13-11-2010
-
The Painted Desert: PART XV
Continued...
As the waters of Lake Meade recedes in the dry, grass gains a foot hold in the fertile silt and transforms the desert into a lush prairie. One of two things can happen next. Either the snow in the highlands will melt and gather here via the mighty Colorado River to drown the grass or an extended drought will eventually claim the grass. But for now it looks like the Painted Prairie.
1/.
2/.
3/.
4/.
5/.
6/.
7/.
8/.
Comments (8)
this is just a magical place ... drought or flush!!
Isn't it beautiful for those few weeks while nature decides what happens next?! That's an interesting structure in #2 and #3 -- is it a landing strip? Wonderful photos!
@windupherskirt -
You are so right about it. It is just beautiful. Period.
@slmret -
I should have written something about it but I am not quite happy with the new Xanga look... Anyway those are some of the remains of the small town of St. Thomas which was submersed due to the rising waters after Hoover Dam was built.
I struggled with the 'new and updated' format and then changed back to the 'classic' format. It's nice to look at these photos and see the many layers of the landscape - all the way to the horizon. Peace
@shellisland -
I am glad that I am not the only one who needs to get used to the changes. I will work through it some time to see if I can improve the visibility of the writing. Thank you for the kind words, Mary Sue.
@MaartenVenter - How interesting -- I remember reading about St. Thomas when the water level became so low that it was exposed again. Thanks for showing this glimpse of it!
@slmret -
Other than a small plaque near the leveled terraces I found no evidence of people ever living there in an establishment. I think that building materials would be too precious in the desert to be left there if the inhabitants had to relocate.
Comments are closed.