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The Forest of Rocks and Flowers Where Mountains and Sea Converge Rolling Miles of Sand Dunes

Travel Quiz The United States has some of the most stunning travel destinations in the world.

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November/December 2014

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Welcome to the Alaskan Wilderness

By Carrie Loewenthal Massey

Rolling Miles of Sand Dunes

By Jason Chiang

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Where Mountains and Sea Converge

By Steve Fox

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Why Short-Term Study Abroad Programs Are Within Your Reach

By Kimberly Gyatso

Into the Blue

By Jane Varner Malhotra

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Q&A With Andrew Kuchins

By Robin Bansal

The Crack and the Corkscrew

By Jason Chiang

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Weird and Wonderful

By Anne Walls

23 Oregon

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Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

Maine

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Publisher Walter T. Douglas

Editor in Chief David Mees

Editor Deepanjali Kakati Hindi Editor Giriraj Agarwal Urdu Editor Syed Sulaiman Akhtar Copy Editors Raktima Bose, Shah Md. Tahsin Usmani Editorial Assistant Yugesh Mathur Web Manager Chetna Khera

Art Director Hemant Bhatnagar Deputy Art Directors Qasim Raza, Shah Faisal Khan Production/Circulation Manager Alok Kaushik Printing Assistant Manish Gandhi

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38 Foreign Policy

The Forest of Rocks and Flowers

By Carrie Loewenthal Massey

Discover America’s Backwoods—From a Canoe

By Michael Gallant

ROBIN BANSAL

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WILLARD © Getty Images

Arizona

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Front cover: Antelope Canyon in Arizona. Photograph by Luca Galuzzi/Courtesy Wikipedia

Research Services Bureau of International Information Programs, The American Library

Minnesota

Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

V O LU M E LV N U M B E R 6

Published by the Public Affairs Section, American Center, 24 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 (phone: 23472000), on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, New Delhi. Printed at Thomson Press India Limited, 18/35, Delhi Mathura Road, Faridabad, Haryana 121007. Opinions expressed in this 44-page magazine do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Government.  Articles with a star may be reprinted with permission.

Those without a star are copyrighted and may not be reprinted.

Contact SPAN at 011-23472135 or editorspan@state.gov

Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

By CARRIE LOEWENTHAL MASSEY

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T. SCOTT WILLIAMS/NPS Photo

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HALLIE LARSEN/NPS Photo

etrified Forest National Park doesn’t look like a forest. Think rocks, mesas and breathtaking desert skies. But the legacy of trees standing millions of years ago remains, hardened into the landscape.

ARIZONA

Top: Isotopic geological data and other dating methods give dates from the youngest layers of the Black Forest Bed about 211 million years ago to the oldest Blue Mesa layers about 218 million years ago.

Above: Yucca baccata or banana yucca found in the park. Colorful flowers are abundant in April, May and late August, following winter snow and rains.

Left: Crystal Forest in Petrified Forest National Park.

During the gradual uplifting of the Colorado Plateau, starting about 60 million years ago, the still buried petrified trees were under so much stress, they broke like glass rods. The crystal nature of the quartz created clean fractures, evenly spaced along the tree trunk, giving the appearance today of logs cut with a chainsaw.

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Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

In ancient days, forests stood on the park’s land in what is now northeastern Arizona. As time passed and the climate changed, the trees fell and then fossilized, creating one of the world’s largest concentration of petrified wood.

Each year, more than 600,000 visitors come to marvel at the rainbow of colors in the rock that has solidified in the bodies of the logs. Over the years, the mineral silica replaced most of the organic wood, and different hues in the crystals come from trace minerals like iron, manganese, carbon and chromium.

The petrified trees concentrate in areas of the park like the Painted Desert, and they help form what looks and feels, in many places, much like an actual desert. The park is classified as grassland, however, and near the colorful logs grow wildflowers that compete with the fossilized trees for the most colorful feature. The flowers are most abundant in April and May, following the winter snow and rains. In late August, a second group of different flowers bloom.

Petrified Forest also offers a glimpse into the lives of earlier civilizations. Preserved petroglyphs on rocks throughout the park give evidence of calendars that marked events such as the summer solstice. Remnants of stone points, darts and other weapons used by hunter-gatherers in the Paleolithic era, as well as pottery from early pueblo farmers, have been found within the park.

To experience Petrified National Forest, the U.S. National Park Service recommends a two to three-hour visit. The easiest

way to enter is with a car—the park is right off Historic Route 66.

Visitors can drive to several key lookout points. A roadside turnout leads to a view of Jasper Forest, a collection of hundreds of petrified logs deposited in the area through the erosion of the surrounding rocks. Newspaper Rock offers another road stop—it earns its name from the hundreds of petroglyphs etched on its surface.

Once inside the park, visitors can leave their cars behind and choose from several short hiking trails to see main attractions.

Two of those trails include the Giant Logs Trail, a paved

Petrified National Forest http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

Painted Desert

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The park has one of the world’s largest concentration of petrified wood.

Newspaper Rock http://goo.gl/GIAH0

Above: Ancient Puebloan stone points found in Petrified Forest National Park.

Left: Blue Mesa badlands in the park.

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T. SCOTT WILLIAMS/NPS Photo

Jasper Forest

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Left: The various colors in petrified wood represent the trace minerals in the quartz. Iron, manganese, carbon and chromium account for much of the coloration.

Below left: Striped rocks at the Petrified Forest National Park.

Below: Petrified wood at Jasper Forest inside the park.

The logs are very hard but brittle. During stress after petrification, but while they were still encased in matrix rock, the logs cracked. As the logs eroded out, from gravity and ice wedging, the cracks widened and segments separated.

640-meter path that winds past the park’s largest petrified log, and the Long Logs Trail, which runs 800 meters and features the park’s largest collection of petrified trees.

George Willcoxon, a research student at the University of California, Berkeley, who drove through Petrified Forest during a cross-country trip from California to Washington, D.C., enjoyed the combination of riding and walking.

“My wife and I drove around the highway loop through the park, stopping at various scenic overlooks and rock formations to walk around and take pictures. The trees are quite interesting, and there are many canyons and rocks too. The desert landscape is unmatched, except perhaps by the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Badlands in the Dakotas,” Willcoxon says.

The forest has camping facilities for visitors with more time on their hands. But no matter the length of your stay, Willcoxon recommends stopping at the souvenir shops outside the park to take home a commemorative piece of the unique terrain.

