Steamboat Springs, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Steamboat Springs is a small volcanic field
of rhyolitic lava dome
s and flows in western Nevada
, USA, located south of Reno
. There is extensive geothermal
activity in the area, including numerous hot spring
s, steam vents, and fumarole
s. There were formerly a number of geyser
s in the area, but they have ceased to erupt because of geothermal drilling.
The state of Nevada has a Steamboat Springs Historical Marker (#198) situated along the eastern shoulder of the busy Reno-Carson Highway (secret SR 430
presently signed as US 395), approximately 1.65 miles (2.66 km) south of Tahoe Junction (the intersection with SR 341
and SR 431
). There were once several mineral spas operating here along Steamboat Creek, with at least one still in business.
Steamboat Springs was once also a depot on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad
's Reno-Carson City line. In 1871, with tracks yet to be built south through the Washoe Valley to Carson City
, this temporary rail terminus became an important transfer point for passengers and freight heading up the Geiger Grade on stagecoaches bound for Virginia City
and the mines of the Comstock Lode
. Once tracks were extended south the following summer to meet the existing Carson-Virginia City rail line, such transfer business fell off rapidly.
The residential portions of this area, located mostly east of Steamboat Creek and south of modern-day SR 341, are now known simply as Steamboat.
Volcanic field
A volcanic field is an area of the Earth's crust that is prone to localized volcanic activity. They usually contain 10 to 100 volcanoes, such as cinder cones and are usually in clusters. Lava flows may also occur...
of rhyolitic lava dome
Lava dome
|250px|thumb|right|Image of the [[rhyolitic]] lava dome of [[Chaitén Volcano]] during its 2008–2009 eruption.In volcanology, a lava dome is a roughly circular mound-shaped protrusion resulting from the slow extrusion of viscous lava from a volcano...
s and flows in western Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, USA, located south of Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
. There is extensive geothermal
Geothermal
Geothermal is related to energy and may refer to:* The geothermal gradient and associated heat flows from within the Earth- Renewable technology :...
activity in the area, including numerous hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s, steam vents, and fumarole
Fumarole
A fumarole is an opening in a planet's crust, often in the neighborhood of volcanoes, which emits steam and gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen sulfide. The steam is created when superheated water turns to steam as its pressure drops when it emerges from...
s. There were formerly a number of geyser
Geyser
A geyser is a spring characterized by intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by a vapour phase . The word geyser comes from Geysir, the name of an erupting spring at Haukadalur, Iceland; that name, in turn, comes from the Icelandic verb geysa, "to gush", the verb...
s in the area, but they have ceased to erupt because of geothermal drilling.
The state of Nevada has a Steamboat Springs Historical Marker (#198) situated along the eastern shoulder of the busy Reno-Carson Highway (secret SR 430
Nevada State Route 430
State Route 430 is a major north–south state highway in Washoe County, Nevada which currently exists as two separate sections. South of Reno, the route follows the Carson-Reno Highway, and currently overlaps U.S. Route 395. In Reno, the highway follows Virginia Street, the primary...
presently signed as US 395), approximately 1.65 miles (2.66 km) south of Tahoe Junction (the intersection with SR 341
Nevada State Route 341
State Route 341 is a state highway in western Nevada connecting US 50 near Dayton to Reno via Virginia City. Commonly known as the Virginia City Highway, or Geiger Grade north of Virginia City, the route has origins dating back to the 1860s.-Route description:Nevada State Route 341 begins at a...
and SR 431
Nevada State Route 431
State Route 431 , commonly known as the Mount Rose Highway, is a 24.4 mile two lane highway in Washoe County, Nevada that connects Incline Village-Crystal Bay at Lake Tahoe with Reno. The highway, a Nevada Scenic Byway, takes its name from Mount Rose, which lies just off the highway...
). There were once several mineral spas operating here along Steamboat Creek, with at least one still in business.
Steamboat Springs was once also a depot on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad
Virginia and Truckee Railroad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad was built to serve the Comstock Lode mining communities of northwestern Nevada. At its height, the railroad's route ran from Reno south to Carson City, Nevada. In Carson City, the...
's Reno-Carson City line. In 1871, with tracks yet to be built south through the Washoe Valley to Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
, this temporary rail terminus became an important transfer point for passengers and freight heading up the Geiger Grade on stagecoaches bound for Virginia City
Virginia City, Nevada
Virginia City is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 855 at the 2010 Census.- History :...
and the mines of the Comstock Lode
Comstock Lode
The Comstock Lode was the first major U.S. discovery of silver ore, located under what is now Virginia City, Nevada, on the eastern slope of Mount Davidson, a peak in the Virginia Range. After the discovery was made public in 1859, prospectors rushed to the area and scrambled to stake their claims...
. Once tracks were extended south the following summer to meet the existing Carson-Virginia City rail line, such transfer business fell off rapidly.
The residential portions of this area, located mostly east of Steamboat Creek and south of modern-day SR 341, are now known simply as Steamboat.