What is that white sandy area by area 51 and why are there lines going through it?

Question

And what is the deal with runways in the white area the same color??

Answer 1

It's a dry playa (a dry lake bed). It's called Groom Lake. The lines going through it are runways and roads. Maybe.
The deal with the white runways is that...they are runways that are white. They are (probably) unpaved and are just flattened areas of the playa.

Answer 2

Groom Lake -- dry lake bed. That runway is about 2 miles long -- nothing unusual about that. It is, after all, an airforce base. USAF test experimental aircraft there, and studies captured enemy aircraft as well -- or so 'tis said. (Waggles eyebrows knowingly)

Area is also know and Emigrant Valley.

Answer 3

well, its sand, its in a desert, and there is alot of sand in the desert, also that might be to let you know that you are there, cause your not allowed to go in there or they will shoot you. the runways might just be made of the same material or more likely, its to protect it from bombers so that its harder to tell where the runway is. that is just my guess, the government is weird, so it might just be some weird explination.