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The desert extends for approximately 100 miles (160km) northwest from the town of Gerlach-Empire , between the Jackson Mountains to the east and the Black Rock Range to the west. It is partially drained by the intermittent Quinn River , which has no outlet but evaporates as it crosses the desert.

The flatness of the surface has led to its use as a proving ground for experimental land vehicles. It was the site of the most recent successful attempts on the World Land Speed Record . In 1983 , Richard Noble drove the jet-powered Thrust2 car to a new record of 633 miles per hour. Noble also headed up the team that beat the Thrust 2 record. In 1997, ThrustSSC became the world's first, and so far only, supersonic car.

The area is also used by the Tripoli Rocketry Association for the annual rocket festivity " BALLS ", where the Ceiling , or maximum altitude, is 100,000 feet. It is the USA's most prized and sacred launch site for High Power Rocket hobbyists.

It has become famous as the site of the annual Burning Man festival. It is informally referred to by burners and locals as the "Playa."


HOT SPRINGS IN THE BLACK ROCK DESERT VICINITY



Some of these are of recreational use, some are dangerous, some are mostly geological curiosities. Some are on private land.


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