Carson Sink
Carson Sink is a vast, endorheic basin in northwestern Nevada, where the Carson and Truckee rivers terminate into desert flats. It’s best known for Fresno Muddy and the drying bed of ancient lakes, forming a wide-open landscape of salt flats and ephemeral playas.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Western United States |
| Subregion | Great Basin |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Washoe County |
| Timezone | AmericaLos Angeles |
| Latitude | 39.5 |
| Longitude | -118 |
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6:12 PM LOCAL TIMECarson Sink is a broad, basin-sized depression in northwestern Nevada, primarily drained by the Carson and Truckee rivers before they evaporate or seep into the desert. It lies around 3,900 feet (1250 meters) above sea level and covers roughly 220 square miles (570 square km), sitting within the larger Great Basin region. Its surface varies from damp flats and alkali playas to dry, saline mud flats that reveal a crusted salt surface when dry. The sink’s basin was shaped by ancient lakes and tectonic extension, with modern inflows subdued by upstream dams and diversion; as a result, it remains mostly ephemeral and highly sensitive to seasonal and annual changes in runoff and weather. Fresno Muddy, a seasonal wetland area, is a key habitat for migratory birds, while the surrounding plains attract off-road recreation and serve as a natural corridor across the desert. Though largely unpopulated and remote, the Carson Sink is a striking example of a closed-basin desert landscape where water evaporates short of reaching any outside ocean.
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