Las Vegas, the largest city in the state of Nevada, has been experiencing rapid population growth over the past few decades. Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, is home to roughly 2.3 million people, and forecasts predict that the population could go beyond 4 million by 2055. This growth has been driven by factors such as cheaper costs of living, lower taxes, and newly built homes. However, this growth has also put a strain on water supplies in the region. Satellite imagery of Las Vegas provides a dramatic illustration of the spatial patterns and rates of change resulting from the city's urban sprawl. The proliferation of asphalt and concrete roads and other infrastructure has led to profound modifications to the landscape, along with the displacement of vegetated lands. As the city expanded, several new transportation networks emerged to serve its inhabitants. The impact of this population growth on water use can be seen in Lake Mead located east of Las Vegas. England's Daily Mail reported in July 2015 that population growth in Las Vegas had "drained 4 trillion gallons of water" - about half of capacity - from Lake Mead. The situation has only worsened since then. In 2022 temperatures hit 116F (46.6C) in June, setting a new record for such dangerously hot weather so early in the year. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the number of visitors to Las Vegas has been increasing steadily over the years. In 1970, there were 6.7 million visitors to Las Vegas, which grew to 42.5 million in 2019. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitor numbers fell to just 19 million in 2020, the lowest number since 1989. In 2021, there were approximately 32.2 million visitors.