Carson River

Length: 150 miles (241 kilometers)

West fork rises in Sierra Nevada near Carson Pass (8,573 ft/2,613 m), California and flows northeast past Woodfords, then north into Nevada. East fork rises in Sierra Nevada range in southeast Alpine county of eat California about 20 miles south-southeast of Marklerville. Flows north past Marlerrville and into Nevada past Minden. Joins west fork 4 mi/6.4 km northwest of Minden. Main stream continues through Carson City, then northeast past Dayton, through Lahontan Reservoir into Silver Springs, and past Fallon, flowing into Carson Sink; there is no outlet. Fed by melted snow. The river’s course was followed by California-bound travelers in the 1850s and 1860s. Lahontan Dam, part of the Newlands project, impounds river water for irrigation and produces electricity.