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IT'S A STORY OF POWER AND DRAMA; AND EXQUISITE BEAUTY. THE COLORADO RIVER WINDS ITS WAY FROM MELTING SNOW IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. THE RIVER'S DESTINY IS THE PARCHED SANDS OF MEXICO. ALONG THE WAY IS ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE JOURNEYS ON THE PLANET.

THE COLORADO RIVER IS AN ADVENTURE; AN ADVENTURE OF EMOTION COLORED BY LIGHT AND SHADOW. THE RIVER'S POWER CAN BE AS GENTLE AS THE KISS OF RAINWATER, YET TURBULENT AS A BOILING CAULDRON OF WHITE WATER.

HIDDEN JEWELS LIE BEYOND THE WATER'S EDGE. THE RIVER WHISPERS SECRETS MAGICALLY REVEALED. FOUNTAINS BURST FROM CANYON WALLS. THERE IS MUSIC ALONG THE RIVER.

THE COLORADO RIVER BEGINS ITS JOURNEY DEEP WITHIN COLORADO'S ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

ICE AND SNOW MELT WITH CONSEQUENCE.

A MEANDERING STREAM FLOWS THROUGH THE HIGH COUNTRY. THE STREAM'S CHARACTER IS SLOW AND EASY. ITS PURPOSE NOT YET REVEALED. AN ELABORATE MASQUERADE IS UNFOLDING. THIS MASK HIDES THE RIVER'S SOON TO BE REVEALED POWER. IT IS TRANQUIL.

IT IS FALL IN THE HIGH COUNTRY. RED LEAVES BURN ON A WARM AUTUMN DAY. THE COLORADO RIVER GATHERS MOMENTUM EVER SO SLOWLY.

CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY WATCH THE RIVER'S PROGRESS.

IN A MOUNTAIN MEADOW, ELK CARRY OUT A RITUAL OF FALL. A SEASONED MALE GUARDS FEMALES FROM INTRUDERS. A CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE OF COURTSHIP TAKES PLACE.

THE RIVER FLOWS WITH UNKNOWN PURPOSE.

A STUBBORN WIND BECOMES SHRILL AND COOL AT ELEVATION. WINTER IS UNSPOKEN; THE PROMISE ONLY WHISPERED.

THE RIVER'S JOURNEY HAS STARTED.

THE COLORADO RIVER GATHERS SPEED. THE RIVER BECOMES WIDER, MORE TURBULENT.

THE COLORADO RIVER ENTERS THE CANYON COUNTRY OF UTAH. OCEANS OF RED DESERT SURROUND FLOWING WATER.

THE RIVER APPEARS TO BELONG TO THIS VASTNESS. THE DESERT CONTRAST IS SHARP TO ITS HIGH MOUNTAIN BEGINNING.

WESTWATER CANYON SQUEEZES THE COLORADO THROUGH ITS FORTRESS OF STONE. THE CHARACTER OF THE RIVER CHANGES FROM SUBLIME TO FORCED AND RUSHED.

A LYRICAL RIVER CRACKS THIS SEA OF RED.

STORMS APPEAR ON THE HORIZON OF UTAH'S CANYON COUNTRY. SCULPTED SPIRES OF FISHER TOWERS ARE BATHED IN TUMULTUOUS EMOTION. DESERT POETRY CHANGES FROM FIERY SUNLIGHT TO NEAR DARKNESS.

A SEARING SUN SOON RETURNS. DESERT STREAMS FLOW IN CASCADES OF MUDDY RED. THE STORM SEEMS AN ILLUSION, QUICKLY VANISHING.

THE COLORADO RIVER CANYONS NEAR MOAB, UTAH ARE VISUAL POETRY IN WILDERNESS.

WIND RUSTLES SAGEBRUSH. SOUNDS OF TROUBLED WATERS MIX WITH MOMENTS OF DEAFENING SILENCE.

THE RESULT IS A SYMPHONY OF NATURE'S MUSIC; THE COLORADO RIVER ITS CENTERPIECE.

THE COLORADO RIVER BORDERS ARCHES NATIONAL PARK. NATURAL ARCHES AND FINS COVER THE LANDSCAPE.

ARCHES IS A WONDERLAND OF NATURE'S IMAGINATION. WINDOWS IN THE SKY BECKON WITH SECRETS TO HIDDEN WORLDS.

AN ARTISTRY OF WIND, WATER, AND EROSION IS PAINTED UPON A STARK CANVAS.

