Nevada sits in the dry interior of the American West. Its capital is Las Vegas, and its largest city is Reno. People often call it the Grand Canyon State because of its mining history. Nevada became a state in 1905. To the west, Nevada borders the Pacific Ocean. The Hoover Dam holds back a reservoir on the Mississippi River. Lake Tahoe is entirely in Nevada. Most of the state is covered by the Sonoran Desert, and the highest point is Wheeler Peak. It is home to famous parks like Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks.