arizona
-
Buttes of Sedona
In northern Arizona lies Sedona, a town known for the surrounding buttes (isolated hills with steep sides and a flat top (similar to but narrower than a mesa). Sedona sits on the border of the lower desert of southern desert turns into the high deserts of northern Arizona and Utah, combining dry, arid landscapes with…
-
Painted Desert: A Permanent Rainbow in the Desert
Painted Desert is located in Arizona in an area of the Badlands that makes up the Four Corners region (Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexican borders). Also part of Petrified Forest National Park, this area has some amazing geology that has settled into a striped pattern, creating a beautiful rainbow-like landscape. Geology This area has…
-
Petrified Forest National Park: Trees Made of Stone
Petrified Forest National Park in the Arizona badlands is an awe-inspiringly beautiful landscape. Not only does it feature beautiful rock formations and stripey geography but also petrified wood. Lying on the ground all over the park, you can get up close and personal with trees of stone, many of which resemble rainbows. This article will…
-
Mount Lemmon Highway: Views over the Sonoran Desert
Mount Lemmon, the tallest mountain in the Santa Catalinas just north of Tucson, Arizona, is an important location in terms of ecology, geology and astronomy. Hosting the Mount Lemmon observatory and its supporting town, people live on it year round. As a result, the Mount Lemmon Highway was built connecting the observatory and the city…
-
Unveiling the Grand Canyon: A Deep Dive into Arizona’s Majesty
If you have never been to the Grand Canyon, what are you waiting for? The Grand Canyon, a natural wonder that redefines breathtaking, is a one-stop location for all your geology, hiking and nature needs. This article will be your comprehensive guide, dissecting the canyon’s geology, history, secrets of where to view sunrise and sunset,…
-
Gates Pass: Where Desert Drama Unfolds in Tucson
Arizona’s sun-scorched landscapes hold a rugged beauty, and few places capture it better than Gates Pass. This dramatic cleft slices through the Tucson Mountains, offering a thrilling drive, jaw-dropping panoramas, and a gateway to the Sonoran Desert’s secrets. Prepare for Gates Pass where cactus sentinels stand guard, sunsets ignite the sky, and ancient stories whisper…
-
San Xavier del Bac: The White Dove of the Desert
Nestled in the heart of the Arizona desert, just 10 miles south of downtown Tucson, lies a gem of Spanish Colonial architecture and spiritual tranquillity: the Mission San Xavier del Bac. Often referred to as the “White Dove of the Desert,” this active Catholic mission offers a stunning contrast against the rugged Santa Rita Mountains’…
-
The Exquisite Charm of Arizona’s Walnut Canyon National Monument
Nestled in the heart of Coconino County, Arizona, lies the breathtaking Walnut Canyon National Monument, a marvel of natural beauty and historical relevance. This park encompasses over 3,600 acres of land, boasting a diverse ecosystem, compelling archaeological sites, and awe-inspiring landscapes. It is here that the profound traces of ancient civilisation interweave with the unique…
-
Biosphere 2, Arizona – Climate change and space research
North of Tucson, Arizona and the Santa Catalina mountains about an hour from Saguaro National Park sits an interesting looking complex. If you didn’t know it was there, it is easy to overlook because it sits far back into the foothills. It looks like a giant greenhouse and moon base. But what is it? That…
-
Sonora Desert Museum, Arizona – Natural history and botanical garden
Central and southwestern Arizona is covered by the Sonoran Desert, part of which also lies in California and the Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California and Baja California Sur. West of Tucson, just south of Saguaro National Park, lies the Sonora Desert Museum – a botanical garden, natural history museum, zoo, aquarium and art gallery.…
-
Texas Canyon, Arizona – Smooth Round Boulders
Halfway between Tucson, Arizona, and the border with New Mexican lies Texas Canyon. Interstate 10 (I-10), which crosses the southern US states from California to Florida, runs right through the canyon. There is also a convenient rest stop here with restroom facilities! What makes this canyon unique are the rocks. The rock formations in Texas…
-
Agua Caliente, Tucson, Arizona – An Oasis in the Desert
Tucson sits in a desert and has the climate to match. Everywhere you look, there is sand, dust, Saguaro cacti (cactuses) and other spikey plants. You can see a perfect example of the typical, unspoilt landscape at Saguaro National Park, Arizona. However there is also some water here as well – Agua Caliente. Agua Caliente…
-
Saguaro National Park, Arizona – Home of giant Saguaros
Just outside Tucson on both sides, Saguaro National Park is the home of the giant Saguaro cacti. These majestic giants, able to stand tall up to 12 metres (40 feet) tall, dominate the landscape of central and south Arizona as well as Sonora state in Mexico. While you can see them across central and southern…
-
Van Gogh Exhibit – an explosion of colour and sound
An art gallery – or is it? As someone who is not usually a big lover of art exhibits, I was a bit sceptical when I was asked to go to one. Standing around looking at paintings, especially abstract ones, isn’t my thing. I don’t usually feel a connection and while I can admire them…
