Geographical articles from April 2005

Geographical archives from April 2005

Around the world ... alone.(From The Editor)(yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
April 1, 2005... I wouldn't say that I actually felt sorry for Michael Martin as he recently delivered his majestic lecture on the deserts of the Earth in the Ondaatje Theatre at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), but I did feel at times that the...

Microbes living in Yellowstone National Park's famous hot springs primarily use hydrogen for fuel rather than sulphur.(USA)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Microbes living in Yellowstone National Park's famous hot springs primarily use hydrogen for fuel rather than sulphur, according to researchers from the University of Colorado. The news bodes well for finding life in extreme environments on...

The Community Renewables Initiative is successfully tackling climate change by encouraging communities to switch to clean, renewable sources of heat and power.(UK)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Community Renewables Initiative is successfully tackling climate change by encouraging communities to switch to clean, renewable sources of heat and power. The government-backed scheme, which recently received further funding to continue...

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Culture Online have launched a website to celebrate 400 years of influence of Asian culture and plants on British life.(UK)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Culture Online have launched a website to celebrate 400 years of influence of Asian culture and plants on British life. The site is inviting people to share their stories, recipes and images. * Info:...

Good day for democracy in Iraq: Justin Marozzi reports from Baghdad, where he is running a community outreach programme on behalf of the Projects and Contracting Office, the agency coordinating the US$18.4 billion reconstruction effort.(Worldwatch)
April 1, 2005... IRAQ We were all braced for the apocalypse. Because we had been told to be. Intelligence reports had suggested there were 300 car bombers out there, all primed to do their worst on the day Iraq went to the polls for the first time in half a...

The natural solution to landmines.(Worldwatch)(using rats to sniff explosives)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... MOZAMBIQUE Mozambique's de-mining operations have been offered a helping hand, or paw, by an unlikely volunteer--a giant rat. Inspired by their childhood pets, staff of the Belgian organisation APOPO are training African pouched rats to sniff...

Arctic ozone layer thinning.(Worldwatch)
April 1, 2005... ARCTIC Low temperatures in the ozone layer above the Arctic--the lowest for 50 years--are expected to lead to a significant thinning. Scientists from the EU SCOUT-03 project have been studying the links between stratospheric ozone and...

Willow power.(Worldwatch)(use of willow as fuel for power stations)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... UK A group of farmers in East Yorkshire is to supply what could be the world's first wood-fired power plant using a homegrown, renewable energy source. The Renewable Energy Group (REG), which consists of 46 willow crop farmers, won a...

The National Trust has launched a 350,000 [pounds sterling] appeal to buy Wembury Point.(UK)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The National Trust has launched a 350,000 [pounds sterling] appeal to buy Wembury Point in the heart of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to save it from property development. * Info: www.notionaltrust.org.uk/donations

Scientists with backing from the UK government's Darwin initiative have joined forces with the University of Malaysia Sabah and other members of the Global Canopy Programme to develop a canopy training course.(Malaysia)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Scientists with backing from the UK government's Darwin Initiative have joined forces with the University of Malaysia Sabah and other members of the Global Canopy Programme to develop a canopy training course. It will initially teach 20 of the...

Top 10 consumers of coffee.(Worldwatch)
April 1, 2005... CONSUMERS OF COFFEE TOP 10 '000 tonnes per annum 1 USA 1,182 2 Brazil 810 3 Germany 566 4 Japan 405 5...

Dr William Megill of Bath University presents a talk on the Mexico to Canada migration of grey whales and orcas.(UK)
April 1, 2005... Dr William Megill of Bath University presents a talk on the Mexico to Canada migration of grey whales and orcas at the RGS IBG on 27 April at 7pm as part of the Earthwatch Institute's 2005 lecture series. * Tickets are free. Call 01865 318...

The British Library has published a two-volume catalogue listing some 56,000 previously unidentified individual maps in atlases dating from 850 to 1800.(UK)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The British Library has published a two-volume catalogue listing some 56,000 previously unidentified individual maps in atlases dating from 850 to 1800. The catalogue serves to recognise ownership by the library of the maps, many of which are...

