Though the region's relentless sunshine made life difficult for the Native Americans - the Paiutes - it has always been one of the most attractive features for tourists and conventioneers who come by the millions each month to the unique, modern city created by imagination and hospitality (as well as, of course, Hoover Dam), and is now sustained by curious manifestations of human nature.

   Sunshine is one of the essential components of the complex and intrigueing story of Las Vegas. A city like Las Vegas can only exist in a sunny place. And in Las Vegas, everything can and does happen - under the sun.

   In Las Vegas, hearts can both soar and shatter in the sunshine. It is not a city for the squeamish.

   Actually, Las Vegas is a city with excellent and omnipresent security that enables people to get wild in safety. Of course, even very good security cannot protect hearts from sometimes getting knocked around. Even the best sunblock cannot protect from the sheer intensity of the town. On the Strip, every heart is on its own. It is a city that fills hearts and deflates hearts. 

   In addition to soaring and shattering, hearts also beat strongly in Las Vegas. For example, at sprawling Desert Breeze Park, at The Lakes part of town, on any sunny Saturday, hundreds and hundreds of locals of every possible age and culture are playing soccer and softball, and are showing their dogs a good time, too. The Southern Nevada sun gets people out of doors, where the hearts of both people and pets can end up beating hard.

   Sun is most definitely a part of the Southern Nevada lifestyle.

   But now, the attraction of the sun is broadening rapidly.

   In Nevada, the sun is fast becoming a source of electrical energy.