NATURAL RESOURCES SOMETHING GRAND - BOOK REVIEW.`Hiking the Southwest's Geology: Four Corners Region'' By Ralph Lee Hopkins (2002, The Mountaineers Books, $16.95) The Colorado Plateau Colorado Plateau, physiographic region of SW North America, c.150,000 sq mi (388,500 sq km), in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, including the "Four Corners" area. It is characterized by broad plateaus, ancient volcanic mountains at elevations of c.5,000 to 13,000 ft (1,520–3,960 m), and deeply dissected canyons lined with often brightly colored sedimentary and volcanic rocks, including the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. is the most geographically fascinating place in the country. Any argument otherwise simply falls on its face. After all, how can you argue against the Grand Canyon? The plateau is much more than that, of course, covering an area roughly the size of New England approximately centered on the Four Corners. In fact, the plateau is not a single entity but am overwhelmingly diverse region of thousands of canyons and plateaus. As such, this text is interesting in that it focuses on the geological features of 50 hikes, providing the reader information not typically available in standard guide books. However, given its academic style, the guide is probably more useful for someone who has a lot of hiking experience in the area and is looking for something new. The Grand Canyon speaks quite nicely on its own. - Michael A. Anastasi AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 FATHOMS - On the internet New to the outdoors on the Internet is a Web site known as Archives Maritimes (http://www.archivesmaritimes.com/TEST/arte.htm), which has plenty of French connections but also can be viewed in English. Think worldwide diving and the crew of the Calypso comes to mind. But, ``If you ask the majority of divers, a few million throughout the world, who invented scuba equipment, the response will certainly be `Jacques Cousteau.' '' Ah, but the world's most famous marine biologist only improved the diving regulator. Basically, everything you wanted to know about diving and didn't plan to ask can be found here. --Yes, they exist: A few outdoor-related Web sites that you might not know are real: The Varmint Hunter's Association (http://www.varminthunter.org): Its official logo looks like a very enthusiastic chipmunk chipmunk, rodent of the family Sciuridae (squirrel family). The chipmunk of the E United States and SE Canada is of the genus Tamias. The body of the common Eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus, is about 5 to 6 in. (13–15 cm) long; the upper parts are reddish brown or grayish brown with a median black stripe and two black stripes separated by a whitish band along each side. The tail, 4 to 5 in. (10–13 cm) long, is hairy and flattened.; Viking Navy (http://www.sjolander.com/viking/): Scandanavian-flavored group ``builds, designs and sails Viking ships''; HADD HADD - Habitat Alteration, Disruption or Destruction HADD - Highest Average Daily Dose HADD - Hikers Against Doo-Doo (grass roots organization to eliminate human and domesticated animal feces on hiking trails) HADD - Hippies Against Drunk Driving HADD - Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings HADD - Hyperactive Agency Detection Device (cognitive theory of mind): Hikers Against Doo-Doo (http://www.haddusa.com/): ``HADD/USA can visualize a time when walking and hiking trails worldwide are free of human and domesticated animal feces (solid waste, droppings), and that systems and facilities will be readily available for the transport and/or treatment of these solid wastes.'' - Chris Cocoles CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: no caption (book: ``Hiking the Southwest's Geology: Four Corners Region'') Box: ON THE TUBE |
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