50 years ago today ... Geographical magazine, April 1955.(Worldwatch)
April 1, 2005... The April 1955 Geographical featured an article by former RGS president JM Wordie about the Greenland ice cap. Wordie took part in several Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, including the British North Greenland Expedition of 1952-54, which...

John Hanning Speke (1827-64): Richard Burton's exploring companion, John Speke was the first European to reach Lake Victoria, which he correctly identified as a source of the Nile.(Late Great Geographers #54)(Biography)
April 1, 2005... What was his background? John Hanning Speke was born in Devon on 4 May 1827 to Georgina Hanning and William Speke. He served in the British Indian Army in the Punjab from 1844 and took the opportunity to travel through Tibet and the...

Biodiversity gets barcode.(Worldwatch)(Barcode of Life initiative)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... GLOBAL A genetic 'barcode' of every species is to be catalogued in an initiative launched at the recent International Conference for the Barcoding of Life in London. The barcodes will be based upon the 650-letter cytochrome C oxidase 1, or Cox1...

Birds of prey that are re-introduced to the wild are being killed illegally.(UK)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Birds of prey that are re-introduced to the wild are being killed illegally, according to the UK Raptor Working Group. Species such as the hen harrier and red kite are often targeted by pigeon fanciers and gamekeepers.

Rivers in the far north are discharging increasing amounts of freshwater into the Arctic Ocean.(Arctic)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Rivers in the far north are discharging increasing amounts of freshwater into the Arctic Ocean, due to intensified precipitation caused by global warming, say researchers at the UK's Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research. The...

Ghana.(Geographical Flags Of The World)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Ghana Description Three horizontal bands of red, gold and green, with a large black five-pointed star in the middle of the gold band. History The flag replaced the Union Jack when Ghana attained independence in 1957. Following a...

Tree Aid.(Geographical Organizations of Note)(forestry-focused development charity)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... How and when was Tree Aid founded? Tree Aid was formed in 1987 after a group of foresters met in a pub near Bristol to discuss how they could bring their expertise to bear on drought-stricken regions of Africa. What does Tree Aid do?...

An area of Amazon rainforest the size of England has recently gained protection.(Brazil)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... An area of Amazon rainforest the size of England has recently gained protection thanks to the establishment of five new conservation areas covering some 50,000[km.sup.2], and a six-month deforestation moratorium for a further 82,000[km.sup.2].

An Orangutan Foundation fundraising evening called Encounters with Kusasi.(UK)
April 1, 2005... An Orangutan Foundation fundraising evening called Encounters with Kusasi, hosted by Terry Pratchett and featuring special guest Professor Birute Galdikas, will be held at BAFTA in London on 13 April. Donations for tickets start at 25 [pounds...

The body that has the final say over the scientific names of animal species is under threat.(UK)(International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The body that has the final say over the scientific names of animal species is under threat. The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature was formed in 1895 to standardise the zoological naming system. Its 25 unpaid expert advisors...

China's crisis over?(Worldwatch)(conservation efforts)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... CHINA Conservation efforts in China are beginning to pay dividends, according to its State Forestry Administration (SFA). Panda numbers have risen by 40 per cent since 2000, from 1,114 to 1,596, and numbers of crested ibis, one of the world's...

Jet streams: fast and furious: weatherwatch with BBC weather forecaster Helen Willetts.(Worldwatch)
April 1, 2005... What are jet streams? Jet streams are parcels of rapidly moving air found in the upper atmosphere. Wind speeds at the core of the jet are generally in excess of 60 knots (110km/h), although in winter, they often surpass 140 knots. While...

Which country has the largest debt?(Quizzical)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... When it comes to the world's largest debtor, you don't need to look to the developing world. The USA is the world leader in borrowing, with a staggering US$8 trillion (4.3 trillion [pounds sterling]). And the sum is rising every day. If George...

Which parts of the Great Lakes from the border between Canada and the USA?(Quizzical)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The 6,416-kilometre border between southern Canada and the USA isn't just the world's longest undefended border, it's also the longest clearly marked undefended border. A chain of 5,000 monuments and water buoys along the border form a giant...

