Mirage Unveils New Fake Volcano

Although 2008 has been an increasingly tough economic year for hoteliers everywhere, the folks at the Mirage are still shelling out big bucks. The Las Vegas resort reportedly spent $25 million on a brand new fake volcano. The feature was unveiled Monday evening before a crowd of fake volcanologists.

The redesign is the work of WET, creator of the fountain attraction at the Bellagio. WET's new fire-shooting spectacle at the Mirage is accompanied by a soundtrack composed by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and famed Indian
percussionist Zakir Hussain.

While the drums beat, fireballs shoot more than 12 feet into the air, "lava" flows down the mountain's fissures and "eruption ignites the surrounding lagoon," said the Mirage.

Hart calls the result a "true union of the senses that will rattle your bones, just like a
real volcano."

The new volcano is just one of example of how tourists and Las Vegas can both win at the same time. As the Strip continuously makes efforts to revitalize itself, fans of Sin City are perpetually greeted with new resorts and attractions. A constant focus on reinvention has made Las Vegas one of the most dynamic tourist destinations in the world. While some cities may lose their charm, and natural attractions wear away and are torn down, you can be sure there's always something new in Las Vegas.