Valley of Fire State Park
| Valley of Fire State Park | |
| Nevada State Park | |
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Nevada |
| County | Clark |
| Nearest town | Overton |
| Elevation | 2,464 ft (751 m) |
| Coordinates | 36°27′22″N 114°31′59″W / 36.45611°N 114.53306°WCoordinates: 36°27′22″N 114°31′59″W / 36.45611°N 114.53306°W |
| Area | 45,937.88 acres (18,590 ha) |
| Dedicated | 1935 |
| Management | Nevada Division of State Parks |
  Location in Nevada
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| Website: Valley of Fire State Park | |
| Designated | 1968 |
| Reference no. | 150 |
Valley of Fire State Park is a public recreation and nature preservation area covering nearly 46,000 acres (19,000 ha) located 16 miles (26 km) south of Overton, Nevada. The state park derives its name from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone, which formed from shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays. It is Nevada's oldest state park, as commemorated with Nevada Historical Marker #150. It was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1968.
Valley of Fire is located 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Las Vegas, at an elevation between 1,320–3,009 feet (402–917 m). It abuts the Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the east at the Virgin River confluence. It lies in a 4 by 6 mi (6.4 by 9.7 km) basin.
Complex uplifting and faulting of the region, followed by extensive erosion, have created the present landscape. The rough floor and jagged walls of the park contain brilliant formations of eroded sandstone and sand dunes more than 150 million years old. Other important rock formations include limestones, shales, and conglomerates.
Prehistoric users of the Valley of Fire included the Ancient Pueblo Peoples, also known as the Anasazi, who were farmers from the nearby fertile Moapa Valley. Their approximate span of occupation has been dated from 300 BC to 1150 AD. Their visits probably involved hunting, food gathering, and religious ceremonies, although scarcity of water would have limited their stay. Fine examples of rock art (petroglyphs) left by these ancient peoples can be found at several sites within the park.
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