Las Vegas Springs
Encyclopedia
The Las Vegas Springs or Big Springs is the site of a natural oasis
, known traditionally as a cienega
. For more than 15,000 years, springs
broke through the desert floor, creating grassy meadows
(called las vegas by Spanish explorers). The bubbling springs were a source of water for Native American
s living here at least 5,000 years ago. Known as The Birthplace of Las Vegas it sustained travelers of the Old Spanish Trail
and Mormons who came to settle the West. The springs' source is the Las Vegas Aquifer.
The springs are now a part of the Las Vegas Springs Preserve
.
Las Vegas Springs was once the site of three springs, running into two large pools of water. It is a site historically known for a gathering of pioneers and Native Americans and early settlers in the Las Vegas Valley. In 1905, it provided water source to the budding town and railroad. Once pipe lines were laid and wells were drilled, the surface water receded, making it the way it is today. The site is currently undergoing rehabilitation to protect what remains architechturally and archaeologically.
Source: http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/FactsStatistics/20950.htm
Now, it is 180 acres of historic land located just west of Downtown Las Vegas. It is open to the public and more information can be found here: http://www.springspreserve.org/
and Kit Carson
camped at the springs in 1844. The springs stopped flowing to the surface in 1962 as the water table
dropped as more water was pumped out to meet the demands of a growing population than was being replaced by rainfall and snow melt.
Uncontrolled use of private wells wasted water and contributed to the early depletion of the aquifer. This forced the Las Vegas Land and Water Company to drill 'Well No. 1' in 1923 to supply the demands for water.
The springs and associated infrastructure have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
since 1978 and are marked as Nevada Historical Marker 40.
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
, known traditionally as a cienega
Cienega
A cienega or cienaga is a Spanish Colonial term for a spring, that is in use in English in the southwestern United States. A cienega usually is a wet, marshy area at the foot of a mountain, in a canyon, or on the edge of a grassland where groundwater bubbles to the surface...
. For more than 15,000 years, springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
broke through the desert floor, creating grassy meadows
Grass valley
A grass valley is a meadow located within a forested and relatively small drainage basin such as a headwater. Grass valleys are common in North America, where they are created and maintained principally by the work of beavers. Rarely, they are associated with cienegas.The words vega and valle...
(called las vegas by Spanish explorers). The bubbling springs were a source of water for Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s living here at least 5,000 years ago. Known as The Birthplace of Las Vegas it sustained travelers of the Old Spanish Trail
Old Spanish Trail (trade route)
The Old Spanish Trail is a historical trade route which connected the northern New Mexico settlements near or in Santa Fe, New Mexico with that of Los Angeles, California and southern California. Approximately long, it ran through areas of high mountains, arid deserts, and deep canyons. It is...
and Mormons who came to settle the West. The springs' source is the Las Vegas Aquifer.
The springs are now a part of the Las Vegas Springs Preserve
Las Vegas Springs Preserve
Las Vegas Springs Preserve consists of dedicated to nature walks and displays and is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The Preserve is located approximately three miles west of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada...
.
Las Vegas Springs was once the site of three springs, running into two large pools of water. It is a site historically known for a gathering of pioneers and Native Americans and early settlers in the Las Vegas Valley. In 1905, it provided water source to the budding town and railroad. Once pipe lines were laid and wells were drilled, the surface water receded, making it the way it is today. The site is currently undergoing rehabilitation to protect what remains architechturally and archaeologically.
Source: http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/FactsStatistics/20950.htm
Now, it is 180 acres of historic land located just west of Downtown Las Vegas. It is open to the public and more information can be found here: http://www.springspreserve.org/
History
American traveler John C. FremontJohn C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
and Kit Carson
Kit Carson
Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson was an American frontiersman and Indian fighter. Carson left home in rural present-day Missouri at age 16 and became a Mountain man and trapper in the West. Carson explored the west to California, and north through the Rocky Mountains. He lived among and married...
camped at the springs in 1844. The springs stopped flowing to the surface in 1962 as the water table
Water table
The water table is the level at which the submarine pressure is far from atmospheric pressure. It may be conveniently visualized as the 'surface' of the subsurface materials that are saturated with groundwater in a given vicinity. However, saturated conditions may extend above the water table as...
dropped as more water was pumped out to meet the demands of a growing population than was being replaced by rainfall and snow melt.
Uncontrolled use of private wells wasted water and contributed to the early depletion of the aquifer. This forced the Las Vegas Land and Water Company to drill 'Well No. 1' in 1923 to supply the demands for water.
The springs and associated infrastructure have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
since 1978 and are marked as Nevada Historical Marker 40.