“They sell polished stones, Native American artifacts, jewelry, sculptures and so forth, made out of local minerals and petrified wood,” he says. Removing petrified wood from the park is illegal; the shops obtain their wares from private landholders in the area.

Petrified Forest National Park is open year-round, though 6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Photographs courtesy U.S. National Park Service STUART HOLMES/NPS Photo

Right: Painted Desert Inn, a National Historic Landmark within Petrified Forest National Park.

Below: Kabotie Buffalo Dance mural inside Painted Desert Inn. Bottom: Kachina Point inside the park.

Below right: A ceramic pot found in Puerco Pueblo—a one-story-high village of sandstone blocks built by the ancient Puebloan people.

Bottom right: Preserved petroglyphs on rocks throughout the park give evidence of calendars that marked events like the summer solstice.

hours vary depending on the season. So, check the National Park Service website before you plan your travel. Tourist season peaks in the summer, but summer can also bring rain, lightning and dust storms. Winter comes with some snow and rain, but it tends to dry up quickly, giving way to crisp air and unlimited visibility.

No matter the time of year, the trip will be memorable.

Willcoxon does, however, offer one more tip for summer travel.

“Be sure your car has air conditioning and that you bring sunglasses, sunscreen and lots and lots of water. It’s hot!”

Carrie Loewenthal Massey is a New York City-based freelance writer.

Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

Welcome to the

Alaskan Wilderness

By CARRIE LOEWENTHAL MASSEY

Denali National Park in Alaska boasts of North America’s tallest peak, abundant wildlife and some amazing opportunities for adventure seekers.

ALASKA

Mushing—traveling over snow with a dogsled—is a popular tourist activity in Denali National Park and Preserve. The park has a sled dog kennel where huskies have lived and helped the park function since the 1920’s.

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W 1st Lt. GRAHAM WARD/The U.S. Army

ith six million acres of wilderness to explore, Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska offers everything from group hikes to off-trail solo treks to quiet corners for personal reflection. It’s hard to forget about its central attraction too: Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America, standing at 20,320 feet.

A 144-kilometer-long road runs through the park, which lies about 386 kilometers north of the city of Anchorage. The Park Road runs parallel to the Alaska Range of mountains, cutting through low valleys and high mountain passes, giving visitors a chance to spot some of the park’s abundant wildlife, including

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grizzly bears, wolves, caribou and hawks.

Private cars can traverse the Park Road to Mile 15, if weather permits. To go beyond, visitors must choose from a selection of buses.

Tour buses offer guides that narrate the journey for riders. Shuttle buses also run.

While these stop for animals and scenery, they don’t include guides, and they let travelers get on and off as they wish.

“You can take the bus into the park along a dirt and gravel part of the road. Because private cars aren’t allowed, wildlife comes close to the road, and you often get close-up views of bears, moose and other animals,” says John

The majestic Mount McKinley at Denali National Park and Preserve. The park stays open in winter, with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing activities available, depending on weather conditions.

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Mount McKinley

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Denali Kennel

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Above: A view of the Alaska Range from the Tolkat River Contact Station at Mile 53 on Park Road.

Above left, left and below left: Denali National Park and Preserve is home to abundant wildlife, including caribou and grizzly bears. Because private cars aren’t allowed, wildlife comes close to the road, so visitors often get close-up views of animals.

Above right: Backpackers can obtain permits to camp at the park’s six different campgrounds during the summer.

Below: Reflection Pond is a popular spot to catch a mirror image of Denali.

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DANIEL A. LEIFHEIT/NPS Photo

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Schochet, a Seattle-based attorney who visited the park as part of a larger trip to Alaska in June 2012.

If the normally overcast skies allow, the bus tours also give travelers glimpses of Mount McKinley— originally called Denali by the native Koyukon Athabascans, meaning “The Great One.” But, as Schochet found, clearer views of the mountain come from above, through flightseeing tours on helicopters or small fixed-wing aircraft.

“I enjoyed the flightseeing trip the most because I saw the mountain from the airplane, but it was too cloudy to see the mountain from the bus,” he says.

Flight tours run from the park’s surrounding towns as well as from Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Schochet’s experience exemplifies the flexibility needed to enjoy the trip to Denali. No matter the time of year, the weather is unpredictable. Winter temperatures can range from 4.4 degrees Celsius to -40 degrees Celsius. Even in June, Schochet spent six hours waiting in the adjacent town of Talkeetna for his flight tour to take off.

Not that the wait at all detracted from his Denali experience. “Talkeetna is a fun destination on its own,” Schochet says. “It’s a historic town with plenty of attractions. There’s a roadhouse with famous sourdough pancakes, a brewery, a river and a general store.”

Mid-May through mid-September, the southern Alaskan summer months, is the most popular time to visit the park. Day hike options and ranger-led activities, including nature explorations, seminars and evening programs, abound during this time.

Backpackers can also obtain permits for the camp’s six different campgrounds during the summer from the Backcountry Information Center. The process

takes about an hour and includes a safety information session.

If a summer visit isn’t possible, fall and spring can also be good times, though there’s always the possibility that bad weather will limit road and trail accessibility, and many structured park-sponsored activities no longer run. The park is open throughout the winter, too, with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing open on dog sled trails, the Park Road and in the backcountry, depending on weather conditions. A limited number of snowshoes are available to rent for free at the Winter Visitor Center. The park does not rent ski equipment.

No matter what time of year you visit, however, be sure to check out the park’s historic sled dog kennels. Huskies have lived in these kennels and helped the park function since the 1920’s, and they continue to provide transportation for the rangers during the winter. In the summer, rangers give daily sled demonstrations, during which they hitch five dogs to a sled and take them for a short run on a gravel track.

To fully experience Denali, Mount McKinley, Talkeetna and the surrounding area, Schochet recommends setting aside a few days and keeping in mind that the mountain may be elusive, despite its grandeur.

“The weather varies a lot, so you might only get to see the mountain once the whole time you’re there,” he says. “But the bus trip is fun with or without a mountain view, because you still get to see animals and the close-up scenery.”

Carrie Loewenthal Massey is a New York City-based freelance writer.

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Where

Mountains Converge and

Sea

KIM SENG/Courtesy Flickr

Stunning ocean vistas, pristine beaches, quaint harbor villages and America’s smallest national park make Mount Desert Island a traveler’s delight.

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By STEVE FOX

MAINE

Bass Harbor Head Light is the only lighthouse on Mount Desert Island. The lighthouse has short trails on either side that provide breathtaking views. It is currently a private residence for the commander of the local Coast Guard unit.

