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The Desert Lake: The Story of Nevada's Pyramid Lake

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A visit to Pyramid Lake is a surreal experience. Given the surrounding desert terrain, a 188 square mile lake seems out of place. It is an aquatic jewel in an otherwise parched environment. The waters are filled with delicious fish while the shores are guarded by mysterious tufas. Being one of the great desert writers of his day, Sessions S. Wheeler has literally written the book on this strange place. "The Desert Lake: the Story of Nevada's Pyramid Lake" is a multi-disciplinary approach to what the author simply refers to as 'the desert lake.' Wheeler starts by looking at the lake's origins, stretching back to the time when the current body of water was the deepest part of ancient Lake Lahontan. Today's lake is surrounded by caves that once were homes to people now referred to as the Lovelock Culture. Their way of life is described, as well as the arrival of today's Paiutes. "The Desert Lake" shares the story of these peoples with the aide of anthropology, history and archeology. The inevitable arrival of European-Americans is well documented, starting with John C. Frémont's initial discovery, through the bloody conflicts and the eventual creation of the Pyramid Lake Reservation. In many respects, this could be a case study in Anglo-Indian relations. To tell the story of this special place, Wheeler uses a large number of primary sources. For starters, the book is jam packed with photos of significant places, people and artifacts. Written primary sources include the writings of John C. Frémont, Ulysses S. Grant and others. While starting with ancient origins, the scope spans through the years to ultimately cover modern times. "The Desert Lake" describes contemporary developments like the building of the dams and canals -developments which led to the extinction of the great Pyramid trout. This sixth edition contains an additional section on fishing. This new material will be tedious and overly technical for anyone with a casual interest in the lake. In terms of the drawbacks, the images are all black and white, despite being a 2001 revision. In terms of the strengths, this book is as relevant and readable as when first published in 1967. Wheeler's book can appeal to both academics as well as laypeople with an interest in history. The interesting conversation, large text and high number of illustrations make "the Desert Lake" an expeditious and enjoyable read.