What is the Telecom Tower's current function?(Quizzical)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... When it was completed in 1964, the General Post Office Tower was the tallest building in London and a symbol of the white heat of technology that Labour leader Harold Wilson had spoken about enthusiastically the previous year. At the time, one...

Which aircraft is more environmentally friendly, the Airbus A380 or the Boeing 7E7?(Quizzical)
April 1, 2005... Weight is the main factor when it comes to determining how much fuel an aeroplane will burn and, therefore, how much carbon dioxide it pumps out into the upper atmosphere. At present, it's difficult to calculate how much greener either aircraft...

Is St Peter's Square part of Italy or the Vatican?(Quizzical)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... St Peter's Square, located at the front of St Peter's Basilica, technically belongs to the Holy See. However, for reasons that date back to the treaty of 1929 between Italy and the Vatican, the Italian police patrol it every day, giving the...

Geography in the news.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... If you're a teacher who would like to gain some information about urbanisation or natural hazards to help develop a lesson plan, or you're simply interested in the latest geographical issues, why not log on to the Geography in the News website?...

Geographies of trans-national networks.
April 1, 2005... Abstracts are invited for a two-day conference that will explore transnational political networks, drawing together perspectives from geography and cognate disciplines. The conference, which is sponsored by the Social and Cultural Geography...

Counting the tsunami's cost to coral reefs.(Editorial)
April 1, 2005... Last year's Indian Ocean tsunami has focused the media spotlight on several geographical issues, including natural hazards, population displacement and redevelopment. One aspect that is only now beginning to receive the same treatment is the...

Geography education update.(In society: a round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A lot has been going on in the world of geographical education--especially in terms of funding. One huge win is that four Centres of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, each heavily involving geography and outdoor learning, will be funded over...

A selection of society events taking place in April.(In society: a round-up of news, views and recent and forthcoming events at the RGS-IBG)(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... For details, please contact the Events Office on 020 7591 3100 5-6 April Off-Site Safety Management (COURSE, LONDON) This OCR-accredited two-day course is of particular relevance to those who are responsible for fieldwork and cultural...

Drifting on the Antarctic pack ice (London): 18 April, 6.30pm.(Lecture of the Month)
April 1, 2005... Dr David Thomas of Bangor University's School of Ocean Science will present an exciting lecture on the extent, nature and biology of the Antarctic pack ice, which covers more than 20 million square kilometres during winter and has fundamental...

Grants forum.
April 1, 2005... On 5 May, an evening of talks by previous grant winners will be held at the RGS-IBG in London, chaired by Professor David Thomas of Oxford University.

Recent grant winners.(Professor Dave Eastwood and Dr Colin Breen have been awarded to conduct an integrated marine survey of the Bagamoyo/Zanzibar channel)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Professor Dave Eastwood and Dr Colin Breen of the Centre for Marine and Coastal Research at the University of Ulster have been chosen as the winners of the 2005 Ralph Brown Expedition Award. They have been awarded 15,000 [pounds sterling] to...

Forthcoming grant deadlines.(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... 24 June Geographical fieldwork grants: several grants of 750 [pounds sterling]-3,000 [pounds sterling], as well as the Society's approval, are available for teams planning to undertake geographical fieldwork. 2 September Innovative...

Announcing the Thesiger Oman International Research Fellowships.(Grant News)
April 1, 2005... This month, the Society is pleased to announce two new annual fellowships for geographical research in the Middle East and other arid regions of the world. These awards have been established through the kind generosity of His Majesty Qaboos bin...

Land of ice and sea hogges: map of Iceland by Anders Sorensen Vedel (1590).(Map Of The Month)
April 1, 2005... The original manuscript of this map was drafted by the Danish priest and historiographer Anders Sorensen Vedel from information supplied by the Icelander Guobrandur Thorlaksson. Thorlaksson was born in 1542 at Staoarbakki in northwestern...

Of pyramids and progress.(Mexico)
April 1, 2005... A land that boasts a long and bloody history, Mexico was home to a string of early civilisations--the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Maya, Toltecs and Aztecs--before the Spanish arrived almost 500 years ago to colonise the 'New' World. Independence,...