DELICATE ARCH KEEPS SILENT VIGIL OVER A LANDSCAPE OF RED ROCKS. IT IS SOLITARY AND ISOLATED.

LANDSCAPE ARCH OFFERS A PORTRAIT OF FRAGILE BEAUTY; A DRAMA WAITING TO BE TOLD.

TOWER ARCH ARCS THE BARREN SANDS AS IF A RAINBOW OF STONE.

COURTHOUSE WASH IS AN OASIS IN SEAS OF RED. TRICKLING WATER ATTEMPTS TO QUENCH AN ETERNAL THIRST OF PARCHED LANDS.

DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP ARE TIRELESS WANDERERS OF ARCHES NATIONAL PARK. DESERT BIGHORNS HAVE EXCELLENT EYESIGHT WHICH HELPS NAVIGATION OF PRECARIOUS CLIFFS.

PEAKS OF THE LA SAL MOUNTAINS BECOME CAPPED WITH SNOW AFTER A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS, SCORCHING SUMMER. RED TURNS TO WHITE UNDER A BLANKET OF SNOW. IT IS WINTER IN THE CANYONLANDS.

THE COLORADO'S BANKS ARE SPLASHED WITH WHITE. THE LANDSCAPE IS MUTED AND GRAY; ANOTHER MOOD OF THE CANYONLANDS.

FAR BELOW DEADHORSE POINT, THE COLORADO TWISTS AND TURNS. THE RIVER SCULPTS AND CARVES CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK.

STORM CLOUDS RACE A WINTER'S SUNSET.

SPRING RETURNS THE WARMTH TO CANYONLANDS. WHITE AND GRAY BLEND EFFORTLESSLY TO RED.

THE LANDSCAPE IS TORTURED TO SUMMER UNDER AN UNFORGIVING, RELENTLESS SUN.

SECRETS ARE TOLD IN THE CANYONLANDS. IN HIDDEN ALCOVES, ANCIENT PEOPLE HAVE LEFT RECORDS OF THEIR PASSING.

DEEP WITHIN UTAH'S CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK IS A TREASURE. THE GREAT GALLERY IS A SERIES OF LIFE-SIZE PICTOGRAPHS. ANCIENT PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THEIR ART ON RED WALLS. NOMADIC HUNTER- GATHERERS TELL OF THEIR PASSING.

ONE IS ANGELIC. THEIR MEANINGS ARE UNKNOWN; ANOTHER MYSTERY OF THE CANYONLANDS.

THE GREEN RIVER SPARKLES IN SUMMER'S SUNLIGHT. THE GREEN FLOWS ELEGANTLY THROUGH UTAH'S BROWN'S PARK. THE RIVER IS ON A QUEST TO JOIN THE COLORADO.

A RATTLESNAKE SLINKS STEALTHILY THROUGH SAGEBRUSH. THIS SERPENT OF THE CANYONLANDS CONTINUES AN UNKNOWN JOURNEY.

FROM THE RAVEN'S VIEW, THE GREEN RIVER JOINS THE COLORADO AT THE CONFLUENCE IN UTAH'S CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK.

THE GREEN AND COLORADO MERGE TO FORM SOME OF THE MOST DRAMATIC WHITE WATER IN NORTH AMERICA.

THE RAPIDS OF CATARACT CANYON TORMENTED THE 1869 EXPEDITION OF JOHN WESLEY POWELL. POWELL'S EXPEDITION IN WOODEN BOATS WAS ONE OF TURMOIL AND DANGER.

A RIVER TRIP IN WOODEN DORIES THROUGH CATARACT CANYON RETRACES POWELL'S FOOTSTEPS.

JOHN WESLEY POWELL WRITES ON JULY 23, 1869, "ON STARTING WE COME AT ONCE TO DIFFICULT RAPIDS AND FALLS THAT, IN MANY PLACES, ARE MORE ABRUPT THAN IN ANY OF THE CANYONS THROUGH WHICH WE HAVE PASSED. WE DECIDE TO NAME THIS CATARACT CANYON."

JOHN WESLEY POWELL WRITES ON JULY 24, 1869, "WE MAKE THREE PORTAGES IN SUCCESSION. AMONG THESE ROCKS, IN CHUTES, WHIRLPOOLS, AND GREAT WAVES, WITH RUSHING BREAKERS AND FOAM, THE WATER FINDS ITS WAY. WE STOP FOR THE NIGHT ONLY THREE FOURTHS OF A MILE BELOW THE LAST CAMP. A VERY HARD DAY'S WORK HAS BEEN DONE."

