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Home , Las Vegas, Las Vegas Boulevard

Embassy of the of America U.S.

Las Vegas,

LAS VEGAS

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An Entertainment Economy Lights Up the Desert A gondolier serenades a couple as he steers the gondola through the canal inside the Venetian and . as Vegas dazzles like a A Desert ©Shutterstock.com sparkling jewel in its south- Few people lived in the Las Vegas western desert setting. L Valley a century ago — only 30 A visit to this “Entertainment were counted in the 1900 cen- Capital of the World” captures not sus. The name Vegas, the Spanish only the man-made spectacles of word for meadows, derives from neon, glass and steel but also the a few desert springs and grassy more rustic natural beauty of sun, meadows that existed. sand and stone. Caption. ©Shutterstock.com The foundation for urbanization Here entertainment of all types was laid when railroad investor for all tastes abounds, and the William Clark purchased land wonders of the world – both and water rights in the valley and ancient and modern – are recre- persuaded the Nevada state leg- ated for the enjoyment of guests. islature to allow a railroad depot there. The was founded in Las Vegas, Nevada

1905 when Clark auctioned off In succeeding , bigger and much of his land. bigger mega- replaced older casino . Some of the world’s Visitors came to the small city biggest and most luxurious hotels for its gambling , operating now are located along the Strip. legally at first and then illegally from 1910 to 1931. Construction of the Boulder Dam (later renamed Defying the Desert ) on the Las Vegas demonstrates how far humans can alter the natural land- nearby in the 1930s brought the Two cyclists ride along the 21-kilometer scenic drive at electric power and water on which scape. Casinos and shows are the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada. the modern metropolis depends. top attractions, but the hard beauty ©AP Images of the desert is close by. After the state legalized gambling You can watch an hourly volcano- again in 1931 and large military “Contemporary Las Vegas is aston- eruption light show and see the bases went up near Las Vegas dur- ishing,” author Thomas “Taj” world’s largest glass pyramid. You ing World War II, hotel owners Ainlay Jr. writes. “At night, it is can see replicas of the New York attracted more visitors by featur- a brilliant cluster of jewels of all City skyline, Paris’s Eiffel Tower, ing famous entertainers such as shapes, sizes, and colors, glowing Egypt’s Valley of the Kings and singer . In the 1940s in the middle of a vast, black velvet Venice’s canals. and 1950s, major casino-hotel canopy. By day, it is also an amaz- complexes began to rise along the ing sight, almost like a mirage. Water is abundant in this desert : stretch of There is nothing but desert and A fountain show set to music dances known as “the Strip.” rugged mountains all around, and at the resort, gondolas glide then — in the middle of it all — on gentle canals at the Venetian one of the largest and fastest grow- Hotel, and sharks menacingly The People ing cities in the United States.” in the Golden Nugget’s tank. Nearly 2 million people live in the Las Vegas , the 31st most In Las Vegas, you can gamble You can also get away from the in the United States. They almost anywhere at any time, even urban fantasy. Nearby Red Rock account for more than two-thirds of at the airport and supermarkets. Canyon National Conservation the population in the entire state of Area offers the natural wonders of Nevada. The average age is 35. You can eat your fill and more at scores of buffets and fine restaurants. the , including sand- The Land stone cliffs colored red and cream Luxury resorts in monumental Las Vegas is the largest city in the and fossilized sand . Mojave Desert. The city of 341 architecture offer entertainment. “Las Vegas is the most extreme square kilometers sits in a dry basin You can see circus shows, magic and allegorical of American settle- surrounded by rocky mountains and shows, comedy shows and shows vegetated by desert plants. Its lush in tribute to entertainers such as ments, bizarre and beautiful in lawns and trees and sparkling fountains its venality and in its devotion to depend on water diverted from the immediate gratification,” essayist Colorado River. You can go indoor skydiving or ride Joan Didion wrote in 1968. indoor roller coasters. You can play The Weather the machines at the Pinball Hall of The city has a saying that “What Las Vegas summers are very hot and Fame. At the Neon , you happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” dry. The winters are short and mild, can see hectares of historic electric but the wonderful memories visitors with temperatures rarely dropping to create in this magical city are theirs the freezing point. Rainfall averages a casino signs. to take with them and keep forever. scant 114 millimeters per year.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE September 2012 BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAMS