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A Nevada Tall Tale 

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Nevada rivers empty into a series of small lakes which have no visible outlets. These lakes are called sinks because the water just sinks away. It is said that Nevada’s sinks were created when the Lord God, having finished two mighty rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi, decided to make a third river, grander than the others, for Nevada. He made eight smaller rivers which were to be branches for his master river. By then, night had fallen, so God decided to finish his project the next day. God tucked the ends of the eight rivers in to keep them safe overnight. But when the next day came, God got busy with other things and forgot all about his master river. The rivers were just left the way they were. The sinks have been there ever since.

You can read more Nevada folktales in Spooky Southwest by .