Chasing the lac insect in the land of the thunder dragon.(Bhutan's Dyeing Traditions)
April 1, 2005... Bhutan is renowned around the world for its exceptional weaving traditions. Textile-dyeing expert Jenny Balfour-Paul ventured to the seldom-visited eastern regions of the Himalayan mountain kingdom in search of the lac insect, source of an...

Deforestation.(Geographical dossier)
April 1, 2005... Along with saving the whales, stopping the destruction of tropical rainforests was one of the first environmental causes to catch the popular imagination. Pop stars sang about them and hippies wore t-shirts emblazoned with emotive slogans...

What's the fuss about? Despite decades of campaigning by environmental activists, deforestation rates are higher than ever, and we can't afford to lose much more.(Geographical Dossier/Deforestation)
April 1, 2005... In 1994, the World Bank lent Cameroon US$150 million (80 million [pounds sterling]), a substantial proportion of which was to be used to develop its logging industry. The idea was that the tax revenue generated would boost the country's economy...

Who's to blame? Although the main causes of deforestation are conversion of land for agriculture, the effect of the forestry industry certainly shouldn't be underestimated.(Geographical dossier/deforestation)
April 1, 2005... Long-term changes in forest cover are generally the result of fluctuations in climate. But since the birth of agriculture, an average of 2,500 square kilometres has been cleared each year. Of course, particular areas have seen higher rates over...

What's the solution? Responsible logging can help to reduce pressure on forests as long as we're willing to pay. But ultimately, we have to think about our consumption levels.(Geographical Dossier/Deforestation)
April 1, 2005... Although around 12 per cent of the world's forests are protected, and around 15 per cent of those in the tropics, in many poorer countries national parks offer little effective protection. In Indonesia and most of tropical Africa, for example,...

Alone against the ocean: while Ellen MacArthur was busy setting the record for sailing single-handed around the globe in her multi-hulled yacht, there was also the small matter of the Vendee Globe. Nigel Hicks examines the history of one of the world's most demanding endurance races.(Single-Handed Sailing)
April 1, 2005... There's no doubt that at one time or another, most of us have looked out to sea and felt something pulling us towards the distant horizon. Some have responded by jumping into a boat and getting hooked on the ocean's terrible beauty. Only a...

The empire man.(Geopeople: Niall Ferguson)(Interview)
April 1, 2005... Rethinking history on a grand scale, Niall Ferguson uses the theory of counterfactualising to interpret the modern world. Named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2004, Ferguson has single-handedly put the notion of empire...

Born to run: "is Born Free naive to promote compassionate conservation?" asks the wildlife foundation's website poll. Celebrating its 21st birthday, the charity best known for saving lions in Africa, is well aware of claims that it's too 'fluffy' or not a 'serious' set up.(21 Years Of Born Free)
April 1, 2005... When Virginia McKenna first launched the Born Free Foundation, then called Zoo Check, with her late husband Bill Travers and their son Will, it was branded a nine-day wonder. Twenty-one years on, however, it has a budget of 2.5 million [pounds...

Visions of the wild west.(Geographical Archive)(second half of the 19th century)
April 1, 2005... USA During the second half of the 19th century, the US government set about colonising and developing what is now known as the Southwest, having wrested control of the area from the Mexican authorities through a combination of military and...

Coal: a Human History.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Coal: A Human History by Barbara Freese William Heinemann, pb, pp320, 12.99 [pounds sterling] Coal powered the Industrial Revolution, and its story is in great part the history of the labour movement. In this wide ranging 'biography',...

The Ice Museum: in Search of the Lost Land of Thule.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... The Ice Museum: In Search of the Lost Land of Thule by Joanna Kavenna Viking, hb, pp334, 16.99 [pounds sterling] These days, most accounts of polar adventure tend to fall into the category of rewritten diaries of extreme sportsmen enduring...

The Quest for the Secret Nile.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... The Quest for the Secret Nile by Guy Yeoman Chaucer Press, hb, pp192, 20 [pounds sterling] In May 1848, Johann Rebmann, a German missionary who lived inland from Mombassa, reported the existence of a snow-capped mountain on the East...

