What are these things in the desert near Fallon, Nevada?
I was playing with Google Earth and was looking for Fallon Range Training Complex after I read this question. So I typed "Fallon" and I dragged the cursor all along and spotted some really curious things.
Well, it was a number of circles that dangerously resembled radars. One of them had a click next to it and it said "Battle Mountain, NV, USA". I Googled that and learned that it was a gold-mining center in Nevada that is no longer a municipality. But that doesn't answer what these huge circles are.
Any guesses what this is?
Pictures about "What are these things in the desert near Fallon, Nevada?"
What are the circles in the desert?
Fairy circles are circular patches of land barren of plants, varying between 2 and 15 metres (7 and 49 ft) in diameter, often encircled by a ring of stimulated growth of grass.Why are there circles in the desert?
The crop circles are a result of center-pivot irrigation, an efficient method for water conservation in agriculture. Groundwater from the Nubian aquifer is drawn up from wells in the center of the circles, and it is sprayed or dripped out of long, rotating pipes that pivot around the center.What is Fallon Nevada known for?
In 1903, the federal Bureau of Reclamation authorized the Newlands Project, which led to nearly 70 miles of canals diverting water into the Fallon area, which is the agricultural and ranching heart of the State of Nevada. The nutrient-rich alfalfa grown in Fallon is prized by Nevada and California dairy farmers alike.Why are there circular fields?
Because the water falls directly on the crops instead of being shot into the air as occurs with traditional sprinklers, less water is lost to evaporation and more goes to nourishing the growing plants. Central pivot irrigation also creates perfectly circular fields, as seen in this image.living in Rural Nevada - a Ride Through Fallon NV
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Quintin Gellar, Quintin Gellar, Leah Kelley, Pixabay