andre' salvador
PHOTOGRAPHY

Travel: United States of America Galleries

ARIZONA: THE GRAND CANYON. : I like to share with you my impressions of the rocky splendor of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. It is 277 river miles long, an average of 10 miles wide and nearly one mile deep, the Grand Canyon is widely proclaimed as one of the wonders of the natural world. It was established as a forest preserve in 1893 and later set aside as a natural monument.

My images of travels in California are on a separate gallery named,  Travel:California

ARIZONA: THE GRAND CANYON.

I like to share with you my impressions of the rocky splendor of the S ...

Updated: Jul 17, 2007 4:34pm PST

Travel: CALIFORNIA : Separate galleries of my photos in California may be seen in the Category Travel: CALIFORNIA

Travel: CALIFORNIA

Separate galleries of my photos in California may be seen in the Categ ...

Updated: Jun 19, 2008 7:07pm PST

CALIFORNIA-SOUTH LAKE TAHOE : South Lake Tahoe is a city in El Dorado County, California, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The population was 23,609 at the 2000 census. The east end of the city, on the California-Nevada state line, is mainly geared towards tourism, with T-shirt shops, restaurants, hotels, and the Heavenly Ski Resort with the Nevada casinos just across the state line in Stateline, Nevada. The city extends about five miles west-southwest along U.S. Route 50, also known as Lake Tahoe Blvd. The western end of town is mainly residential, and clusters around "The Y" (new intersection October 2008), the X-shaped intersection of US 50, State Route 89, and Lake Tahoe Boulevard after it loses its state highway designation.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.5 square miles (42.7 km²), of which, 10.1 square miles (26.1 km²) of it is land and 6.4 square miles (16.7 km²) of it (39.03%) is water. Elevation is 6260 ft.


Information above taken from   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Lake_Tahoe,_California

CALIFORNIA-SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

South Lake Tahoe is a city in El Dorado County, California, in the Sie ...

Updated: Aug 09, 2009 10:32am PST

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA : There are two galleries for the City of San Francisco   THE COLORS OF SAN FRANCISCO  and   THE STRUCTURES OF SAN FRANCISCO

My images of travels in California are on a separate gallery named,  TRAVEL; CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

There are two galleries for the City of San Francisco THE COLORS OF ...

Updated: Oct 22, 2006 7:55pm PST

COLORADO - MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK : Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. Today, the park protects over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.

To explore Mesa verde is to travel back through time. Crumbled villages on wide plains and tiny vulnerable homes perched high on rocky ledges intrique and stun us. Step into  a room a smell centuries old soot. Look out the window and appreciate the same views the original dwellers enjoyed. Small handprints seem to wave at us from high canyon walls. We  want to connect and wave back.

Mesa Verde national Park is truly America's premier archeological wonder. National Geographic Traveler named Mesa Verde as one of the fifty "must see" places of a lifetime. It is America's First World Heritage Site. hundreds of homes and villages have existed here for more than eight centuries, preserved and protected by overhanging cliff ledges. Their beauty and complexity speak eloquently of the ancient people who built them. No visitor can walk away untouched untouched by the buildings, the art, the people.

Mesa Verde is best known for a large number of well preserved cliff dwellings, houses built in shallow caves and under rock overhangs along the canyon walls. The structures contained within these alcoves were mostly blocks of hard sandstone, held together and plastered with adobe mortar. Specific constructions had many similarities, but were generally unique in form due to the individual topography of different alcoves along the canyon walls. In marked contrast to earlier constructions and villages on top of the mesas, the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde reflected a region-wide trend towards the aggregation of growing regional populations into close, highly defensible quarters during the 1200s.

Information on the above description and on some captions are from   http://www.nps.gov/meve/; Mesa Verde Travel literature; national Park Literature;   http://www.kidscantravel.com and Wikipedia.

COLORADO - MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK

Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into th ...

Updated: Jul 04, 2009 8:02pm PST

ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH CENTER, BOULDER, COLORADO : We started on the second week of October in 1974, an architect friend of mine and myself travelled through the United States and Canada. Starting from Key West, Florida, we went up along the Eastern seaboard all the way to Toronto, Canada, then down south again and up zigzagging through the U.S. and Canada, all the while driving towards the west coast. It took us 7 weeks to reach Los Angeles, California. This gallery shows the "architectural shoot" we did in the Mecca of Architecture in USA, Columbus, Indiana. These photos were some of the good ones worth scanning from my old slides. The slides were taken using my old Minolta SLR camera.

ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH CENTER, BOULDER, COLORADO

We started on the second week of October in 1974, an architect friend ...

