Larry Ammann

Las Vegas

Las Vegas and Lake Mead

Situated between the Grand Canyon to the east and Death Valley to the west, Las Vegas is surrounded by natural wonders. Las Vegas derives its energy from another man-made wonder -- Hoover Dam. Lake Mead provides recreational activities for this area in addition to water for drinking and maintaining the multitude of golf courses that are easily visible in the image. The many colors seen here are associated with the wide variety of minerals present in the sand and rocks that surround the city. The mountains west and north of Las Vegas show layers of colors that are associated with rock types from different geological eras.

This large image combines broad coverage with fine detail, covering approximately 93x106 miles.