Chapter 8 : Appalachia

Appalachia vs. Las Vegas

Most of Appalachia area is formed mountains. There are the Blue Ridge province which containing the Great Smoky Mountains, Ridge and Valley Province which containing the Great Valley, Appalachian Plateaus and Interior Plateau which is Nashville and Lexington basins. Basically, Appalachia area is mountains, and Las Vegas city is in desert area so they totally opposite. Therefor Appalachia's climate is humid climate which with precipitation is about 40-45 inches annually and 1/4 of its precipitation falls in the form of snow. In the Blue Ridge Mountains bordering the Piedmont receive the most rain in the eastern United States, about 80 inches annually. 

Jobs / Appalachia vs. Las Vegas

Appalachia area's major job was coal mining. But recently, the coal mining job opportunity decreased and also the population of Appalachia decreased. The coalfield jobs were favored in the early twentieth century, but after the lost favor to oil, it resulting the decrease of population. The coal mining is dirty so it caused the water pollution. Coal is not pure carbon but contains toxic by products that need to be removed to meet clean air and water regulations. But in Las Vegas city, the major industries of job is tourism. Appalachia relies on natural resources for economy, and Las Vegas city relies on tourism for economy.

Race of Appalachia vs. Las Vegas

The racial makeup of the state was 94 percent White, 3.4 percent Black, 1.2 Hispanic, and 0.6 Asians. As compare to Las Vegas, 62 percent White, 11 percent Black, 31 percent Hispanic, and 6.1 Asians, so the Las Vegas has more diversity race than Appalachia. 

Water issue of Appalachia vs. Las Vegas

Delaware river

The water issue in Las Vegas is the serious problem. But in Appalachia, water is plentiful. Northern rivers in Appalachia are the Delaware, Susquehanna, Potomac, and James. Southern rivers in Appalachia are the Nolichucky, Holston. Therefore, Appalachia is not the area of water shortage issue, but Las Vegas.

Chapter 7 : Megalopolis

Megalopolis vs. Las Vegas

The word, Megalopolis is Greek for "very large city" which an extended urban area with millions of people. Megalopolis includes Merrimack Valley, Boston, Narragansett Basin, Connecticut River Valley, Albany and the Hudson River Valley, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. This area has the greatest wealth and greatest poverty and it made 1/4 of all United States wholesale trade. Megalopolis waterways are plentiful along the Megalopolis coast. There are five major rivers which are the Connecticut, Hudson, Delaware, Susquehanna and Potomac which flow from their Appalachian headwaters to the sea. Las Vegas relies on Lake Mead but that lake's water level is keep decreasing and some of exports predicts the Lake Mead is going to empty by 2021. But I think Megalopolis doesn't need to worry about the water issues because they have tons of rivers. 

Climate of Megalopolis vs. Las Vegas

The Climate of Megalopolis is humid in the summer, winter is cold. The annual average precipitation is 40-45 inches. In summer, the thunderstorms bring considerable precipitation, and hurricane might cause of damage coastal areas. Also the Acid rain is serious problem in Megalopolis area. As compare to Las Vegas, Megalopolis has more humidity than Las Vegas and also for precipitation, about 40 inches more than Las Vegas.

Population of Megalopolis vs. Las Vegas

The urban density is decreasing in Megalopolis area. Between 1983 and 1997, the urbanized area grew by 39% but the population increased only 7%. It cause of not conductive to the sustainable attributes of compact housing and more efficient transportation patters. Five major metropolitan areas has more than 54 million people. Even the population is not that much increased, New Jersey's population density is over 1,000 people per mile. In the northern metropolitan area's--Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut-- densities of populations is over 100 people per square mile. As compare to Las Vegas city which is 4296 per square mile, metropolitan population density is much less than Las Vegas city. 

Tourism of Megalopolis vs. Las Vegas

Tourism is the one of substantial for both Megalopolis area and Las Vegas city. New York City is the largest attraction among the Megalopolis area which has the Empire State Building, the Natural History Museum, Ellis Island Museum, etc..) Also in Manhattan, there is Statue of Liberty which is most popular statue all over the world. Even in Las Vegas city, there is a hotel called "New York New York" which has Statue of Liberty for their decoration. 

Chpater 6 : The North Atlantic Provinces and Northern New England

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Portland, Maine

In North Atlantic Provence and Northern New England, the climate is the maritime influence along the coast of the North Atlantic moderates regional temperature throughout the year, but because of prevailing winds does not reach too much into the interior. North Atlantic region's winter is longer than Las Vegas and with continuous snow cover. Las Vegas never snow during winter. The average temperature of North Atlantic is rarely above 90'F, drop below 1'F, which means it is cold region than Las Vegas because Las Vegas average temperature is 92.5'F and 47'F. The precipitation is 40-55 inches annually. Las Vegas precipitation is 4.2 inches a year so as compare to this, North Atlantic region's humidity is not low. Las Vegas is the most driest city in United States.

The population of North Atlantic region has been stable at best. The job opportunities decreased and emigration is increasing. But Las Vegas is different. Las Vegas is the most fastest growing city in United States because of tourism. There are 36 million visitors annually, also the emigration is increasing.

Chpater 4 : Population and Consumption

Population Growth

Las Vegas is the fastest growing city in the United States. During 2000 to 2010, the population grew at a rate of 22.01%. The population is now approximately 583,756 people with 36 million annual visitors. The population growth rate of the Nevada state is 35.15% which is more than population growth rate of Las Vegas city and it is higher than national average growth rate which is 9.71%. 

