Exploring Southern Arizona –
Summer 2012
Here are some images from some of our summer excursions. I have provided links to learn more about the
places visited. Hope you enjoy!
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
“Our Mission
- To maintain the unique
balance of Colossal Cave Mountain Park - the land, its history, and its
ecosystems - for this and future generations.”
The photos are from above ground while exploring in and around La
Posta Quemada Ranch. The cave is well worth
the trip as well.
Sabino Canyon
“Welcome to the Santa Catalina Mountains, one of the premier
natural areas in southeastern Arizona. The elevation ranges from 2,724
ft. in Sabino Canyon to
9,157 ft. at the top of Mt. Lemmon.
The lowland desert as well as the high pine forest is managed for many
multi-use purposes; hiking, biking, rock climbing, skiing, camping,
education and research are among some of the activities.” A nice escape from the hustle and bustle of
the city.
|
Friends of Sabino Canyon
“In the eastern foothills of the Santa Catalina mountain range,
Sabino Canyon is a world of natural beauty. Stunning vistas, the freshness of
the morning air, the tranquility of running creek water, and the rugged
backdrop of Thimble Peak make this place so unique.”
Tucson Bats
“Bat Night is a yearly environmental performance art event
produced by The Rillito River Project and held in Tucson Arizona under
the Campbell Avenue bridge. This bridge spans the Rillito River, which once had
water flowing in it most of the year. Human settlement over the last century
has left the river dry, endangering many of the species that relied on the
river for their water and habitat.” It
is very cool to watch the bats come out as they depart for a night of dining on
insects!
Mexican free-tail bats are common in Tucson. These bats migrate
from Mexico to Tucson in April. The bats return to Mexico in October. Mexican
free-tail bats are small animals weighing about 13 grams, with a wingspan of 10
inches and a body the size of a human thumb.
The expansion joints of Tucson’s bridges provide a perfect home for
these bats. The 1 foot-deep groves give the bats an ideal location for their
young because the temperature remains consistent. Five hundred baby free-tail
bats can cluster in 1 square foot under the bridges.
There are 4 bridges in Tucson that have big colonies of bats:
•
East Broadway bridge over the
Pantano Wash.
•
North Campbell Avenue bridge
over the Rillito.
•
East Tanque Verde bridge over
the Rillito.
•
Ina Road bridge at the Santa
Cruz River.
At sunset the bats fly out from under these bridges. Usually you
can see this swarm of bats around 7:30 p.m.
Biosphere 2
“Biosphere 2 is located north of Tucson, Arizona at the base of the
stunning Santa Catalina Mountains. This one-of-a-kind facility sits on a ridge
at a cool elevation of nearly 4000 feet and is surrounded by a magnificent
natural desert preserve. Come experience the remarkable Biosphere 2 which Time
Life Books recently named one of the 50 must see "Wonders of the World".
See why visitors from around the globe journey here for this unique adventure
not found anywhere else. Discover real-time research on the future of our
planet as it unfolds in the specially designed mini-world.” Really enjoyed the visit.
Reid Park Zoo
“Travel from South America to the Asian rainforest, and then to the
African savannah in one day! Explore beautiful habitats housing hundreds of
exotic animals from around the world. Reid Park Zoo is a hidden gem, nestled in
the center of Tucson, and is the perfect place to enjoy time outside while
discovering the wonders of wildlife.”
Nice escape in the middle of Tucson.
THE END!
4 comments:
How does one pick a favorite??....the storm clouds, wonderful insider look at the Biosphere, great ostrich (??) face, tortoise enjoying the water, love the bat shot, wow. Good stuff, great photos.
Joellen
Great photos, especially the Zoo pics!
Kelly S.
Great pix. The camera must be state of the art. The colors are so vivid.
Shirley
Thanks for all the comments!
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