Hoover Dam, Vegas on foot, and Death Valley

In September 2017, after the Grand Canyon, we headed toward Las Vegas, and after leaving it we drove through Death Valley.

The dam and the bridge

Before Las Vegas, Hoover Dam stands on the Colorado River. Next to it, a memorial bridge spans the gorge. It was named after two people: a governor of Nevada and an American football player who, after the September 11 attacks, turned down a $3.6 million contract in 2002, joined the army, and was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan.

View from the dam down the gorge: a river between sheer cliffs, and in the distance an arch bridge over the canyon — The gorge below the dam and the memorial bridge; the dam itself from above, September 2017

The curved concrete wall of the dam between the cliffs, the reservoir behind it, and the river below — The gorge below the dam and the memorial bridge; the dam itself from above, September 2017

Vegas on foot

Las Vegas itself struck us as an ordinary, quiet city. To avoid paying for parking, we left the car in a store parking lot at our own risk and went for a walk. Really, there is only one interesting street here — the biggest party street, with the coolest casinos and hotels. We hurried through it: if the car had been towed to an impound lot, in 2017 it would have cost us $300–400.

Along the street stand small replicas of landmarks from different countries.

A scaled-down replica of the Eiffel Tower among palm trees and hotels under a blue sky — A little Eiffel Tower, Las Vegas, September 2017

A fountain with statues and columns at the entrance to a shopping arcade — Another replica — a fountain in the Roman style, September 2017

All around are tons of screens; everything blazes, glows, and shimmers. The Hangover and many other famous movies were filmed at the Caesars Palace hotel.

The pale buildings of a large hotel beyond a wide pool of water — Caesars Palace, September 2017

And these are the dancing fountains.

The dancing fountains, Las Vegas, September 2017

Vegas at night from the car

But the best part is driving around Vegas at night.

Driving around Vegas at night, September 2017

At night from the car: an illuminated replica of the Statue of Liberty above a stream of cars — Vegas at night from the car window, September 2017

As usual, we spent the night in a Walmart parking lot, and even from the car window everything was covered in lights. Only in Vegas do slot machines stand even in the most ordinary grocery supermarket. We wanted to play at a casino but changed our minds.

On the other hand, the morning of September 23, 2017, when we were leaving Vegas, turned out lucky. Our favorite store, TJ Maxx, was having a celebration and giving away $20 gift certificates in a drawing. We made the rounds of three stores and won a certificate in each one — maybe we should have played at the casino after all.

Death Valley

After Vegas, we stopped by Death Valley. It is a huge desert in the southwestern USA near the border of California and Nevada, the hottest and driest place in North America.

Bare brown slopes of a deep gorge, the pale valley floor in the distance — Death Valley, September 2017

This is also the lowest point in North America — 86 meters below sea level. And on July 10, 1913, +56.7 °C was recorded here — the highest air temperature in the Western Hemisphere.

Long ago there was a large ancient lake here, Lake Manly; then it dried up. There is a lot of salt here, and when water collects, salt lakes form.