We spent three nights in Page, Arizona. The first night we stayed at the Elks, but on our way we saw a really nice looking new RV Park – ROAM America at Horseshoe Bend. We looked it up and decided to book the 2nd and 3rd night there where we’d have full hookups and a pool and laundry. (At the Elks we might not have been able to park each night in the site we registered in since there was no way to let another RV know it was taken when we leave each day for canyon tours. You just fill out a money envelope and drop it in a secure box. There were only 3 or 4 tight spots with electric.)
Central location of the pool had a cafe with ample outdoor seating and “conversation area with gas fireplaces.
It was worth paying a little more to have the amenities and more space between RVs!
The shower facility was a full private suite – and new!
August 4th was a breathtaking sunset!
After our Upper Antelope Canyon tour on August 5th, we ate an early dinner and headed to Horseshoe Bend about 5PM to see it prior to sunset and at sunset. (Pay for parking. Easy RV parking)
People camping below at the water’s edge. I spotted their kayaks.
Unfortunately, the sunset was not a spectacular one tonight. It was actually quite disappointing having experienced the one we had the night before!
“It is what it is.” 🙂 We were still glad we came.
AUGUST 6th
We left Page, Arizona for Zion National Park, but before leaving the area completely, we stopped at the Glen Canyon Dam. Glen Canyon is the principal water storage unit of the Colorado River Storage Project. Built in a virtually inaccessible area, it is one of the major engineering and construction achievements in the country. Its reservoir, Lake Powell, the second largest in the country serves as a bank account of water to be used to provide water deliveries to the Lower Basin.
Lake Powell – the reservoir behind Glen Canyon Dam has a length of 186 miles. Its total capacity when full at 3,700 feet: 26,215,000 acre-feet.
Information inside the nice Visitor Center.
The Colorado River is the primary source of domestic water supply for some 27 million people in the seven Colorado River states. It also provides irrigation water for more than 3.5 million acres of farmland and hundreds of thousands more acres outside the basin.
In 1922, the seven states divided the Colorado River’s waters into an Upper and a Lower Basin via the Colorado River Compact. Everyone needed water. Each basin is entitled to use 7.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year. Additionally, a 1944 treaty provided for water to be delivered to Mexico each year. Since the headwater4s of the river are in the Upper Basin, those states must deliver water to the Lower Basin. Lake Powell ensures that water is in storage to enable the upper Basin to meet that obligation, especially in periods of prolonged drought.
Multiple uses of the CRSP
- Regulate the flow of the Colorado River
- Provide for flood control and recreation
- Provide for storage and delivery of water for irrigation, municipal, industrial and other beneficial purporses
- Improve water quality
- Improve conditions for fish and wildlife
- Generate electrical power
Behind the scenes. What the public doesn’t see…
So just how important is fresh water to you, me, and others?
Approximately 97% of the earth ‘s water is ocean, 2% is frozen in glaciers, and 1% is fresh water for us to use. This usable water is found in groundwater, rivers, and freshwater lakes. Should everyone be more cognizant of personal water usage to avoid unnecessary waste? Some of the numbers below surprised me, especially that it take 120 gallons of water to produce one egg! (Not sure how they calculate that and some other facts below.)
A cool interactive area for the Junior Rangers…
There were beautiful displays to educate visitors on water availability, usage, history of the the Colorado River, and how the movement of the river and various contributors of erosion have created magnificent canyons and other unique plateau features.
It was time to return to Sadie and continue today’s journey.
A few amazing views along the way…
We arrived at Zion Canyon RV Park.
Our next adventure will be hiking The Narrows in Zion National Park tomorrow!!! We are very excited!
Wow absolutely breathtaking. You and Barry look healthy and very peaceful. May the Lord heart and hands be upon each of you always. Much love Always Fred Sabrina and Mozart!!