THE FREMONT RIVER FLOWS THROUGH UTAH'S CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK AND EVENTUALLY ON TO THE COLORADO. THE FREMONT'S WATERFALL IS A STUDY IN POWER BELIED BY THE SMALL RIVER.

HUGE MONOLITHS RISE TO THE SKY ON THE BARREN LANDSCAPE OF CAPITOL REEF. THE BEAUTY IS STARK, IMPOSING.

THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN AND TEMPLE OF THE MOON RISE ABOVE THE VALLEY FLOOR. IT IS A MONUMENT IN THE DESERT.

THE COLORADO RIVER ENTERS GLEN CANYON AND LAKE POWELL. THE SAN JUAN RIVER HAS ALSO JOINED THE COLORADO.

WATERS OF THE COLORADO FILL GLEN CANYON. FINGERS OF GREEN WATER RUN DEEP INTO DARK CANYONS. THE LANDSCAPE IS SPLASHED WITH THE CELEBRATION OF SUNLIGHT. THE SOUND OF WAVES ON GLEN CANYON ROCK JOIN THE WIND IN A DESERT SYMPHONY.

ON THE SHORE OF THIS LIQUID VASTNESS, A GENTLE DESERT STREAM RUNS TO IT. AN OASIS OF GREEN TREES PREDICTS WHERE TO LOOK. THE STREAM APPEARS FRAGILE AND TIMID, SEEMINGLY INTIMIDATED BY THE EXPANSE.

RAINBOW BRIDGE IS ONE OF THE LARGEST NATURAL BRIDGES IN THE WORLD. IT'S NEAR LAKE POWELL'S SOUTHEAST SHORE. RAINBOW BRIDGE IS CONSIDERED SACRED TO NATIVE AMERICANS.

THE COLORADO RIVER RUNS A STRIKING BLUE AT LEE'S FERRY AND IN MARBLE CANYON BELOW LAKE POWELL.

LEE'S FERRY WAS NAMED FOR THE RIVER CROSSING OPERATED BY JOHN D. LEE. LEE'S FERRY WAS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES A WAGON ROAD COULD BE BUILT ALONG THIS STRETCH OF RIVER.

THE MUDDY, RED PARIA RIVER RUNS TO THE BLUE WATERS OF THE COLORADO. A BLUE HERON FISHES INTENTLY ON THE PARIA'S BANKS. THE HERON'S ONLY TRACE ARE TRACKS QUICKLY COVERED BY RED WATER.

A HIGH VISTA NEAR PAGE, ARIZONA, SHOWS A CRACK IN THE COLORADO PLATEAU.

THE COLORADO RIVER KNIFES ITS WAY TO ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR NATURAL EVENTS IN THE WORLD. THE VIEW IS OF GRAND CANYON.

NATURE'S ARTISTRY IS SEEN WITH ALL THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW. THE OLDEST ROCK LAYERS AT THE BOTTOM OF GRAND CANYON ARE OVER A BILLION YEARS OLD.

FAR BELOW IS A RIBBON OF RED. FLASH FLOODS HAVE CHANGED THE RIVER'S COLOR TO ITS HISTORIC RED.

THE RIVER IS A PAINTBRUSH COMBINED WITH A PALETTE OF WIND, EROSION, AND TIME TO CREATE A MASTERPIECE.

AT THE BOTTOM OF GRAND CANYON, A DRAMA IS TOLD. IT'S A STORY OF POWER AND TURBULENCE, OF FOAMING WHITE WATER, AND SPECTACULAR BEAUTY.

THE COLORADO RIVER ENTERS GRAND CANYON.

THIS CANYON IS THE PLACE OF HISTORY. STORIES ARE TOLD OF EXHILARATING ADVENTURE AND VIOLENT DEATH.

JOHN WESLEY POWELL'S EXPEDITION TRAVELED AN UNKNOWN RIVER. AROUND EACH BEND WAS DANGER AND FEAR.

TODAY, AN EXPEDITION IN WOODEN DORIES RUNS THE WHITE WATER OF GRAND CANYON. THE BOATS ARE POWERED BY OARS. THE WHITE WATER DORIES FOLLOW THE POWELL EXPEDITION.

