Last Updated: 24-AUG-2018
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, established June 18, 1984, is located approximately 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas in the Amargosa Valley of southern Nye County, Nevada. To date, over 23,000 acres of spring-fed wetlands and alkaline desert uplands are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge provides habitat for at least 24 plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Four fish and one plant are currently listed as endangered. Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for wildlife, especially rare fish, plants, snails, and insects, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. Water bubbles up from underground into clear spring pools as silvery blue and grayish green pupfish dart between swaying strands of algae. Pebbled streams gurgle from small hillside springs, sheltering tiny beetles and snails. The water is warm, the air moist, in contrast to the surrounding Mojave Desert. We saw many birds in the lake and then went to see the Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish which are especially visible and colorful at the Point of Rocks springs. Populations of this pupfish have recovered very well since the refuge was established in 1984 and are currently proposed for removal from the endangered species list. A wildlife biologist was there monitoring the wetland.
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas was our last hotel and the nicest--very different than the modest park lodging. It has a beach and wave pool which generates its own waves. Nice for an October swim! We stayed on the top floor with a view of the Strip and the lights are amazing.
We walked to Le Village Buffet in Paris Hotel for dinner. It had a good variety of food but was $25 each. We were used to $10 buffets but they are mostly a thing of the past! Also packed with Germans, Asians and French guests. We saw the dancing fountain shows across the street at the Bellagio. They played "God Bless the USA. I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free, ... 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A. ..." We heard mostly foreign languages being spoken by the other vacationers watching!
Last look around Furnace Creek Ranch. This is the lowest golf course in the world.
Heading out of Death Valley on CA-190. My kind of country !
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Refuge map
Does not look like the place you would find habitat for at least 24 plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
Bird sign at Crystal Reservoir
Mary checking out the birds at Crystal Reservoir
King's Pool / Point of Rocks, Spring Pool
Endangered Ash Meadows Amargosa Pulpfish (Small blue/green looking things)
Prosopis pubescens (Screwbean Mesquite)
Water flowing in the desert !
MV-160 between Pahrump and Las Vegas
Las Vegas in the distance as we are coming down from Mountain Springs on NV-160
Looking up towards Red Rock Canyon.
Cell tower made to look like a tree. Strange in the desert.
Vladimir Lenin (1870 - 1924) Missing his head at Mandalay Bay
Views from the room at Mandalay Bay
Wave Pool Views
Getting dark. Views from our room
Out for our walk from Mandalay Bay to Paris for dinner.
Back in the room. Hard to take photos at night through the thick glass.