Updated: Jul 16, 2009 9:24am PST

MECCA OF U.S. ARCHITECTURE, COLUMBUS, INDIANA : In October 1974, I was with a friend on a tour of United States and Canada. We had an "architectural shoot " in Columbus, Indana. All my pictures may be seen at the        COLUMBUS, INDIANA

MECCA OF U.S. ARCHITECTURE, COLUMBUS, INDIANA

In October 1974, I was with a friend on a tour of United States and Ca ...

Updated: Jul 16, 2009 6:56am PST

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS : We started on the second week of October in 1974, an architect friend of mine and myself travelled through the United States and Canada. Starting from Key West, Florida, we went up along the Eastern seaboard all the way to Toronto, Canada, then down south again and up zigzagging through the U.S. and Canada, all the while driving towards the west coast. It took us 7 weeks to reach Los Angeles, California. This gallery shows the "architectural shoot" we did in the Boston, Massachusetts. These photos were some of the good ones worth scanning from my old slides. The slides were taken using my old Minolta SLR camera.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

We started on the second week of October in 1974, an architect friend ...

Updated: Jul 16, 2009 11:48am PST

HAWAII : The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of 19 islands and atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from the island of Hawaiʻi in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll. Excluding Midway, which is an unincorporated territory of the United States, the Hawaiian Islands form the U.S. state of Hawaii. Once known as the "Sandwich Islands", the archipelago now takes its name from the largest island in the group.

Except for Midway, which is an unincorporated territory of the United States, these islands and islets are administered as the state of Hawaiʻi — the 50th state of the United States of America.

This archipelago represents the exposed peaks of a great undersea mountain range known as the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, formed by volcanic activity over a hotspot in the earth's mantle. At about 1,860 miles (3,000 km) from the nearest continent, the Hawaiian Island archipelago is the most isolated grouping of islands on earth.

Kauai Hawaii is the Garden Isle. Mount Wai'ale'ale averages 485 inches of rain per year, which explains why Kauai Hawai'i is known as "The Garden Isle." However, it is interesting to note that the island also has another, older name: "The Separate Kingdom." 

Kauai Hawaii is said to have been the first of the Hawai'ian Islands settled by Marquesan seafarers. The earliest Polynesians lived along Na Pali coast and left behind evidence of their existence dating from as early as 200 A.D. to 600 A.D. The ancient findings, combined with its distance from the rest of the island chain, may be why Kauai was earlier proclaimed The Separate Kingdom with a royal bloodline that was considered the purest in the Islands. 

In succeeding migrations, the strong, fearsome Tahitians arrived and overpowered them, establishing the Tahitian religion and culture as the basis for Hawaiian society. 

We visited four islands in this 2009 trip. We touched on Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii and Maui.

Descriptions above and captions on photographs were taken from  taken from Wikipedia,  
http://www.kauaidiscovery.com/about/kauai-hawaii.html,  http://www.cruiseholidays.com/destinations/hawaii/nawiliwili-kauai.aspx,  http://www.hawaiigaga.com/kauai/beaches/kalapaki-beach.aspx,  http://www.indigoguide.com/kauai/koloa.htm,  http://www.hawaiiweb.com/Kauai/html/sites/koloa_sugar_mill.html,  http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/tips/hidden_places/haula_beach.html,  http://www.hikemahaulepu.org/,  http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/,  http://www.instanthawaii.com/cgi-bin/hawaii?Hikes.thurston,  http://gohawaii.about.com/od/bigisland/ss/hilo_attraction_10.htm,

This gallery is still under construction.

HAWAII

The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of 19 islands and atolls, nume ...

Updated: Nov 06, 2009 9:49am PST

NEVADA: LAS VEGAS : Las Vegas (often informally abbreviated to "Vegas") is the most populous city in the state of Nevada, United States, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally known vacation, shopping, entertainment, and gambling destination. It was established in 1905 and officially became a city in 1911. It is the largest U.S. city founded in the 20th century.

The name Las Vegas is often applied to the unincorporated areas of Clark County that surround the city, especially the resort areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip. This 4½ mi (7.2 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard is mostly outside the Las Vegas city limits, in the unincorporated town of Paradise.

The center of gambling in the United States, Las Vegas is marketed as The Entertainment Capital of the World, also commonly known as Sin City or Vice City, due to the popularity of legalized gambling, availability of alcoholic beverages at any time (as is true throughout Nevada), and various forms and degrees of adult entertainment. The city's glamorous image has made it a popular setting for films and television programs.