BADGER CREEK RAPID IS ONE OF THE FIRST ENCOUNTERED IN GRAND CANYON. IT IS BUT A HINT OF THE HAMMERING WHITE WATER TO COME.

VASEY'S PARADISE WAS NAMED BY JOHN WESLEY POWELL IN HONOR OF BOTANIST GEORGE VASEY. VASEY PREVIOUSLY TRAVELED WITH POWELL.

WATERFALLS AND FOUNTAINS ADORN THE CANYON WALL IN A GROVE OF MOSSES AND FERNS. IT IS AN APTLY NAMED PARADISE.

JOHN WESLEY POWELL THOUGHT FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE COULD FIT IN THE EXPANSE OF REDWALL CAVERN. SHIFTING SANDS LEAD TO A WORLD OF DARKNESS.

WHITE WATER DORIES VEER SHARPLY TO RIVER LEFT. THE CHALLENGE IS AVOIDING THE HAZARDOUS ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF PRESIDENT HARDING RAPID.

THE MOOD OF THE CANYON HAS CHANGED. VANISHED IS THE SUN AND WARMTH. SHADOWS, GRAY, AND CHILL DOMINATE.

HIGH UPON THE REDWALL, THE GRANARIES OF NANKOWEAP STAND SILENTLY. THE GRANARIES WERE USED FOR STORAGE BY ANCIENT PEOPLE OF THE CANYON.

BLACK WINDOWS OF NANKOWEAP LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF TIME. STORIES CAN BE HEARD WITH IMAGINATION. THE STORY IS OF PEOPLE FROM LONG AGO WHO LIVED NEAR THE COLORADO RIVER.

THE CLIMB FROM THE RIVER IS DIFFICULT. THE SECRETS OF NANKOWEAP ARE GRUDGINGLY REVEALED.

THE VIEWS FROM NANKOWEAP ARE SOME OF THE MOST STUNNING IN GRAND CANYON.

IN QUIET ALCOVES NEAR THE RIVER, ARE SIGNS OF NATIVE PEOPLE. THE CANYON KEEPS ITS SECRETS.

STORM CLOUDS FLOOD THE SKY THREATENING RAIN.

REMNANTS OF ANCIENT POTTERY ARE FOUND AMONG THE ROCKS. EACH HAS A STORY TO TELL.

AT MILE 61 IN GRAND CANYON, THE LITTLE COLORADO RIVER FLOWS INTO THE MAIN CHANNEL. DORIES ARE ROWED SLOWLY INTO PARADISE.

THE LITTLE COLORADO FLOWS A STRIKING TURQUOISE BLUE. IT IS FREE OF MUDDY FLASH FLOODS. BOTTOM SEDIMENTS ARE BLEACHED BY MINERALS CREATING A SOFT, BLUE COLOR.

BOATS FLOAT AS IF ON BLUE AIR. WATER IS WARM IN CONTRAST TO THE COLD OF THE MAIN RIVER WHICH COMES FROM THE DEPTHS OF LAKE POWELL.

HANCE RAPID WAS NAMED FOR CAPTAIN JOHN T. HANCE. HE WAS A SETTLER, RANCHER, AND MINER ON THE SOUTH RIM OF GRAND CANYON.

DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP ARE SEEN HIGH ON CANYON WALLS AND SOMETIMES AT RIVER'S EDGE. A RAM IS STARTLED FROM A HIDING PLACE. HORNS CAN WEIGH AS MUCH AS THIRTY POUNDS. A SINGLE MISSTEP MEANS CERTAIN DEATH.

ON AUGUST 13, 1869, JOHN WESLEY POWELL WROTE ONE OF HIS MOST FAMOUS PASSAGES, "WE ARE NOW READY TO START ON OUR WAY DOWN THE GREAT UNKNOWN. WE HAVE BUT A MONTH'S RATIONS REMAINING. WE HAVE AN UNKNOWN DISTANCE YET TO RUN, AN UNKNOWN RIVER TO EXPLORE. WITH SOME EAGERNESS AND SOME ANXIETY AND SOME MISGIVING, WE ENTER THE CANYON BELOW AND ARE CARRIED BY THE SWIFT WATER."

STARTING AT MILE 90 IN GRAND CANYON, HORN CREEK, GRANITE, AND HERMIT RAPIDS ARE A CHALLENGE FOR RIVER RUNNERS.