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Bar Harbor

http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

http://www.barharborinfo.com/

Somes Sound

Margaret Todd windjammer cruises

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George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History

Dive-in-Theater

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Acadia National Park

or five wintry months, visitors standing atop Cadillac Mountain on Mount Desert Island, in the northeastern part of Maine are the first to see the sunrise in the United States. Named not after the car brand but after French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the mountain—the highest point on America’s North Atlantic coast—is one of more than 20 craggy peaks on the rocky island, itself a geological wonder created millions of years ago. The island’s stunning ocean vistas, kilometers of trails, freshwater ponds, beaches, tide pools and quaint harbor villages attract more than two million visitors annually. Although much of the island is richly forested, the upper reaches of its granite summits are barren.

Acadia National Park, the smallest of the U.S. national parks, makes up about half of the 280-square-kilometer island, which is almost bisected by the deep waters of Somes Sound, a popular attraction for kayakers and boaters that brings to mind the fjords of Norway. Hiking, biking, camping, rock climbing, birding, beachcombing, horseback riding and picnicking are all enjoyed, but few people swim—the ocean water temperature rises only to a bonechilling 13 degrees Celsius during the summer. Rain and Maine’s famous fog also greet visitors, who are advised to bring a variety of clothing for the frequently changing weather conditions.

“The scenery is really dramatic. The way the mountains

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PAUL LEMKE Š Getty Images RAYMOND DOHERTY/Courtesy Flickr

Far left: Seal Cove Pond is located on the western side of Mount Desert Island. The pond’s eastern shore is in Acadia National Park, and a public boat access site at the southeastern end is reached via a park road.

Below far left: A view of the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the North Atlantic coast. It is the first place to view the sunrise in the United States from October 7 through March 6.

Above: A view of Mount Desert Island.

Above right: Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park.

Above far right: Visitors to Mount Desert Island can sail from Bar Harbor aboard the fourmasted schooner Margaret Todd for a cruise among the islands of Frenchman Bay. Right: Somes Sound, a popular attraction for kayakers and boaters, on the south central coast of Mount Desert Island.

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meet the sea is something very unique and beautiful,” says John Kelly, a park planner who’s been at Acadia National Park for 14 years. “Visitors typically spend three or four days in the park, with July and August being our busiest months. We have ranger-guided boat and bus tours, a variety of programs for children and adults, and a free island-wide shuttle bus that runs throughout the summer.”

Home to Native Americans for thousands of years and repeatedly fought over by Britain, France and the United States in the 1700’s, Mount Desert Island began to attract summer visitors in the mid-1800’s. Winters are harsh and cold and the island has only about 10,000 full-time residents, with tourism its primary business.

Mount Desert Island benefitted greatly from the vision of a wealthy Bostonian, George B. Dorr, who recognized its unique beauty and devoted his life and fortune to preserving it. Dorr bought parcels of land, and persuaded wealthy acquaintances to do the same, ultimately packaging them together into what became a national monument in 1916 and a national park in 1919. His efforts were supplemented by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., who wanted to tour the island by horse and carriage and built a 72-kilometer network of crushed granite roads for this purpose. Off limits to motor vehicles, the 16feet-wide carriage roads now provide hikers, bikers, horseback riders and, in the winter, cross-country skiers with sweeping views of the mountains and ocean, along with access to scenic

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Left: Bar Harbor Inn. Below left: Jordan Pond Gate Lodge was completed in 1932 and marks the entrance to the car-free carriage roads (right) at Acadia National Park.

Below: Popovers are the trademark of the Jordan Pond House (bottom and below right), the only dining facility in Acadia National Park.

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KARENFOLEYPHOTOGRAPHY © Getty Images

spots within the park.

Mount Desert Island and the surrounding towns also offer a wide variety of seafaring adventures, including whale watching and sailing on Maine’s famed “windjammers”—the four-masted schooner Margaret Todd is based at the island, along with smaller sailing vessels.

There are also motor boat tours and the “Dive-In Theater” activity for children. It features a diver who ventures to the ocean floor, after being pushed off the boat by the kids, with a video camera and microphone.

“Diver Ed” broadcasts images of sea urchins, crabs, sand dollars, anemones, periwinkles, lobsters and other sea creatures back to a TV screen on the boat, then brings some of them back on board for the children to examine before returning them to their ocean home.

“The whale watching has been spectacular in the last few years,” says Chris Fogg, director of the Chamber of Commerce in the seaside village of Bar Harbor, who points out that accommodations in the area include four-star hotels, quaint inns, beachside cottages, campgrounds and family-run motels, with a wide range of prices that peak during the summer months, when reservations are strongly recommended. About 10 percent of those visiting the island and park are from overseas, both Kelly and Fogg say, with an increasing number coming from Asia. There are regular flights to Bangor in Maine, about 80 kilometers away, and Boston in Massachusetts, about 418 kilometers away, with car rentals readily available.

Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

Steve Fox is a freelance writer, former newspaper publisher and reporter based in Ventura, California.

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Two seasonal mountain streams, Medano and Sand Creek, carry sand from the mountainside of the dune field to the San Luis Valley floor, before disappearing into the sand sheets.

Bottom: Sandhill cranes fly over a wetland west of the dunes.

The Great Sand Dunes geological system includes alpine lakes and tundra forests, dunes, creeks, grasslands and wetlands.

Far right: Children walk through a field of Rocky Mountain beeplants with the Great Sand Dunes in the background.

Rolling Miles of

BACHIR/Courtesy Flickr

T

he Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, in the mountainous state of Colorado, is a natural wonder as rolling miles of dune fields dramatically appear amongst the mountain wilderness.

The park’s tallest dune towers at 750 feet high— the largest in all of North America.

Its sprawling hills of golden sand, juxtaposed against the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, is a mirage-like sight to behold. It is a stunning visual experience, where sudden fields of sand—spanning 604 square kilometers—are the last thing a visitor would expect in this rugged region.

The Great Sand Dunes were designated a national monument in 1932. President Bill Clinton later signed the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000, bestowing it the status of a national park.

Researchers say that the majestic dunes began forming around 440,000 years ago, a creation of the region’s strong and unpredictable wind patterns. Powerful gusts of wind, sometimes topping 65 kilometers per hour, alternate from the southwest to the northeast in the San Luis Valley area. The wind’s unique back-and-forth motion causes the sand from surrounding creeks and rivers to pile atop the foothills, growing vertically and naturally forming the large dunes.

