Leg 132 KLAS - Las Vegas (USA) to KSAN - San Diego (USA)
KLAS - Airport Info
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ICAO code: KLAS
Airport name: Mc Carran Intl. Airport
Location: Las Vegas
Alternate Airport - KVGT - Airport Info
ICAO code: KVGT
Airport name: North Las Vegas Airport
Location: Las Vegas
Useful information
Airport elevation: '
Time zone: UTC-
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: '
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
Las Vegas Info
Las Vegas (Nevada), city in southern Nevada. The seat of Clark County, Las Vegas is located in the Las Vegas Valley, a desert surrounded by the Spring Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. Las Vegas serves as the center of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. Its population has multiplied by a factor of 30 since the 1940s—more than that of any other major American city. Las Vegas is renowned for tourism, gaming, a dry and vigorous climate, and an assortment of indoor and outdoor recreational activities. The city is also booming in manufacturing and industrial employment, in the construction of new houses, and in the creation of new service jobs.
The city of Las Vegas covers a land area of 215.2 sq km (83.1 sq mi). In addition to Las Vegas, the city’s metropolitan region includes North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, Mesquite, and a large number of unincorporated communities.
The downtown area of Las Vegas, known as Glitter Gulch, is characterized by long-established casinos. It is the site of the Fremont Street Experience, a renovation project completed in 1995, designed to revitalize the downtown area and attract more people to the street’s casinos. Covering a five-block stretch of Fremont Street, this section is a covered pedestrian mall where thousands of lights play out animated scenes overhead. In addition to the casinos and attractions downtown, more are located on The Strip, a 6-km (4-mi) neon-lined portion of Las Vegas Boulevard, located slightly south of downtown. Some of the extravagant casinos on The Strip play on epic Hollywood themes, such as the Treasure Island Casino, while others advertise attractions, such as an Egyptian pyramid, a medieval castle, or an erupting volcano. Ever-grander casinos open each year, attracting patrons with such draws as replicas of New York City landmarks or roller-coasters atop tall towers. Outside the city lies Hoover Dam, a massive concrete dam that was completed in 1936 as part of a federally funded water works project.
Las Vegas bills itself as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” and tourism, gaming, and entertainment represent a large portion of the city’s revenue. In addition to its renowned casinos, Las Vegas attracts visitors to its outdoor shows, including simulated volcanic eruptions, pirate duels on artificial lakes, and laser cannon displays. Indoor casino shows, with world-famous entertainers, are also popular. Annual events include the National Finals Rodeo and the Las Vegas Invitational Golf Tournament. Las Vegas is a popular destination for tours and conventions, including COMDEX, an annual computer show. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway opened in 1996.
The federal government is also a major presence in Las Vegas. Nellis Air Force Base is the city’s largest single employer. In addition, there are a number of military bases headquartered nearby, and a permanent nuclear waste site at Yucca Mountain has been proposed.
KSAN - Airport Info
ICAO code: KSAN
Airport name: San Diego Intl. Airport
Location: San Diego
Alternate Airport - KNZY - Airport Info
ICAO code: KNZY
Airport name: North Island NAS Airport
Location: San Diego
Useful information
Airport elevation: '
Time zone: UTC-
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: '
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
San Diego Info
San Diego, city in the southwest corner of California and seat of San Diego County. It is the second largest city in California (after Los Angeles) and the seventh largest in the United States. Known for its superb climate and recreational attractions, San Diego also has one of the largest concentrations of military personnel in the nation. The city is located on San Diego Bay, one of the finest natural harbors in the world. Along its shores is the principal West Coast base of operations for the United States Navy and a busy commercial port.
The Pacific Ocean tempers the local climate. The summers are relatively cool and the winters are warm in comparison to other locales at the same general latitude. In fact, a national magazine once called San Diego “the only area in the United States with perfect weather.” Annual precipitation averages just 251 mm (9.9 in), with most of it falling from November through March. In January temperatures average a high of 19°C (66°F) and a low of 9°C (49°F); in July the highs average 25°C (76°F) and lows 19°C (66°F).
The city takes its name from the nearby bay, named by Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno in 1602 in honor of a 15th-century Franciscan, San Diego de Alcalá (Saint Didacus). In 1769 a presidio (military fort) and mission were established, the first Spanish settlement in what was to become California.
The city of San Diego covers a land area of 838.9 sq km (323.9 sq mi). The city’s growth has followed the contours of the land, sprawling away from the harbor and encompassing many distinct communities.
The historic heart of the city is a colorful 16-block district known as the Gaslamp Quarter, where restored Victorian-era buildings house shops and restaurants. On the west side of the district is Horton Plaza, a modern shopping and dining complex with six landscaped open-air levels. The plaza marks the spot where San Diego developer Alonzo Horton founded in 1867 what once was called “New Town.” Just to the north of this historic district is the San Diego Concourse, a multipurpose convention and performing arts complex. Along the city’s waterfront is an art deco-style cruise ship terminal, serving the most popular cruise ship port on the West Coast; the San Diego Maritime Museum, showcasing the 18th-century windjammer Star of India; and the architecturally distinguished San Diego Convention Center. North of the downtown area is Balboa Park, home of the world-class San Diego Zoo.
Northwest of the downtown is Old Town, site of the original Spanish settlement. Extending northward along the coast are popular oceanfront communities, including Pacific Beach and Mission Beach. Mission Valley follows the San Diego River, and its rim is lined with luxury homes and condominiums. Farther north is La Jolla, home to the San Diego campus of the University of California, leading research institutes, and an upscale shopping district called the Golden Triangle. On the peninsula forming San Diego Bay is the independent resort city of Coronado, connected to downtown San Diego by a long bridge.
The San Diego metropolitan area, coextensive with San Diego County, covers a land area of 10,889.6 sq km (4,204.5 sq mi). Nearly half of the area’s population lives in the city of San Diego.