HORN CREEK RAPID IS A TORRENT OF WHITE WATER. TWO MOUNTAINOUS ROCKS FUNNEL VOLUMES OF WATER. BOATS ARE CATAPULTED DOWN AN UNSEEN WATERFALL. BELOW IS A SERIES OF VIOLENT STANDING WAVES.

JOHN WESLEY POWELL WRITES, "IN RUNNING A RAPID THE PIONEER BOAT IS UPSET BY A WAVE. THE RIVER IS ROUGH AND SWIFT AND WE ARE UNABLE TO LAND, BUT CLING TO THE BOAT AND ARE CARRIED DOWN OVER ANOTHER RAPID. THE MEN IN THE BOATS ABOVE SEE OUR TROUBLE, BUT THEY ARE CAUGHT IN WHIRLPOOLS AND ARE SPINNING ABOUT IN EDDIES, AND IT SEEMS A LONG TIME BEFORE THEY COME TO OUR RELIEF."

THE DRAMA IN GRAND CANYON IS SEPARATED BY LONG STRETCHES OF CALM WATER WITH SANDY BEACHES. THE EXPERIENCE IS ONE OF SOLITUDE AND REVERENCE. THE GRAND CANYON IS A CATHEDRAL IN THE DESERT; A PLACE FOR SPIRITS TO RENEW.

VIEWS FROM THE BOTTOM OF GRAND CANYON ARE AMONG THE MOST STUNNING ON EARTH.

ON RIVER LEFT, A CANYON SNAKES IT WAY BECOMING A NARROW CRACK. IT LEADS TO A JEWEL IN GRAND CANYON.

ELVE'S CHASM IS A LUSH GROTTO WITH DARK GREEN, MAGICAL POOLS. A MUSICAL STREAM RUNS TO THE COLORADO, SPLASHED WITH SUNLIGHT.

EDENS ON EARTH ARE FOUND IN HIDDEN PLACES IN GRAND CANYON. THE COLORADO IS MOODY, MYSTERIOUS. AROUND EVERY BEND ARE UNPREDICTABLE EMOTIONS.

THE EMOTION OF STONE CREEK AND ITS WONDERFUL WATERFALL IS ONE OF PURE JOY. BRIGHT, CLEAR WATER PLUNGES WITH DELIGHT, FILTERED THROUGH THE SANDS OF TIME.

THE COLORADO HAS TURNED A MUDDY RED FROM TORRENTIAL RAINS UPSTREAM. FLASH FLOODS ROAR DOWN SIDE CANYONS. WATER RUSHES WITH FURY INTO A SWIFT RIVER.

TAPEATS RAPID IS ALIVE WITH SEETHING ANGER. RED IS THE COLORADO'S HISTORIC COLOR. THE WATER BOILS IN RED EMOTION.

TAPEATS CREEK RUNS TO THIS CAULDRON IN GENTLE UNAWARENESS. IT IS SOON TO JOIN THE CHAOS.

DEER CREEK FALLS TUMBLES FROM THE SKY TO THE DESERT FLOOR BELOW. ROCKS ARE PUMMELED TO SUBMISSION. THE SOUND OF WHITE NOISE MOMENTARILY DROWNS THE RIVER'S ROAR.

THE MAJESTY OF GRAND CANYON ENGULFS THE EXPEDITION. LAYERED ROCKS TELL A STORY OF THE HISTORY OF GRAND CANYON; A STORY OF MILLENNIA.

HEAT WAVES DANCE ON THE RIVER'S EDGE WITH OMINOUS WARNING. THE EYE OF THE RAVEN SITS IN ITS OWN SEA OF BLACK.

MATKATAMIBA CANYON IS A STUDY IN LIGHT AND SHADOW. REFLECTIONS ILLUMINATE CANYON WALLS WITH NATURE'S GRAFFITI.

THE TRICKLE OF A DESERT STREAM PLAYS ITS OWN SYMPHONY SEPARATED FROM THE ROAR OF THE RIVER. IT IS BUT A SINGLE MOMENT IN GRAND CANYON.

UPSET RAPID IS AS DRAMATIC AS THE NAME IMPLIES. A SHEER WALL ON RIVER LEFT WITH POUNDING WHITE WATER THREATENS RIVER RUNNERS AT SUNSET.

A HIDDEN SIDE CANYON IS ALMOST OBSCURED FROM VIEW. CAVERNOUS WALLS ARE DARK WITH SHADOW.

A HIKE UP HAVASU CREEK REWARDS WITH ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS IN GRAND CANYON.

