| In the East are the scenic green hills and distant blue | | | | southwestern boundary of the vast Colorado Plateau |
| and purple vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains which | | | | which extends into parts of five other states. |
| run through several states. Between these | | | | And, of course, there is the famed Grand Canyon, a |
| breathtaking mountains are many picturesque rivers, | | | | very colorful, steep-sided gorge carved by the |
| streams, waterfalls and whitewater rapids. | | | | Colorado River in northern Arizona. It is largely |
| Big Bend, in Texas, is one of the largest national parks. | | | | contained within the Grand Canyon National Park. The |
| From an elevation of less than 2000 feet along the | | | | canyon is about 277 miles long, ranges in width from |
| winding Rio Grande river, to nearly 8000 feet of | | | | 0.25 to 15 miles and attains a depth of more than a |
| towering cliffs, it includes massive canyons, vast | | | | mile. Nearly two billion years of the Earth 's history has |
| dessert expanses, and the entire Chisos Mountain | | | | been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries |
| range. There is an incredible variety of geologic activity | | | | cut through layer after layer of varicolored rock. |
| from uplifted limestone in the Sierra del Carmen range, | | | | Lake Powell, created by the Glen Canyon Dam, is 186 |
| thick mud shales at Hot Springs, and volcanic craters | | | | miles long with more than 1,986 miles of shoreline. |
| of the Chisos Mountains, to dinosaur remains near the | | | | It wends its way through a desert paradise with |
| park's Maverick entrance. | | | | excellent vistas of multi-colored, towering rocks, |
| Then, in Northern New Mexico, the mountain roads | | | | pinnacles, buttes, arches and amphitheaters. Blue |
| twist through time and terrain, contrasting vermilion | | | | water, clear skies, sandy beaches complete the |
| desert cliffs and snowy alpine peaks, 13th century | | | | picture. |
| stone dwellings, and the birth of the Atomic Age at | | | | Monument Valley in Utah is an area of free standing |
| Los Alamos. The area around Abiquiu is often called | | | | sandstone rock forms that rise majestically from the |
| "O'Keefe Country" in honor of Georgia O'Keefe. This | | | | desert floor. Up to 1,000 feet tall, they create a truly |
| area is the setting for many if not most of her | | | | magical desert landscape that looks surreal, like |
| paintings. It is a ruggedly beautiful Southwest landscape | | | | mountains on the moon. Also, in Utah, are many |
| including Echo Canyon, Ghost Ranch, and countless | | | | spectacular sights in various state and national parks. |
| other red rock formations. | | | | A complete contrast to the desertscapes of the |
| Surrounded by red-rock monoliths named, among | | | | Southwest, California and the far west present fertile, |
| others, Coffeepot, Cathedral and Bell, is Sedona, | | | | lush green hillsides punctuated by briliantly colored |
| Arizona. Also near the city is the mouth of Oak Creek | | | | flowering plants. Below the hillsides, on the coast, are |
| Canyon, a chasm cut through by Oak Creek, with | | | | the crashing and pounding surf, blue expanses, golden |
| rapids that are wildly wonderful. Towering high above | | | | beaches, rocky coves, of the Pacific ocean. |
| Sedona is the geologically dominating Mogollon Rim, | | | | I have painted many of these scenes and am busy |
| formed from ancient deposits of limestone, mudstone | | | | painting more of them and others. America is a |
| and sandstone. This awesome rim constitutes the | | | | wonderful scenic country! |