The Face of Human Rights.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... The Face of Human Rights edited by Walter Kalin, Lars Muller and Judith Wyttenbach, Lars Muller, hb, pp720, 45 [euro] (books@lars-muller.ch) It's very easy, living in our cosy Western democracies, to avoid seeing the suffering inflicted by...

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive by Jared Diamond Penguin, hb, pp575, 20 [pounds sterling] Jared Diamond thinks big. His 1997 bestseller Guns, Germs and Steel bore the subtitle 'A short history of everybody for the last...

Save Cash and Save the Planet.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Save Cash and Save the Planet by Andrea Smith and Nicola Baird Collins/Friends of the Earth, pb, pp320, 9.99 [pounds sterling] This latest addition to the green-living genre is nicely packaged, having cast off the knitted wholegrain design...

Island at the End of the World.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Island at the End of the World by Steven Roger Fischer Reaktion Books, hb, pp284, 14.99 [pounds sterling] Steven Fischer's exhaustive study of Easter island through the ages touches all the bases: flora and fauna, settlement and social...

Portrait of a Turkish Family.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga. First published 1950. Most recent edition published by Eland, pb, pp332, 11.99 [pounds sterling] This heartbreaking family saga stands outside any easy classification, neither a travelogue, a...

Lost Lands, Forgotten Stories: a Woman's Journey to the Heart of Labrador.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Lost Lands, Forgotten Stories: A Woman's Journey to the Heart of Labrador by Alexandra Pratt, Eye Books, pb, pp256, 9.99 [pounds sterling] In 1903, a young journalist from New York decided to mount an expedition inland from Lake Melville...

Wolves Eat Dogs.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Wolves Eat Dogs by Martin Cruz Smith Pan Macmillan, hb, pp208, 17.99 [pounds sterling] Senior investigator Arkady Renko, made famous by the bestseller Gorky Park in 1982, returns when a powerful Russian businessman throws himself from his...

The Rattlesnake.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... The Rattlesnake by Jordan Goodman, Faber and Faber, hb, pp348, 16.99 [pounds sterling] There can be few shipwrecks as fascinating as that of the Charles Eaton in the 1830s. The worst disaster of its kind in Australia to date, it also...

John Virtue: London Drawings.(Exhibition)
April 1, 2005... Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, The Strand, London WC2R ORN 9 March-5 June As part of his tenure as associate artist at the National Gallery, John Virtue has spent two years putting together an enormous collection of sketches...

Sixteen Acres: the Rebuilding of the World Trade Center Site.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
April 1, 2005... Sixteen Acres: The Rebuilding of the World Trade Center Site by Philip Nobel Granta, hb, pp272, 17.99 [pounds sterling] As horrifying as the events of 11 September 2001 were, it was only a matter of time before the thorny issue of...

Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto, Japan.(Geographical Travel)(Shinto shrine)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A priest walks through a passage of red torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha in southeastern Kyoto, Japan. Typically made of wood, stone or iron, torii usually act as entrances to Shinto taisha, or shrines, more commonly known as jinja. But at...

New green-style farmstay.(Travel News)(Ecocabin self-catering chalet)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A new eco-friendly cabin in South Shropshire is offering UK holidaymakers a responsible alternative. Following receipt of a 29,000 [pounds sterling] DEFRA Rural Enterprise Scheme grant, former veterinary nurse Kate Grubb has set up...

Italian coast in crisis.(Travel news)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Overdevelopment of Italy's coastline is causing erosion to increase at such a worrying rate that its environment minister has declared the country on the brink of a national emergency. Not only does erosion pose a substantial threat to local...

Tourism Concern looking behind the smile.(Travel News)(Behind the smile: Tourism, the tsunami and other catastrophes)(photo exhibit)
April 1, 2005... Tourism Concern is holding a photographic exhibition at the Oxo Tower for two weeks over Easter and we'd very much welcome the opportunity to meet Geographical readers there. Tourism Concern has mounted a campaign--Sun, Sand, Sea and...