This process has continued for centuries, and the dunes shift steadily everyday.

Located in a small region named Mosca, the dunes are the main tourist attraction in the

By JASON CHIANG

Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes is a natural spectacle at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

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COLORADO

Photographs courtesy Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Sand Dunes

mountainous Colorado landscape. The closest city is Alamosa, although other major cities such as Colorado Springs and Denver, the state capital, are within a three to four hours’ drive.

For accommodations, the Great Sand Dunes Lodge is the closest motel lodging available.

Camping is another popular choice for visitors, with the Pinyon Flats Campground providing 88 indi-

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vidual camping sites that can be reserved by telephone or online. All campsites are equipped for tent and motor home sites, and cost $20 per night for a maximum of six people, two tents and two motor vehicles. The Oasis Store and Restaurant is located just outside the park entrance and stocks basic groceries and camping gear.

Patrick Myers, a park ranger with the National

DAVID and BECKY/Courtesy Flickr

Below: According to geologists, a huge lake, Lake Alamosa, covered the San Luis Valley floor thousands of years ago, which later receded due to climate change and volcanic deposits—leaving behind a large sheet of sand. Wind blowing from the valley floor toward the Rocky Mountains and vice versa caused the dunes to grow vertically.

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Pinyon Flats Campground Above and above left: Medano Creek is popular among visitors of all age groups. Depending on the water level, visitors may indulge in activities like splashing, surfing, wading and skimboarding.

Left: Lisa Carrico, superintendent of Great Sand Dunes National

Park Service for over 21 years, shares important travel tips that should be kept in mind before planning a trip to the Great Sand Dunes. “Always plan sufficient time to really enjoy the park fully,” says Myers. “The most common reaction I hear is, ‘I only planned an hour here, but had no idea how big this park is and how much there is to do!’ ” An estimated 300,000 people come to the park annually. Visitors can enjoy the Great Sand Dunes through a variety of activities such as hiking, sand sledding, sand boarding, four-wheeling, camping, photography and wildlife-viewing. Medano Creek is very popular for swimming, and generally flows from April through June.

Myers advises visitors to bring multiple sets of clothing to accommodate climates that can change from warm 22 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Park and Preserve, addresses visitors at an event.

Below: A herd of bison at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Diverse wildlife, including bighorn sheep, mountain lions, falcons, eagles, snakes and a variety of insects, can be found at the park.

sun and gusting winds in the day, to severe windchill and frigid temperatures at night. During hot summer months, the temperature on the sand’s surface can soar to 65.5 degrees Celsius, so protective outerwear and proper footwear is essential for any activity around the dunes.

Dune conditions are known to be much cooler and calmer in the early morning or late afternoon, thanks to the park’s elevation of 8,200 feet above sea level. So, hiking and other sand recreation are recommended at these times.

For a surprising blend of diverse scenery and outdoor adventure, the Great Sand Dunes will undoubtedly inspire you with a sense of wonder and excitement.

Jason Chiang is a freelance writer based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.

Photographs courtesy Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

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Dive into America’s deepest lake-Crater Lake in Oregon.

Into the

By JANE VARNER MALHOTRA

nown as the Jewel of the Cascades, the stunning indigo blue Crater Lake in south central Oregon offers visitors an unforgettable vision in one of America’s great national parks. Steep cliffs surround the bluer-than-blue body of water, considered among the clearest in the world. With depths

reaching 592 meters, the United States’ deepest lake holds significant cultural importance to local Native Americans, whose oral history carries down the dramatic story of the lake’s formation nearly 8,000 years ago. After a volcanic eruption on the 3600-meter-tall Mount

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OREGON

K

Phantom Ship island on Crater Lake is a natural rock formation.

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Crater Lake

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Visitor’s Guide

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Crater Lake Lodges

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Courtesy Crater Lake National Park Service

Mazama, the empty magma chamber collapsed and formed a caldera that eventually filled with snow and rain.

As Rennie Anderson drove up the highway with her family toward Crater Lake National Park, her anticipation grew. “We knew there was this incredible blue lake just out of our view, but you can’t see anything as you approach from the other side of the caldera rim,” she explains. “When we finally saw the lake, the blue was almost shocking. It blew my mind.”

The 53-kilometer Rim Drive surrounds the lake, offering spectacular views at over 30 pullouts along the way, where visitors stop and picnic, hike or just take in the scenery. For those who prefer to look out the window rather than drive themselves, ranger-led trolley tours run from July through October, making several stops at scenic overlooks. Driving the entire loop takes two to three hours, including stops.

A favorite is Watchman Overlook, offering an excellent view of the larger of the two Crater Lake islands, Wizard Island, named for its shape evoking a

sorcerer’s cap. The second island, Phantom Ship, can be spotted from the overlook sharing its name along the southwest edge of the lake. Reach for the clouds at the highest paved access viewpoint in the park, Cloudcap Overlook, situated on the eastern side of Crater Lake at a height of 2,427 meters.

For visitors who prefer to get out of the car and walk around, the park has over 140 kilometers of hiking trails, from easy to strenuous. Many visitors enjoy the Castle Crest trail, an easy 20-minute hike near the park headquarters, showcasing meadows full of wildflowers in July. Another easy hike, to the colorful Pinnacles rock formations located off the Pinnacles access road, offers wheelchair and bike access to these volcanic spires.

A moderate 2.6-kilometer round trip hike to Watchman Peak brings park visitors to the historic fire lookout tower, affording panoramic views of the park, along with a favorite spot for watching the sunset. The highest point in the park can be reached with a strenuous sevenkilometer round trip hike to the top of Mount Scott, where the 2,721 meter

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Dan Langford Photography/Courtesy Flickr

© Getty Images

Left: Throughout the winter, Crater Lake National Park rangers lead free snowshoe walks every weekend.

Below left: View of Crater Lake and Wizard Island from the Sinnott Memorial Overlook during winter.

Above: A wooden signpost at the park’s west entrance.

Above right: Park ranger Sophia onboard the Crater Lake Trolley.

Ranger-led trolley tours run from July through October, making several stops at scenic overlooks.

Above far right: The back porch of Crater Lake Lodge offers a stunning view of the lake.

Below: A view of Wizard Island during summer. The 53-kilometer Rim Drive offers spectacular views of the lake from over 30 pullouts along the way.