Population Density

The population density of Las Vegas is 4298.1 per square mile. It is very higher than Nevada state density which is 24.42 people per square mile and also higher than national average density of 81.32 people per square mile. 

Population by Races

The highest race of people who live in Las Vegas city is White which is 62.1%. Second high race is Hispanic or Latino which is 31.5%. The Black or African American rate is 11.1%, and Asian rate is 6.1%. Rest of the races are Native American (0.7%), Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (0.6%), and etc.

Population by Gender

Population by Age

The most highest population is the age between 35 to 44 years old which is 14.19%. The lowest population is the age between 85 years and over which is 1.16%. According to the graph and the chart, we can assume that Las Vegas city is not that old age city. The Median age of Las Vegas is 35.90 years old which is less than Nevada States and national median age which are 36.30 and 37.20. The Median age by gender is very similar. Male is 35.20 years old and Female is 36.50 years old so the Female Median age is little higher than Male Median age.

Chpater 3 : Sustainability

Solar Energy

The solar energy is the big part of renewable energy for Las Vegas. The Southern Nevada is the best places in the United States to collect solar energy because Las Vegas has 250 days of sunshine each year. Since 2007, 400 acre solar plant produced enough solar energy for 14,000 homes. Also to establish the solar plant created 800 construction jobs and 30 permanent operations jobs. Nevada is expecting to produce more solar power about 2,000 megawatts capacity by 2014. The solar energy industry is rapidly developing in Las Vegas.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy is produced by Humboldt County's Blue Mountain which is in northwestern Nevada. The Las Vegas is southern Nevada so Geothermal Energy is not produces by my chosen city but Las Vegas is also getting Geothermal Energy from Blue Mountain. In taps of the Blue Mountain, the geothermal power plant boiling hot water just beneath the earth's surface, it converts it into electricity for 40,000 homes. Geothermal Energy creates 7 percent of Nevada's electricity and create more than 2,500 jobs and generate $310 million in revenue each year.

Water

Lake Mead is the major source of Las Vegas's water supply. Lake Mead has a storage capacity of 24 million-acre-feet(MAF) and the current volume of Lake Mead is 12.361 MAF, which is 56.75% of full-pool capacity. Las Vegas city uses over 500,000 acre-feet of water annually and over 90% of water came from Lake Mead. Las Vegas is the fastest growing city in the Unites States. During 2000 to 2010, the population grew at a rate of 41.8%. The population is approximately 2 million people with 36 million annual visitors. We can't live without water. But the Lake Mead water level is continually dropping.

Wind Energy 

LasVegas has the potential to make more than half its electricity needs through wind energy, but there is no wind energy plant yet. Many Wind Energy projects are on the stage of development.

Chpater 2 : The Nonhuman World

Climate

Las Vegas's climate is very good for visitors. The annual average temperture of Las Vegas is 66.3'F. In summer, average daily temperture is 92.5'F, night-time temperture is above 80'F. Las Vegas's winter is very short. In winter, average temperture is 47.7'F. Las Vegas is not rainy city. It is very dry city, humidity is very low. Annual precipitation is about 110mm. The rainy days is 26-27 days a year. So it is really good city for tour.

Location

Las Vegas is located in middle of Vegas Valley, a desert region of about 600 square miles. It is surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Spring Mountains which indicate dry mountains. It is within Clark County in an arid basin on the desert floor. Its landscape is very rocky and dusty. The Coordinates of this city is 36°10′30″N 115°08′11″W. the distance between Las Vegas and CSUN is 286 miles which takes 4 hours and 7 minutes drive. Nevada is the ranked 7th states in the United States and its neighbor states are California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Arizona.

Physiography

Las Vegas lies within both the Great Basin and Mojave Desert. It drains a 1,564 square mile watershed southeastward through Las Vegas Wash into Lake Mead. The area of Las Vegas is about 135.8 square miles, 135.81 square miles (99.97%) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.03%)  is water. The elevation of Las Vegas is aroung 2,030ft above sea level.

Chpater 1 : Regions and Ecoregions

Welcome to Las Vegas. 
It is not too much say that Las Vegas is the most exciting city in the world.
Las Vegas has lots of nicknames; Vegas, The Gambling Capital of the World, Sin City, The Entertainment Capital of the World, Capital of Second Chances, The Marriage Capital of the World and Lost Wages.

The location of Las Vegas in Southern part of  Nevada state, and the distance between Las Vegas and CSUN is 286 miles which takes 4 hours and 7 minutes drive. Nevada is the ranked 7th states in the United States and its neighbor states are California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Arizona. The area of this city is 135.8 square miles. Las Vegas is the metropolitan area which means a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. There is a Colorado River (Hoover Dam) next to Las Vegas.

Population is about 596,000. About 70% of population is White, about 24% of Hispanic and 10% is Black. The amount of Asian rate is increasing rapidly.

Las Vegas is the most driest city in the United States. It is subtropical, hot desert climate. (BWh). Because Las Vegas is in Mojave desert. In summer, the average temperature 92.5'F (33.6'C) daytime, in night-time's average temperature is 80'F (27'C). Humidity is very low which is under 10%. Winter is not that cold which average temperature is about 47'F.

Las Vegas's major income is from gambling, tourism and convention. Many people are coming to Las Vegas for their wedding and honeymoon. Even if the world's economy has been fallen, Las Vegas did not get that much of affected.