The goal of my dissertation was to explore in more detail the locational factors that have influenced and continue to influence the development and existence of the city of Las Vegas. In my research, I relied primarily on professional literature and Internet resources. Then I went through several case studies, analyzed how the city of Las Vegas developed in the midst of such a people-unfriendly environment. I found that despite the fact that the city today lies in the middle of a desert valley, where at first glance we would say that there is no any form of water, it is this crucial for the emergence and survival of life in this area. The first to settle in this valley were Native Americans, later Spaniards, Mormon farmers, and ranch owners, all of whom needed water hidden in aquifers below the surface for their existence. Due to the excessive depletion of artesian water in the following decades, however, the surface beneath Las Vegas began to sink, causing much material damage to the infrastructure. However, this is not the only example of how nature is “taking revenge” on us, as the construction of the Hoover Dam and consequently the weight of Lake Mead influenced the triggering of earthquakes. Today, the city is also plagued by numerous temperature extremes, and during summer storms, headaches are caused by torrents. Today, the city is held upright by the Colorado River and Lake Mead, which has experienced a significant drop in water levels in recent years. Due to the expansion of urban life, the construction of casinos and the consequent increase in the number of tourists, the need for water and electricity is constantly increasing. The city, which shines far and wide in the desert, is also intertwined with the poverty and misery of life caused by the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 epidemic, but few of those who visit Las Vegas are aware of this.
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