Above information was taken from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas
A separate gallery of the architectural images of Las Vegas may be seen here ARCHITECTURE: Las Vegas, Nevada

NEVADA: LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas (often informally abbreviated to "Vegas") is the most populo ...

Updated: Jul 25, 2009 8:49pm PST

NEVADA-LIGHTS AND COLORS OF LAS VEGAS : These are my varied impressions of the lights and colors of Las Vegas. I also have a small Gallery of  LAS VEGAS STRUCTURES

My images of travels in California are on a separate gallery named,  TRAVEL: CALIFORNIA

NEVADA-LIGHTS AND COLORS OF LAS VEGAS

These are my varied impressions of the lights and colors of Las Vegas. ...

Updated: Sep 20, 2006 6:23pm PST

NEVADA: RENO : Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 180,480, making it the second largest city in Nevada, after Las Vegas. Current estimates place the population of the city proper at 207,000, which would make Reno the third most populous city, after Henderson. It has a metro population of 379,671. Reno lies 26 miles (42 km) north of the Nevada state capital, Carson City, and 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Lake Tahoe in the high desert. Reno shares its eastern border with the city of Sparks. Reno, known as The Biggest Little City in the World, is famous for its casinos, and is the birthplace of the gaming corporation Harrah's Entertainment.

Information above taken from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno

NEVADA: RENO

Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. As of ...

Updated: May 26, 2008 9:04pm PST

UTAH - BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK : Bryce Canyon National Park  is located in Garfield County, southwestern Utah, in the United States. Contained within the park is Bryce Canyon. Despite its name, this is not actually a canyon, but rather a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce is distinctive due to its geological structures, called hoodoos, formed from wind, water, and ice erosion of the river and lakebed sedimentary rocks. The red, orange and white colors of the rocks provide spectacular views to visitors. Bryce is at a much higher elevation than nearby Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon. The rim at Bryce varies from 8,000 to 9,000 feet (2,400 to 2,700 m), whereas the south rim of the Grand Canyon sits at 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level.

The Bryce area was settled by Mormon pioneers in the 1850s and was named after Ebenezer Bryce, who homesteaded in the area in 1874.[1] The area around Bryce Canyon became a U.S. National Monument in 1923 and was designated as a national park the next year. The park covers 56 square miles (145 km2) and receives relatively few visitors compared to Zion Canyon and the Grand Canyon, largely due to its remote location. The town of Kanab, Utah, is situated at a central point between these three parks.

Hoodoo - a pillar of rock, usually of fantastic shape, left by erosion. Hoodoo - to cast a spell at Bryce Canyon National Park erosion forms an array of fantastic shapes we know as hoodoos. Hoodoos cast their spell on all who visits the national park. The park is open all year, offering recreational opportunities for each season.

Information shown on Bryce Canyon National Park are from the Park Literaature and from Wikipedia.

UTAH - BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in Garfield County, southwester ...

Updated: Jun 28, 2009 3:50pm PST

UTAH - ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, MOAB : Water and ice, extreme temperatures, and underground salt movement are responsible for the sculptured rock scenery of Arches National Park. On a clear blue sky days it is difficult to imagine such violent forces or the the 100 million years of erosion that created this land. It boast one of the world's greatest densities of natural arches. Over 2,000 cataloged arches ranging in size from a three foot opening, the minimum considered as arch, to the longest, the Landscape Arch measuring 306 feet base to base.

American Indians used this area for thousands of years. The Archaic people, the Puebloan, the Fremont and the Ute peoples, searched the arid desert for food animals, wild plant foods, and stones for tools and weapons. They also left evidence of their passing on a few pictograph and petroglyph panels.

The park lies atop an underground salt bed that is basically responsible for the arches, spires, balanced rocks, sandstone fins and eroded monoliths. Thousands of feet thick in places, this salt bed was deposited across the Colorado Plateau 300 million years ago when sea flowed into the region and eventually evaporated.

The information shown above are from the National Park literature.

UTAH - ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, MOAB

Water and ice, extreme temperatures, and underground salt movement are ...

Updated: Jul 11, 2009 12:31pm PST

UTAH - NATURAL BRIDGES NATIONAL PARK : Natural Bridges National Monument covers a relatively small area in southeast Utah, close to scenic highway UT 95 between Hanksville and Blanding. It is rather remote and not close to other parks so is not heavily visited, despite being near many fine, lesser known places in this part of the state such as White Canyon, Cedar Mesa, Grand Gulch Plateau and the La Sal Mountains. There are only three bridges here, though the monument also contains Anasazi cliff dwellings, pictographs and white sandstone canyons. Natural bridges are formed by running water and hence are much rarer than arches, which result from a variety of other erosional forces. This is also the reason why bridges tend to be found within deep canyons, sometimes quite hidden, whereas arches are usually high and exposed, often the last remnants of cliffs and ridges.