HOWARD IGNATIUS/Courtesy Flickr

A view of Crater Lake Lodge and the lake against a star-studded sky.

elevation offers views of Mount Shasta in California on a clear day. Crater Lake, too, looks mighty fine from up there.

Accessing the lake itself is limited to those who can handle Cleetwood Trail’s 213-meter elevation change in the 1.7kilometer hike down to the water and back up. Two-hour-long ranger-led boat tours run daily during the summer months, but seats should be reserved well in advance. Some of the tours include a stop at Wizard Island and the option to disembark there for a few hours to hike, swim or fish.

For a $10 entrance fee good for seven days, the park welcomes visitors to the lake year-round, but most of the roads and facilities close from November to April due to very heavy snowfall. In the winter, outdoor activities include snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing and backcountry camping. The best time to visit Crater Lake is from June through September, when visitors enjoy the most options for sightseeing and touring along Rim Drive,

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and when in-park lodgings are open.

Staying in the park offers the ideal Crater Lake experience, but visitors must plan ahead as these spots book up months in advance. Comfortable rooms can be found at the historic Crater Lake Lodge, located in Rim Village along the southern edge overlooking the lake. The lodge is open from May to October, depending on snow. The dining room and common areas feature big windows, exposed timber beams and stone fireplaces. The back porch offers rocking chairs and lake vistas. Simple cabin rooms are located 11 kilometers from the lake at Mazama Village, near the park’s south entrance.

Situated nearby is Mazama Campground, offering affordable tent camping and recreational vehicle sites, and the newly reopened Lost Creek Campground near Pinnacles for the true Oregon outdoors experience.

Jane Varner Malhotra is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C.

and the

JAMES GORDON/Courtesy Flickr

The

By JASON CHIANG

ARIZONA

Antelope Canyon in Arizona has been molded by centuries of powerful flash floods and the gradual erosion of sandstone.

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28 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Antelope Canyon was formed by erosion of layers of Navajo Sandstone, over thousands of years, by flash floods and rainwater. The perpetual undulating motions of the flooding water left unique patterns over time, resulting in the distinctive contours and natural murals along the canyon’s walls.

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DON VICTORIO © Getty Images

S

outhwestern United States showcases some of the most striking desert landscapes in the world. Among these, few are more visually stunning and picturesque than Antelope Canyon in Arizona. Here, both Upper Antelope Canyon, nicknamed “The Crack,” and Lower Antelope Canyon, popularly called “The Corkscrew,” display nature’s power and artistry, featuring towering sandstone passageways molded by eons of water flow.

Located on Indian reservation lands near the northern border of Page, Antelope Canyon is considered sacred ground by the Navajo Indians. The area was opened to the general public in 1997, when the Navajo Nation deemed it an official Navajo Tribal Park. Ever since, Antelope Canyon has flourished as a major tourism draw, catalyzing economic opportunity for many local Navajo tour groups and revealing its natural beauty to visitors.

Over thousands of years, powerful flash floods have eroded the existing layers of Navajo Sandstone, resulting in deep and narrow passageways called slot canyons. The relentless flow of water—both flash floods and rainwater—through these corridors has caused the slot canyons to plunge deeper, gradually forming lofty walls and tunnels that are now over 120 feet tall. The perpetual undulating motions of the flooding water have left unique flowing patterns over time, resulting in the distinctive spiraling contours and natural murals along the canyon’s walls.

Antelope Canyon can only be accessed through organized tours led by authorized Navajo guides, who transport groups to the canyon entrance in trail rated 4x4 trucks. Due to the limited capacity inside the canyons and the large number of visitors, all tours are limited to just two hours. Upper Antelope Canyon—The Crack—is the most popular section. It is a 600-feet flat stretch and features photogenic beams of sunlight seeping through the wall tops. Lower Antelope Canyon—The Corkscrew—provides a more physically-challenging and adventurous experience, as visitors must descend into the canyon using built-in metal stairs and stepladders. While the lighting and photo opportunities may not be quite as impressive as The Crack, The Corkscrew is over 800 meters longer and not as densely crowded. Canyon

Go Online Antelope Canyon

LUCAS LÖFFLER/Courtesy Wikipedia

http://goo.gl/hxBQo

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During ideal lighting hours, Upper Antelope Canyon features beams of sunlight seeping through the wall tops, making it a photographer’s delight.

MALCOLM SURGENOR/Courtesy Flickr MOTIVE56 © Getty Images

MAOMAOTOU © Getty Images MOONDIGGER/Courtesy Wikipedia JEDGCOMB © Getty Images

Top: Visitors walk toward the entrance of Upper Antelope Canyon. It can only be accessed through organized tours led by authorized Navajo guides.

Top right: Lake Powell, the second largest manmade reservoir in the United States, meanders along a part of Antelope Canyon.

Above center: Stairs leading out of Lower Antelope Canyon.

Above: In some parts of the tunnels, far below ground level, sand from the desert floor spills down like waterfalls, pulled by gravity.

Above right: With or without direct sunlight, Navajo Sandstone takes on an array of colors, often in varying shades.

expedition fees can range from $28 to $80 per person, depending on the size of the group—with higher charges for smaller photography groups during ideal lighting hours.

Although spontaneous flash floods may have been integral to Antelope Canyon’s natural formation, they can also be a source of sudden and unpredictable danger to visitors. Tour groups and the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department vigilantly monitor monsoon activity and regional flooding patterns to ensure visitors’ safety at the canyon. Flash floods can strike the canyons without warning,

even when no rainfall has occurred locally. The Navajo Nation has proactively taken steps to install alarm horns, safety nets, secure ladders and other safety features inside the canyons.

Antelope Canyon’s spectacular labyrinth of sandstone walls makes The Crack and The Corkscrew two of nature’s most unique masterpieces, beckoning visitors from all over the globe to witness its surreal lighting and color. Don’t forget your camera!

Jason Chiang is a freelance writer based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.

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Discover

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness’ secluded natural beauty and serenity draws thousands of visitors every year.

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America’s Backwoods

CANOE

WILDNERDPIX © Getty Images

— From a

By MICHAEL GALLANT

adventurous visitors each year.

The Boundary Waters area is located in the northeastern region of Minnesota and is 812,941 acres in size. The area boasts of more than 10 hiking trails, over 2,000 designated campsites and nearly 2,000 kilometers of canoe routes as well. Needless to say, there’s plenty to explore.

