Show A BIG LOST LAKE IN NEVADA during comparatively recent geologic time a great ia lake k flooded a number of the valleys in northwestern nevada this lake has now almost completely disappeared but geologists have named it in its entirety lake lahontan in honor of baron la fontan one of the early explorers of the headwaters of the mississippi at the time of its greatest expansion according to the united states geological survey department of the interior this ancient lake covered square miles the deepest part of lake lahontan which was feet deep was the site of the present pyramid lake one of its remnants so that its surface stood about feet above the surface 0 of f pyramid lake the ancient lake had no outlet except the one that led straight up its waters being dissipated entirely by evaporation A lar large lare 6 e area a few miles north of winnemucca nev is covered with sand dunes that were formed since lake lahontan disappeared these dunes are fully 75 feet thick and their steeper steeped slopes are on the east side indicating that the whole vast field of sand is slowly traveling eastward the march of this sand is irresistible and its progress has necessitated a number of changes chames in the roads in the southern part of little humboldt valley during recent years in some places in this region the telegraph poles have been buried so deep that they have had to be spliced in order to keep the wires above the crests of the sand dunes the sand is of a light creamy yellow color and forms beautifully curved ridges and waves that are covered with an artistic fretwork of wind ri ripples p ples |