The loop road (Bridge View Drive) has several overlooks of the three bridges, currently known as Sipapu, Kachina and Owachomo after their original names were changed to reflect the Hopi Indian history of the area. The last of these three is the most spectacular when seen from the road, and also the easiest to hike to - the path into the canyon underneath the bridge is only a few hundred yards. It is the oldest bridge in the park, and rock falls have reduced the thickness to only 9 feet, so it may not be here much longer. Needless to say, walking on top of the bridges is not allowed, though this would generally be difficult as the surrounding cliffs are tall and steep. Kachina Bridge is the most geologically recent of the three and is still being actively enlarged - 4,000 tons of rock fell from the north side in June 1992 - unlike the others which are now situated some way above the watercourses, however Kachina is difficult to spot from the highway, and requires the longest walk to reach. Although also quite far from the road, the first bridge (Sipapu) is in full view from the overlook, and presents an easily recognizable outline.

Information above are from americansouthwest.net.

UTAH - NATURAL BRIDGES NATIONAL PARK

Natural Bridges National Monument covers a relatively small area in so ...

Updated: Jun 28, 2009 3:28pm PST

UTAH - ZION NATIONAL PARK : Zion National Park is located in the Southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the 229-square-mile park is Zion Canyon, 15 miles (24 km) long and up to half a mile (800 m) deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park's unique geography and variety of life zones allow for unusual plant and animal diversity. Numerous plant species as well as 289 species of birds, 75 mammals (including 19 species of bat), and 32 reptiles inhabit the park's four life zones.

Human habitation of the area started about 8,000 years ago with small family groups of Native Americans; the semi-nomadic Basketmaker Anasazi (300 CE) stem from one of these groups. In turn, the Virgin Anasazi culture (500 CE) developed as the Basketmakers settled in permanent communities.[1] A different group, the Parowan Fremont, lived in the area as well. Both groups moved away by 1300 and were replaced by the Parrusits and several other Southern Paiute subtribes. The canyon was discovered by Mormons in 1858 and was settled by that same group in the early 1860s. In 1909, U.S. President William Howard Taft named the area a National Monument to protect the canyon, under the name of Mukuntuweap National Monument. However, in 1918, the acting director of the newly created National Park Service changed the park's name to Zion as the original name was locally unpopular. Zion is an ancient Hebrew word meaning a place of refuge or sanctuary. The United States Congress established the monument as a National Park on November 19, 1919. The Kolob section was proclaimed a separate Zion National Monument in 1937, but was incorporated into the park in 1956.

UTAH - ZION NATIONAL PARK

Zion National Park is located in the Southwestern United States, near ...

Updated: Jul 16, 2009 2:48pm PST

UTAH - KOLOB CANYON OF ZION NATIONAL PARK : Just 2 miles from the noise and traffic of interstate 15 lies the Kolob Canyons region of Zion National Park, a quiet, colorful and scenic collection of red cliffs and narrow canyons with none of the overcrowding problems that affect the main valley 20 miles to the southeast. To drive between the two sections takes over an hour, which is one reason why most tourists miss this little-known northern area, and stick to the frequently travelled east west route, part of the 'Grand Circle' of the Southwest through Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce Canyon and beyond.

The first inhabitants of the Kolob area were the Anasazi or "the ancient ones". Very little is know about the Anasazi or why they disappeared from the Southwest region about 1200 AD. The Paiutes were next to establish themselves in the area. The explorers Father Escalante and Father Dominguez first documented the Kolob Canyons as they tried to establish a trail from New Mexico to California. Mormon pioneers settled the Kolob area in 1852. They used the area for a variety of purposes, including cutting timber, raising livestock, and prospecting for minerals. According to Mormon scripture, the word "Kolob" means "the star nearest to the residence of God" .

Information above and some captions are from   http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/;  http://www.scenicsouthernutah.com/national_parks/kolob_canyons.shtml;  http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/point-of-interest-kolob-canyons-zion-national-park/article120984.html;  http://www.nps.gov/zion/;  http://www.zionnational-park.com/kolob-canyons.htm

UTAH - KOLOB CANYON OF ZION NATIONAL PARK

Just 2 miles from the noise and traffic of interstate 15 lies the Kolo ...

Updated: Jun 27, 2009 8:40pm PST

All photographs on this site © by Andre'Salvador