By boat or on foot, outdoor enthusiasts from around the world explore Minnesota’s vast and popular Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

MINNESOTA

J

ust south of the American border with Canada lies a wild expanse of land—an area defined by its cliffs and canyons, streams and lakes, and enveloped by the trees of the Superior National Forest. Rugged, serene and breathtaking, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has become the go-to outdoor destination for hundreds of thousands of

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Go Online Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

PaddlePlanner

Superior National Forest

Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

http://www.paddleplanner.com

http://goo.gl/ZMX8yk

http://www.fs.usda.gov/superior

Guide for Visitors

http://www.friends-bbwca.org

Right: Canoeing is the best way to explore Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Overnight paddle, motor or hiking trips are allowed during the summer through quota permits.

Far right: A camp near Agnes Lake. Visitors are expected to strictly follow a “leave no trash” rule to avoid damaging the pristine landscape.

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BEN SEESE/Courtesy Flickr

http://www.bwca.net

ALAN STRAKEY/Courtesy Flickr

JIM LIESTMAN/Courtesy Flickr

Farm Lake in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

“The Boundary Waters is a huge area of lakes and rivers, connected by waterways or trails where the only mode of transportation is human-powered—with a few exceptions for motor boats,” says Michael Ring, a software developer from Minnesota who visits the area every year. “It’s a vast and beautiful wilderness of rock outcrops and forests, of swamps and bogs and lakes, and of silent travel.”

Ring has grown to love discovering new places within the wilderness and finds that such quiet seclusion is key to the Boundary Waters’ unique magic. “Even backpacking has the constant crunching of boots on the trail, but experienced canoeists can travel almost completely silently,” he says. “The land is beautiful, the wildlife is great to see, but the silence and the solitude are what make the Boundary Waters special.”

“When you have the only campsite on an off-the-beaten-path lake, you might be the only people for miles around,” he adds.

Whether travelers from overseas choose to explore by boat or on foot, there are many resources to help them plan the sort of memorable exploration that Ring cherishes.

Guiding companies provide both novice and experienced paddlers with equipment rentals.

They can also help arrange a simple day trip, an extended and fully-guided camping expedition, or anything in between.

Regardless of how you choose to venture though, Ring recommends that out-of-town visitors first travel to the city of Minneapolis and then leave a full day of travel to get to

and from the wilderness area. “Just because there aren’t any impressive mountains or deserts doesn’t mean that the area isn’t plenty rugged and remote,” he says, laughing.

Protected by the U.S. government as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, the Boundary Waters is governed by a number of rules to which all visitors must adhere. The most important: leave no trace.

Explorers are required to pack out any trash or leftover food from their trip, wash dishes and themselves away from bodies of water using only biodegradable soap, avoid doing anything to damage the landscape, and respect other rules that protect the area for generations of future visitors. To learn more about leaving no trace, check out this video produced by the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness: http://goo.gl/MBWQZa. “The things that visitors should never do are all outlined by the Forest Service,” says Ring. “Avoid taking more than photographs, and leaving more than footprints, to paraphrase a quotation.”

Thorough advance planning can help visitors have a great, and safe, time paddling and hiking through the wilderness. Besides packing plenty of food, vital equipment include a map and compass, clothing for extreme weather, a water filter, and emergency gear like a whistle and first-aid kit. The National Forest Service bluntly states, “You are responsible for your own safety and that of your group,” so be sure to pack and plan accordingly.

Permits are always required to explore the Boundary Waters—especially as the Forest Service aims to regulate the flow of visitors and preserve the seclusion and beauty that keep Ring and many others returning to the wilderness. To learn more and reserve your own wilderness permits, visit Recreation.gov’s website or call 518-8853639. If you’re planning on taking a canoe trip through the Boundary Waters, check out the interactive maps and route calculators on PaddlePlanner’s site. More information can be found on Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness’ website.

Michael Gallant is the founder and chief executive officer of Gallant Music. He lives in New York City.

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Why

Short-Term

Study

Photographs © Getty Images

Abroad Programs Are Within Your Reach

By KIMBERLY GYATSO

36 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

S

hort-term programs are an excellent way for international students to experience life in a new country. Many short-term study programs that last 12 months or less are available in the United States and offer Indian students both academic and professional courses that broaden skill sets, networks and understanding of American academics and culture.

Short-term programs can be divided into three categories: exchange programs, non-degree programs and distance education.

Exchange programs include partnerships between U.S. and Indian universities where students study and live in partner countries and take courses for their degree or professional enrichment. These programs could also be professional courses which offer participants a chance to intern with a U.S. business or organization. Besides professional courses, students can attend practical training programs offered at community colleges, private training centers or technical institutions that prepare them for employment in diverse areas, including game design, culinary arts and automotive mechanics.

Non-degree programs, which are offered during the summer break, are a great way for international students to experience academic life in the United States without having to enroll in a full-time program. For students who need to stay close to home, but want to expand their educational experience, there are a plethora of undergraduate and graduate distance courses offered online, via radio, television, DVDs and other media.

Ask the international program department at your college or university to see if they have exchange agreements with U.S. universities. Students can also check with EducationUSA, which has advising centers in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

Figure out what you want to study to narrow down the search for the right U.S. institutions online. For example, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Khorana Program is a scientific exchange for U.S. and Indian biochemistry students. The program was created along with the Government of India and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum in honor of Nobel laureate Har Gobind Khorana.

For physics majors, the partnership offers the S.N. Bose Scholars Program.

Students who have studied in the United States often make contacts that lead to internships. At the same time, American companies working in India may want to host Indian interns at home. Check company job posting websites for internships.

Start your search for short-term programs at least a year in advance so you have enough time to complete all the application requirements and obtain your student or exchange visa.

The application process will vary based on the type of program you choose, so it’s best to confirm the requirements and details with the program directly. Most programs will require your transcripts and letters of recommendation. Follow each step meticulously.

When it comes to budgeting, factor in tuition, study material, room and board, living expenses, health insurance and travel costs.

According to the Institute of International Education, 21 percent of international students’ funding came from U.S. colleges or universities, and 7 percent came from foreign governments or universities during the 2012-13 school year. Try applying for funding from your home university, NGOs, social organizations or multinational companies.

International experience helps a student gain priceless connections that will be beneficial in their future. By doing thorough research and exploring the options ahead of time, students are able to take advantage of the opportunities and gain a broader understanding of the world.

Kimberly Gyatso is a freelance writer based in San Francisco.

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EDUCATION

How do I find a short-term program?

