Looking into the south end of Devils Hole, a collapsed cavern roof, home to one of the rarest vertebrate species in the world – the Devils Hole pupfish.
At the southeastern base of Deacon Peak, a crevasse in the rocks reveals the water-filled opening of a cave. Divers have descended to over 400 feet yet still have not discovered the cavern’s bottom. The water temperatures at the surface register a constant 92° F. Just below the water surface on the south end of the cave opening lying about one foot underneath is a rock shelf. The shelf measures 11.5 by 16.6 feet with the pool above measuring 11.5 by 42 feet. Welcome to the world of the Devils Hole pupfish– Cyprinodon diabolis.
Formerly thought extinct, the Shoshone Pupfish are alive and well within the refuge pond in Shoshone, California.
What to do in Las Vegas when the sensory impact of the Strip begins to wane? Glitz and glamor are all on conspicuous display as fountains dance in the face of ever disappointing water stores behind nearby Hoover Dam. Visiting cities in the American Southwest can be a jarring experience in water terms – golf courses and man-made party boat lakes speckle the seemingly never-ending urban sprawl.
Away from the lights, noise and costs of the Strip exist a plethora of outdoor activities – Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Red Rocks, Valley of Fire, Mt. Charleston but a few options. Today’s post concentrates on some of the unique species of life to be found in the various oasis springs found 1-2 hours west of Vegas among the desert basin area of the Amargosa Valley. In some of these springs, various species of pupfish live, their only home in the world. These fish include some of the rarest found today. The fish, like other animals and plants found around the oases, are survivors. One has to, in order to survive the climate and environment in which they call “home”.
