Created by Congress last October, the 77,109-acre Great BasinNational Park contains five alpine lakes and one of the world'slargest groves of bristlecone pines, some 3,000 to 4,000 years old.
With its official dedication yesterday, it is the first newnational park in the contiguous 48 states in 15 years and the 49thnational park in the country. There are four campgrounds with 92campsites.
Motorists driving from the west reach the park by travelingthrough central Nevada on U.S. 50, designated by AAA as the "TheLoneliest Road in America," a barren stretch that runs 283 miles fromFernley east to Ely.
Park Superintendent Al Hendricks says the number of visitorsthis year during the first "unofficial" seven months totaled 35,000,which is putting a smile on the faces of merchants in Ely, about 70miles from the park entrance.
The park already has recorded its first fatality - a hiker whogot caught in a snow storm in July while scaling 13,061-foot WheelerPeak.
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