In May, CARE is launching three new mountain-based challenge events in Ireland, Spain and Egypt.(Global)
April 1, 2005... GLOBAL In May, CARE is launching three new mountain-based challenge events in Ireland, Spain and Egypt. Teams of up to seven people will help raise funds for relief and development. * Info: challenge.careinternational.org.uk

A new website aims to help travellers who want somewhere out of the ordinary to rest their heads.(Global)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... GLOBAL A new website aims to help travellers who want somewhere out of the ordinary to rest their heads. The Unusual Hotels of the World site lists options ranging from hotels based in churches and prisons to hotels with floating rooms and...

In April, the Arizona Office of Tourism will be holding free screenings of IMAX film Grand Canyon.(UK)
April 1, 2005... UK In April, the Arizona Office of Tourism will be holding free screenings of IMAX film Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets in Glasgow, Bradford, Manchester, Bristol, London and Birmingham, with four showings in each city. * Info:...

Arizona: the Grand Canyon State.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... There's no place on earth quite like the Grand Canyon State, so come and experience the beauty and natural wonders of Arizona. On these pages you'll find a range of quality tour operators happy to assist you with all your travel needs around...

Jetset holidays.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... Designed for the Independent Traveller Independently planned holidays are becoming more popular and we want to give you the flexibility and freedom of choice that the traditional package holiday does not offer. Whether you've just...

Skedaddle.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... Skedaddle features Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah on a range of Great Western Journeys. Saddle Skedaddle operates the Canyonlands Mountain Biking and Multi Activity Tour. This is in a small group, 10 maximum, and offers fantastic...

Travelpack.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... Travelpack offers a wide range of holidays that include Arizona in the itinerary to the USA. There are several escorted tours and fly drive tours of the west where Arizona is featured and include stays in Phoenix, Scottsdale, The Grand Canyon,...

Ranch rider.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... North American Ranch Holidays Come and experience the great ranch opportunities that abound in the Grand Canyon State. Ranch Rider has a great choice of ranches to suit everybody's expectations and abilities. Combine a ranch stay with a...

Titan travel.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... Wild West Adventure--Canyons and Cowboys Arizona, the Grand Canyon State, is as diverse as it is exuberant. Our 12 day tour offers the opportunity to view the canyon from both the south and east rims with the chance of a spectacular...

Caravan Abroad.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... At Caravan Abroad we believe in open road holidays and in Arizona you get a lot of open roads. What's more, with some of the grandest wonders of nature just waiting to be explored and the climate we all wish for, it's a great place to take...

The Colletts collection.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... A living desert of hauntingly beautiful sunsets, majestic Saguaro cacti and rugged red rock gorges meets fashionable southwestern elegance in the year-round sunshine oasis of Scottsdale. Clustered here beneath the Camelback Mountains are some...

Hotels and Homes Direct.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... Discover Arizona's mountains, forests, stunning red cliffs and world famous canyons. Thrill to the majesty of the Grand Canyon; visit the sunny valleys and cool Lake Powell. In Phoenix and Scottsdale, Native American, Spanish and Anglo...

Islands in the sky: the Huachuca Mountains in the Senora desert of southeastern Arizona are a birder's paradise. Christian Amodeo meets some of their smallest inhabitants.(Hummingbirds of Arizona)
April 1, 2005... The flood-warning signs seem particularly misplaced as the temperature nudges its way towards 38[degrees]C on this spring afternoon in the vast, blooming Sonora Desert. There are no clouds to offer shade for the hardy yellow-dappled creosote...

North America Travel Service.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... Arizona offers a wonderful mix of modern urban sophistication, the historic Old West and spectacular scenery. North America Travel Service offers a spectacular choice of the finest resort hotels in Arizona--from Scottsdale and Tucson to Sedona....

Collette Worldwide Holidays.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... Canyon Country--an outdoor museum filled with nature's greatest masterpieces; awe-inspiring scenery slowly carved out by time. Relax in colourful Scottsdale, visit the artists' colony of Sedona, then continue to the Grand Canyon to stay inside...

North American Highways.(Arizona Promotion)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2005... North American Highways, specialists in bespoke holidays throughout North America, have a number of fly drive itineraries combining the most popular, best and little-known highlights of Arizona. Arizona's Painted Deserts itinerary includes the...