2006.03.30 Northeast Arizona.
Day 2:
A detour loop on US 89 leads to
Wupatki National Monument, passing
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument (not interesting if you've already seen a volcanic landscape). Wupatki Ruin is much more interesting, as you can walk next to it or even sit in kiva. The largest of the few Sinagua ruins here from around 1100 AD till shortly after 1200 AD. Three story pueblo, close to 100 rooms, a natural blow hole of cool underground air.
Lake Powell was formed after the construction of Glen Canyon Dam which started in 1956. It took 10 years to build and 17 years for Colorado River to fill the lake to its full capacity (almost 200m deep at the face of the dam). It's possible to visit the dam at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center just north of Page. We took a short boat cruise on Lake Powell towards Antelope Canyon. Impressive scenery. (The upper deck could be cold, as the boat can go fairly fast). The whitish coating on the red-rock cliff is the calcium carbonate deposit left over the past 7-8 years of drought.
Dining at the Rainbow Room in the
Lake Powell Resort and Marina is a must, not for the food, but for the sweeping view from the 180 degree circular window. The Resort is also where these boat tours leave.
A detour loop on US 89 leads to Wupatki National Monument, passing Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument (not interesting if you've already seen a volcanic landscape). Wupatki Ruin is much more interesting, as you can walk next to it or even sit in kiva. The largest of the few Sinagua ruins here from around 1100 AD till shortly after 1200 AD. Three story pueblo, close to 100 rooms, a natural blow hole of cool underground air.
Lake Powell was formed after the construction of Glen Canyon Dam which started in 1956. It took 10 years to build and 17 years for Colorado River to fill the lake to its full capacity (almost 200m deep at the face of the dam). It's possible to visit the dam at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center just north of Page. We took a short boat cruise on Lake Powell towards Antelope Canyon. Impressive scenery. (The upper deck could be cold, as the boat can go fairly fast). The whitish coating on the red-rock cliff is the calcium carbonate deposit left over the past 7-8 years of drought.
Dining at the Rainbow Room in the Lake Powell Resort and Marina is a must, not for the food, but for the sweeping view from the 180 degree circular window. The Resort is also where these boat tours leave.
