You’ll find Potosi, Nevada’s first major mining discovery, nestled at the base of 8,517-foot Potosi Mountain, 30 miles southwest of Las Vegas. Mormon settlers established the site in 1856, constructing the first smelter west of the Missouri River for lead extraction. Though initially abandoned in 1857 due to challenging ore composition, the site later transformed into Nevada’s largest zinc producer during World War I. The ghost town’s ruins and mountain trails reveal centuries of mining evolution and technological adaptation.
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11.1 What Dangerous Wildlife Can Be Encountered When Visiting Potosi Today?…