ROBIN BANSAL

Andrew Kuchins Excerpts from an interview with ROBIN BANSAL

Andrew C. Kuchins is the director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, D.C., and one of their senior fellows. He visited New Delhi and Chennai in August and interacted with academicians, researchers, students, policymakers, mediapersons and officials from several embassies.

Based on your interactions in India, what do you think is the general opinion regarding Eurasian integration and Vladimir Putin’s plan for Russia?

I think India is very keen on the topic of Eurasian integration and has an important role to play. Being a major player in Eurasian integration is viewed as essential for achieving both domestic policy goals as well as foreign policy goals in the development of the economy and development of ties with India’s key trade partners. What’s driving Eurasian integration is economic trade ties and overland transit of goods. India has lots of interest in this field and particularly into trade and economic ties north into Central Asia and even further north with Russia.

In what ways does Russian foreign policy impact the engagement between the United States and India?

It’s a very hard and interesting question to answer. I think for Americans and Europeans, the problem was that there were some illusions about European security and to what extent the Russians have bought into the norms and the framework of governance that developed over the past 20 years.

India has a clear perspective on Russia. Russia is an important country for India even though the economic ties are relatively modest. But, there is a clear appreciation in India and in foreign policy circles about the importance of Russia’s role on a variety of issues and maybe there are more realistic expectations about Russia’s economic and domestic political development than probably what Europeans and Americans have had in the last 20 years.

What are the priority areas for developing relations between the United States, India and Russia bilaterally and trilaterally?

The ties of radical Islam with terrorism are one thing where India, the United States and Russia share a lot of common interest. This was demonstrated in the response 13 years ago during 9/11 and in our common interest in taking out the Taliban and supporting a more secular, less radically Islamic government in Afghanistan. That’s the case today!

We also share a common interest in the stable development of Afghanistan into the future. There will be

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a larger role to play for India as well as for Russia as the American presence has declined with the imminent withdrawal of its troops. The challenge for Americans, together with Indians and Russians, Chinese, Iranians and others, is to work together for the common goal of the stabilization of this country and particularly in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

What are the geopolitical challenges these countries are facing and how can these be overcome?

A huge breakthrough for the region would be a greater reconciliation of India and Pakistan. It is important for Americans as well as Russians to remember that this is a conflict which, if it were to develop into a shooting war, it could become a nuclear war. Right now, one focus of attention is on the danger of Russia in Ukraine. That conflict also has a nuclear development potential to it. What’s happening in the greater Middle East as well as with Iraq and Syria—even though these problems don’t directly affect the United States, India or Russia—is also crucial: we have a large stake in seeing that there is a peaceful resolution to these issues.

You have talked about Vladimir Putin’s plan for Russia during your programs in Delhi. Can you give SPAN readers an overview of the aspects you talked about?

Mr. Putin is certainly trying to reassert Russia’s power and influence beyond his borders. The principal means by which they are looking to do that is through an economic institution. By January, that institution is both going to have a deeper impact, and become larger with new members—the imminent one being Kyrgyzstan. It will become the Eurasian Economic Union. For this institution to be viable and effective this is going to be a big challenge for Russia and the Russians will have to be respectful of the sovereignty and the national interest of other countries within the institution.

The idea that Mr. Putin has put forth is a worthy one. It remains to be seen if Russia is going to be able to play a leadership role in a kind of a soft power way which is not traditionally what Russians are noted for. For historical reasons, other countries around Russia are nervous.

Five natural wonders in the United States you’ve got to see to believe.

Wonderful

BEAU ROGERS/Courtesy Flickr

Weird Sure, you’ve heard of the Grand Canyon, seen pictures of Niagara Falls, maybe even visited Yellowstone National Park. Instead of fighting the lines at over-traveled tourist destinations, why not take a drive on the wild side and discover some lesser-known, but equally deserving, natural wonders?

By ANNE WALLS

Thor’s Well

Thor’s Well, Oregon

T

he state of Oregon has so many scenic sites that its tourism board has launched a travel campaign, Travel Oregon, that encourages travelers to visit its “seven natural wonders.” The eighth “wonder” may be announced soon, with the buzz rising around a saltwater fountain called Thor’s Well.

Located along the Cape Perpetua coastline that extends into the Pacific Ocean, photographers and thrill-seekers alike have been flocking to this magnificent, yet dangerous, natural oceanic crater that releases jets of water, which are pumped high into the air by the powerful waves. The Huffington Post

recently ran an article titled “Thor’s Well In Oregon Is Straight Out Of A Comic Book,” because the force with which the saltwater is pulled in, churned around, and ejected does seem like the stuff of superhero movies.

This spectacle has become a photographer’s dream, but don’t worry, you don’t have to wade out to it. You can see Thor’s Well from the safety of the coast. The nearby Cape Perpetua Visitor Center provides information on other activities like camping, picnicking, hiking, sightseeing and even whale watching. But for people who come just to see Thor’s Well, the best time to see it in

http://goo.gl/ngBLd4

full splendor is approximately an hour before high tide to an hour after high tide.

Getting there: Cape Perpetua is located about three hours south of Portland and 128 kilometers from Eugene on Highway 101, a must-drive route to experience the beauty of the rugged Oregon Coast.

Where to stay: Though there isn’t any lodging inside the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, the nearby coastal town of Yachats offers ample hotel options— everything from romantic seaside resorts like The Overleaf Lodge and Spa (www. overleaflodge.com) to quaint inns like The Ocean Cove Inn (www.oceancoveinn.com).

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NATURAL WONDERS

and

Fly Geyser, Nevada

Eternal Flame Falls http://goo.gl/Jc5QwE

Eternal Flame Falls, New York

W

ho says that fire and water don’t mix? A waterfall in New York has turned that adage upside down.

Eternal Flame Falls is a small waterfall located in Chestnut Ridge Park in western New York state. Sure, a 30-feet waterfall isn’t that wonderinducing—especially when Niagara Falls is only about 56 kilometers away—until you look a little closer and see the constantly burning flame that sits on a rocky ledge right behind the falls. Legend goes that Native Americans lit it hundreds of years ago, but scientists are still unsure about the reason behind the flame.

Several other natural burning flames around the world are surrounded by boiling hot water and extremely high-temperature rocks called shale. While the Eternal Flame Falls’ structure is also made of shale, here’s the strange part: both the rocks and the water aren’t very hot at all. In fact, scientists have called the water

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temperature near the everburning flame similar to the warmth in “a cup of tea.”

