the vast bulkof past glaciers, roughly 80-90% of these glaciers - essentially those onthe west side - have been grossly misinterpreted with regard to size,thickness and age. Indeed, the USGS mapped some "old glacialdeposits" from aerial photos, but if you hike to these locations,you'll find no glacial evidence whatsoever. Because this book containssoooo much downright poor glacial mapping, the information in this bookrates one star. (This is NOT the author's fault.) As I said, buy it, fordecades from now, people will want to know what was believed at the end ofthe 20th century. Bill had planned to incorporate my preliminary, new-viewresearch into his book, but the editors nixed it. As Bill wrote me, theeditors said that he "should stick to generally accepted ideas andinformation. People reading my book would not have the background to judgethe controversy, would not be interested in it, and including it would be adistraction." (We must not let the public know that science has ragingcontroversies.) Had my book, The Geomorphic Evolution of the Yosemite andSierra Nevada Landscapes, been in print before Prof. Guyton's book went topress, perhaps there would have been a better chance of my ideas beingmentioned in it. I now take professors, geologists, geographers, andstudents into the range and make more converts every year. The newinterpretation, based in part on well-known laws of glacial physics (whichall west-side mappers have ignored), ultimately will win out. Still, thereis strong opposition, perhaps most vociferously by a youthful professor,Doug Clark, who has yet to visit my 300 sites of glacial and upliftevidence. To quote Peter Birkeland, who reviewed my book (QuaternaryResearch, 1998, v. 50, p. 201): "In the spirit of fair play, theanswer to all of "Schaffer's views lies in the field, so I challengeinterested workers to put the book in their rucksacks, hike through theSierra Nevada, and make up their own mind. How lucky we are that this isthe best way for geologists and geographers to resolve controversies."And, none other than Prof. Guyton is urging me on. He is an honorable man.

Good overview of California glaciers for the general public
I essentially agree with the previous review, with the exception that the absence of references to J. P. Schaffer's work on glaciation in the Sierra Nevada should not be viewed as a problem with the book.Speaking as aglacial geologist who has worked extensively in the Sierra Nevada, thepublic should know that Schaffer's work has repeatedly failed to passscientific peer review. Until it does so, it would be irresponsible forother authors, like Guyton, to present it in any publication purporting tobe a synopsis of current scientific thinking.Guyton has done a verycommendable job of summarizing the latest CRITICALLY REVIEWED thinking ontiming and geomorphic effects of ancient glaciation in the Sierra.I wouldrecommend it to anyone interested in learning more about modern and ancientglaciers of California.

The layperson's guide to understanding glaciers
Bill Guyton, professor emeritus of geosciences at Cal State Chico, has
written an excellent book designed to teach people with little
knowledge of geology about the glaciers of California.

The book
discusses glaciers and ice ages in general, discovery of glaciers in
California, glacial chronology, and techniques used to determine ages
of glaciations; then goes on to describe ice-age and modern glaciers
throughout California.As a bonus, Guyton has included a chapter
about the controversy surrounded formation of Yosemite Valley and a
field trip through Yosemite on which readers may see glaciers and
their effects on the landscape.

Though the book is fairly complete,
well researched, and certainly well written, Guyton might have
discussed general concepts of glaciation a little bit more thoroughly.
In addition, Guyton omits recent highly controversial (and perhaps
faulty) research done in Yosemite by Jeffrey Schaffer (see _The
Geomorphic Evolution of the Yosemite Valley and Sierra Nevada
Landscapes: Solving the Riddles in the Rocks_, 1997).

The book,
however, is an excellent book for anyone wanting to learn more about
California's glaciers.
... Read more

Product Description
The photographer of this collection spent five years travelling Nevada. The state has a unique basin-and-range topography, created by more than 150 mountain ranges scattered throughout the state. Scott T. Smith strives to present images of a magnificent wilderness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Home Means Nevada!
A wonderful book! I am far from my home in Nevada and swear I can smell the sagebrush, cattle and mountain streams as I turn the pages. This book brings the Silver State alive! I have had many comments from visitors who pick up the book and are amazed. Most are unaware of the beauty in this area generally thought of as a desolate "wasteland". Just like the State song, this book really showed that "Home Means Nevada" to me! ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Rachel is an unincorporated portion of Lincoln County, Nevada. As the closest habitation to the Nellis Air Force Range and Area 51, Rachel enjoys a modest celebrity, particularly among aviation enthusiasts and UFO hunters. The town lies approximately three hours drive north of Las Vegas along Nevada Highway 375 (the "Extraterrestrial Highway"), which has an unofficial "speed limit" of Warp 7. The tiny town receives a modest number of visitors interested in the U.S. government's secret doings, to whom a small tourist shop, 3-room motel, and an alien-themed restaurant and bar, the Little A'Le'Inn are available. ... Read more