peppernick
Active Member
Just to share as we had a truely awesome time
Nothing beats an American holiday when it comes to value for money. With the current exchange rates, everything bar the air ticket, is half price. Last year, our summer treat was New York. Last week, we had crisping fun in the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas.
The Mojave Desert stretches across Southern California, north east to Utah and east to Nevada. It's one of the hottest places on earth, especially the Death Valley. Temperatures can rise to 125 degrees F (52 C) in the months June - September. Rain is scarce, an inch a year but the desert is blessed by the Colorado River, which carries with it constant supply of fresh water, from it's origin in the Canadian Rockies, as the snow thaw over the spring/summer months. As such, life flourishes in it's basin, unlike other deserts.
The Hoover Dam is strategically located along the Colorado River. Before the dam was built, flash floods when the snow melted were a major problem. In 1931 the construction of Hoover Dam (called Boulder Dam initially, renamed Hoover Dam in 1947 after the 31st President of the US, Herbert Hoover) began and by 1935, the water from the mighty Colorado River can be harnessed effectively. Still a major engineering feat of all time, let alone what it represented back in the 30's.
17 giant generators are driven by water channelled from Lake Mead. Together, they generate enough power to supply LA, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tuscon and other southwestern cities, towns and Indian communities in Arizona, Nevada and California.
The building that houses the generators. One on each side of the dam. The turbulence indicated active generators.
These huge structures are catchment channels for excess water if and when the dam overflowed. So far, only once did it happen, in 1984. Since then, these concrete channels have remained dry.
And there's no better way to see the mighty Hoover Dam as a whole than in the air. This one is my favourite pic.
Lake Mead behind the dam. A man made reservoir to collect water from the Colorado River. It holds 9.2 trillion gallons of water! Water rafting a popular sport on Lake Mead.
On a smaller scale, the mere existence of Hoover Dam allow such to happen. A flourishing golf course right smack in the middle of arid desert land. As long as there is snow on the Rockies, there will be enough water for everyone.
Another unique feature of the Mojave Desert is elevation. It is also known as 'the high desert' as certain areas are as much as 6000 feet above sea level. The rocks mainly consist of sandstone, which is soft and brittle, even to the wind. As such, deep canyons were formed over 600 millions years and the most famous of these is the Grand Canyon.
The really fun bit
Totally the work of nature, a section looks remarkably like an eagle spreading it's wings. Naturally, it's known as Eagle Point.
Another interesting structure for the tourists. The Skywalk. A parabolical extension with it's floor made from kevlar reinforced lexan, ie. armour proof glass. You can see right underneath you the massive drops of more than 5000 feet. Those afraid of heights were encouraged not to go on it as a sorry Japanese lady found out. She frozed, went absolutely hysterical and had to be carried out.
The local Indian tribe is of the Hualapai descendent. TBH, over the years of modernisation, they have become any other Americans. I did managed to taste some of their more 'traditional' food, minced deer meat, chicken, sweet water corn and taco. The macaroni cheese was adapted to suit our vegetarian friends.
The best part when you fly into the reservation is exploring the lowest point of the canyon. We landed 200 feet below sea level for a hiking adventure.
Temperature soared to 130F (55 C) when we gave up. A man lasts for 2 hours out there without water; and hence, tour trials are always along the river banks. In terms of what is edible out in the desert, only the black caterpillar and the head of a rattlesnake cannot be eaten. The rest of the living creatures, including scorpions, can be consumed in times of desperation.
The sand lizard apparently taste pretty good (according to our helicopter pilot, who had to pass a desert survival course).
And if you see these flying above you, you could be dying pretty soon from dehydration.
Our ride back to more civilised land.
Nothing beats an American holiday when it comes to value for money. With the current exchange rates, everything bar the air ticket, is half price. Last year, our summer treat was New York. Last week, we had crisping fun in the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas.
The Mojave Desert stretches across Southern California, north east to Utah and east to Nevada. It's one of the hottest places on earth, especially the Death Valley. Temperatures can rise to 125 degrees F (52 C) in the months June - September. Rain is scarce, an inch a year but the desert is blessed by the Colorado River, which carries with it constant supply of fresh water, from it's origin in the Canadian Rockies, as the snow thaw over the spring/summer months. As such, life flourishes in it's basin, unlike other deserts.
The Hoover Dam is strategically located along the Colorado River. Before the dam was built, flash floods when the snow melted were a major problem. In 1931 the construction of Hoover Dam (called Boulder Dam initially, renamed Hoover Dam in 1947 after the 31st President of the US, Herbert Hoover) began and by 1935, the water from the mighty Colorado River can be harnessed effectively. Still a major engineering feat of all time, let alone what it represented back in the 30's.
17 giant generators are driven by water channelled from Lake Mead. Together, they generate enough power to supply LA, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tuscon and other southwestern cities, towns and Indian communities in Arizona, Nevada and California.
The building that houses the generators. One on each side of the dam. The turbulence indicated active generators.
These huge structures are catchment channels for excess water if and when the dam overflowed. So far, only once did it happen, in 1984. Since then, these concrete channels have remained dry.
And there's no better way to see the mighty Hoover Dam as a whole than in the air. This one is my favourite pic.
Lake Mead behind the dam. A man made reservoir to collect water from the Colorado River. It holds 9.2 trillion gallons of water! Water rafting a popular sport on Lake Mead.
On a smaller scale, the mere existence of Hoover Dam allow such to happen. A flourishing golf course right smack in the middle of arid desert land. As long as there is snow on the Rockies, there will be enough water for everyone.
Another unique feature of the Mojave Desert is elevation. It is also known as 'the high desert' as certain areas are as much as 6000 feet above sea level. The rocks mainly consist of sandstone, which is soft and brittle, even to the wind. As such, deep canyons were formed over 600 millions years and the most famous of these is the Grand Canyon.
The really fun bit
Totally the work of nature, a section looks remarkably like an eagle spreading it's wings. Naturally, it's known as Eagle Point.
Another interesting structure for the tourists. The Skywalk. A parabolical extension with it's floor made from kevlar reinforced lexan, ie. armour proof glass. You can see right underneath you the massive drops of more than 5000 feet. Those afraid of heights were encouraged not to go on it as a sorry Japanese lady found out. She frozed, went absolutely hysterical and had to be carried out.
The local Indian tribe is of the Hualapai descendent. TBH, over the years of modernisation, they have become any other Americans. I did managed to taste some of their more 'traditional' food, minced deer meat, chicken, sweet water corn and taco. The macaroni cheese was adapted to suit our vegetarian friends.
The best part when you fly into the reservation is exploring the lowest point of the canyon. We landed 200 feet below sea level for a hiking adventure.
Temperature soared to 130F (55 C) when we gave up. A man lasts for 2 hours out there without water; and hence, tour trials are always along the river banks. In terms of what is edible out in the desert, only the black caterpillar and the head of a rattlesnake cannot be eaten. The rest of the living creatures, including scorpions, can be consumed in times of desperation.
The sand lizard apparently taste pretty good (according to our helicopter pilot, who had to pass a desert survival course).
And if you see these flying above you, you could be dying pretty soon from dehydration.
Our ride back to more civilised land.
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