Nevada Acreage
With a little over 70 million acres in the state, there is an abundance of Nevada acreage. The northern part of the state is basically comprised of the Great Basin, with a base elevation of approximately one mile. The Mohave Desert makes up the southern part of the state with an elevation of less than 500 feet at the Colorado River.
Approximately 20% of the state’s population and 80% of the land area is located in the northern part of the state, while 80% of the population and 20% of the land area is located in the southern part. The climate is cooler in the north and considerably hotter and drier in the south. In fact Laughlin, located at the southern tip of the state, is second only to Laredo, Texas for record-high temperatures in the nation.
Of all 50 states, the most unexplored areas still remain the interior of Alaska and the two great deserts of Nevada. There are few rivers in Nevada and the Humboldt River and Reese River are born and die in the Great Basin. Only the Colorado River is large enough to be served by riverboats. Lake Mead, 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, is the largest man-made lake in the United States. It was constructed during the building of the Hoover Dam in 1930s.
Of all the states, Nevada has the largest percentage of federally owned land. A little more than 80% of the land in the state is owned by the federal government. Add to this land owned by the railroads, mining interests, and large ranches, and it is clear to see that there is only a small percentage of Nevada acreage remaining for private real estate transactions.