Eternal Flame Falls is “a new type of geologic process that hasn’t been recorded before in nature,” says Arndt Schimmelmann, a researcher at Indiana University.

Getting there: Chestnut Ridge Park is about 32 kilometers south of the city of Buffalo.

But since it’s only a 45-minute drive from Niagara Falls, one can drop by Eternal Flame Falls during the same visit. The Eternal Flame hiking trail leading to the falls takes you through a forest of beautiful foliage.

Where to stay: There are several no-frills lodging options in the nearby town of Hamburg like the Holiday Inn Express Suites, Motel 6 and Days Inn. But your best bet is to stay in Buffalo at The Mansion on Delaware Avenue (www. mansionondelaware.com/) and take a day trip to the Eternal Flame Falls for some picnicking and hiking.

Fly Geyser http://goo.gl/M99p2q

TANYA WHEELER/Courtesy Flickr

LINDEN TEA/Courtesy Flickr

S

ure, Mother Nature has created some rather epic natural wonders, but people are getting the hang of it as well, if only by accident.

Take, for example, Fly Geyser in Washoe County, Nevada— about two hours from Reno.

This man-made geyser was created in 1964 when people well-drilling for geothermal energy didn’t plug the hole they created quite right. It resulted in a still-growing mound of rock that may be only 12-feet-tall, but packs quite a watery punch.

When it erupts, the geothermic geyser sends mineralfilled water not just five feet into the air, but more impressively over a soaking 70 acres, filling 40 pools with its output, coloring every rock within reach in vibrant shades of deep orange and green. The reason this geyser has such bright-colored surroundings is due to the thermophilic algae which flourish in hot, moist

environments and escape with each blast of the geyser’s steamy water.

Getting there: This one’s a little tricky, since Fly Geyser is located on private property—a ranch named Fly Ranch.

Luckily, you can see the geyser, its arc of water and the many pools it fills from State Route 34—a photo op for your middesert pit stop.

Where to stay: Fly Geyser is located on the edge of the Black Rock Desert, a 2590square-kilometer geothermic collection of lava beds which was a major thoroughfare for fortune-seekers on their way to San Francisco during the gold rush of the 1840’s, and today is home to the alternative art and music festival called Burning Man. There aren’t many hotels around, but plentiful campsites for adventurous nature-lovers. If you’re not up for sleeping among the lava beds, visit Fly Geyser on your way to Reno.

Racetrack Playa

Mount Grinnell, Montana

http://goo.gl/3Sduy

Racetrack Playa, California

U

sually the words “dry lake bed” don’t elicit squeals of excitement, but in the case of Racetrack Playa, a dry lake bed in Death Valley, California, there’s more going on than meets the eye. Racetrack Playa showcases a very unusual phenomena: sailing stones. Rock slabs of dolomite and syenite, ranging from a few hundred grams to hundreds of kilograms in weight, inscribe visible tracks as they slide across the surface of the dry lake bed, without human or animal intervention.

How do these stones leave behind trails in the form of long, smooth streaks in the otherwise cracked desert earth? It can’t be rain, because this huge, dry expanse of land receives, on an average, just three inches of rain annually. The sailing stones are reported to move only once every two or three years, and their tracks usually last up to four years.

There were a few theories on how these rocks actually move, and until 2014, no human had ever seen them in action. The first theory is that gusting winds of up to 144 kilometers per hour are able to slide them around the smooth lake bed if there has been enough rain to create a slick, clay-covered surface. Another related theory is thin sheets of water freeze on the ground’s surface during winter and create

ice floes that slide the sailing rocks around, courtesy of the wind. The mystery was put to rest when a study published in August 2014 described how researchers used time-lapse photography and the global positioning system to discover that rocks move when ice sheets, just a few millimeters thick, start to melt during periods of light wind.

But just because we know how they move doesn’t make the sailing rocks any less mesmerizing.

Getting there: Death Valley National Park is on the border of California and Nevada, a threehour drive from Las Vegas. The park is full of hiking and camping options, as well as historical sites like the nearby Scotty’s Castle, a two-story Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival-style villa where park rangers dress in 1930’s style clothes to take the more than 100,000 annual visitors back in time.

Where to stay: A popular hotel in Death Valley is the Furnace Creek Resort (www. furnacecreekresort.com), or you can stay in an authentic old Western town hotel in Stovepipe Wells (www.deathvalleyhotels. com). Or if you’re brave enough to endure the heat, there’s always camping, though it isn’t called “The hottest place on Earth” for nothing.

TOM BRICKER/Courtesy Flickr

ARNO GOURDOL/Courtesy Flickr

Mount Grinnell

http://goo.gl/iOEyAv

G

lacier National Park in Montana is a regal, million-plus acre area of mountains, rivers, valleys and, of course, glaciers. And the most magnificent of them is the Mount Grinnell peak, the highest point in the state that has fascinated both tourists and photographers for years.

This 8,855-feet peak was formed thousands of years ago and named after George Bird Grinnell, an American anthropologist, historian, naturalist and writer.

Mount Grinnell is said to have a “false peak,” which means it has an often-photographed peak that appears to be the pinnacle of the mountain, but upon reaching, it turns out the summit is higher.

The mountain and the surrounding ones began forming 170 million years ago when ancient rocks were forced up over much younger rock strata.

Today Mount Grinnell towers above Swiftcurrent Lake and is known for sometimes changing color depending on the direction of the sunlight. In

2012, photographer Harry Lichtman happened to shoot a picture of the peak during sunrise in which the mountain appeared a brilliant orange color. Mount Grinnell’s grey rocks, when lit up by sunlight, appear bright orange at times.

But no matter the color of the mountain, its beauty definitely commands attention.

Getting there: Located in the northwest corner of Montana, along the spine of the Rockies, it is best to fly to Glacier Park International Airport near Kalispell, about 64 kilometers west of the park entrance in West Glacier, Montana.

Where to stay: Glacier National Park has a number of lodging options, including quite a few within the park itself, like Glacier Park Lodge (www.glacierparkinc.com/ glacier_park_lodge.php) and the historic Prince of Wales Hotel (www.glacierparkinc.com/ prince_of_wales.php).

Anne Walls is a writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California.

Registered under RNI-6586/60

SANDY REDDING/Courtesy Flickr

Racetrack Playa, a dry lake bed in Death Valley, California showcases the phenomena of sailing stones. Rock slabs, ranging from a few hundred grams to hundreds of kilograms in weight, inscribe visible tracks as they slide across the surface of the cracked lake bed.