### Secrets Underneath Las Vegas: A Whole Other World
Las Vegas, the city is famous for its neon lights, lavish casinos, and replicas of iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Trevi Fountain. But beneath the glitz lies a whole other world – a network of underground tunnels more than 600 miles long, built to cope with the fierce floods of the Mojave Desert.
**The need for underground tunnels:**
Despite being located in the middle of a desert with an average rainfall of only 4 inches per year, when it rains, water falls in large volumes over several hours, causing chaos. To prevent disaster, planners designed a giant underground tunnel system to help divert floodwaters away from the city.
After the historic flood of 1990, which left more than 300 people homeless and caused $20 million in damage, the system was built and turned into an “underground city” to protect Las Vegas from future floods.
**Underground World of Las Vegas:**
This tunnel system not only prevents flooding but also becomes a place for hundreds of homeless people to live. These residents have created a special community with its own social rules. Some people decorate their living spaces with chairs, beds, and even grills – items collected from landfills.
To avoid flooding, they place their furniture on homemade shelves. However, life here is severely lacking, with no clean water and only electricity coming from batteries.
** Notable people:**
Paul, a former tunnel resident, is now the director of the non-profit organization *Shine a Light*, which specializes in supporting tunnel dwellers. He provides food, water, and flashlights, and guides those who want to escape underground to start over above ground.
**Discover the unique underground:**
In addition to humans, the underground is home to animals such as birds, goldfish, and even wild plants growing through the cracks. The walls near the entrance of the bunker are covered in graffiti, ranging from scribbles to elaborate works of art.
**Las Vegas then and now:**
It’s hard to believe that “Las Vegas” – which means “Green Meadows” in Spanish – was once a lush land with natural springs. Over time, the swampy areas dried up, leaving the arid desert that we see today.
But beneath the lavish hotels like Caesar’s Palace, an impressive world still exists and thrives, a testament to human adaptability and creativity. Las Vegas is not only the city of lights and entertainment but also home to surprising underground secrets, making it one of the most exciting destinations in the world.