HAVASU FALLS IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR LOCATIONS ON THE PLANET.

IT'S A LANDSCAPE OF BLUE GREEN WATERS. TRAVERTINE BRIDGES AND TURQUOISE POOLS FRAME THE WATERFALL. LIMESTONE REFLECTS BLUE SKY AND COTTONWOOD TREES ADDING COLOR. MIST RISES FROM THE CANYON AS SPRAY.

DOWNSTREAM, MOONEY FALLS PLUNGES FROM GREATER HEIGHT THAN HAVASU, TO POOLS BELOW. MOONEY FALLS IS HIGHER THAN NIAGARA FALLS.

IT IS A PARADISE IN THE DESERT. ANOTHER OF GRAND CANYON'S SECRETS IS REVEALED.

WHITE WATER DORIES TRAVEL DOWN RIVER TO A RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY. THE CLIMAX IS LAVA FALLS RAPID.

LAVA FALLS IS POSSIBLY THE MOST DANGEROUS RAPID ON THE RIVER. IT RUNS RED AND SEETHING WITH ANGER.

BLACK LAVA FLOWS ARE REMNANTS OF AN EARLIER TIME.

JOHN WESLEY POWELL WROTE OF LAVA FALLS, "WHAT A CONFLICT OF WATER AND FIRE THERE MUST HAVE BEEN HERE! JUST IMAGINE A RIVER OF MOLTEN ROCK RUNNING DOWN INTO A RIVER OF MELTED SNOW. WHAT A SEETHING AND BOILING OF THE WATERS; WHAT CLOUDS OF STEAM ROLLED INTO THE HEAVENS!"

BELOW LAVA FALLS, THE RIVER GENTLES. THE DRAMA BECOMES ONE OF SILENT BEAUTY.

A DRENCHING MORNING DEW COVERS CACTUS NEEDLES. THE BEAUTY IS SUBTLE, INSPIRING.

AN ARID AND HOSTILE LANDSCAPE IS IN CONTRAST TO THIS FLEETING WETNESS.

THE DORIES TRAVEL ON WITH EFFORTLESS GRACE. THERE IS A POETRY IN THE SIMPLE WOODEN BOATS. THEY GLIDE UPON SLICK WATER. THE ELEGANT BOATS BELONG TO THE CANYON.

PUMPKIN SPRING APPEARS AS A DESERT ILLUSION. IT SEEMS A HAUNTING HALLOWEEN MIRAGE.

THE BOWL IS REAL WITH STRIKING COLORS OF ORANGE AND GREEN. COLORS SEPARATE THE RIVER FROM CRAGGY CLIFFS. THE WATER IS WARM AND BITTER, SPILLING TO THE COLORADO.

THE COLORADO RIVER FLOWS ON TO UNCERTAIN DESTINY. THE DRAMA OF GRAND CANYON IS NOT TO BE REPEATED.

THE MEMORY IS OF SERENITY PUNCTUATED BY MOMENTS OF SHEER EXCITEMENT.

AS IF WORLDS AWAY, ANOTHER RIVER IS FLOWING TOWARD THE COLORADO.

IN UTAH'S ZION NATIONAL PARK, THE VIRGIN RIVER RUSHES TOWARD THE COLORADO.

THE VIRGIN IS ONE OF THE LAST MOSTLY FREE- FLOWING RIVERS IN THE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM.

WATER WEEPS IN ZION TRICKLING TO THE VIRGIN RIVER.

ZION IS A PLACE OF WONDER; ANOTHER CATHEDRAL IN THE DESERT. THE MOOD IS ONE OF REVERENCE AND AWE FOR ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON THE PLANET.

A NURSERY OF DESERT BIGHORN LAMBS ARE WATCHED BY ADULTS IN ZION NATIONAL PARK. DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP CAN SOMETIMES BE FOUND IN LARGE HERDS. EIGHT TO TEN SHEEP IS AVERAGE.

DEEP IN THE ZION BACK COUNTRY, THE SUBWAY BURNS WITH COLORS OF FALL. IT IS A PARADISE ON EARTH.

THE COLORADO RIVER FLOWS OUT OF GRAND CANYON INTO THE VAST EXPANSE OF LAKE MEAD.

JOSHUA TREES FLOURISH IN THE MOJAVE DESERT. THEY WERE NAMED BY MORMON PIONEERS. JOSHUA TREES MAY BE OVER THIRTY FEET TALL AND LIVE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. JOSHUA TREES ARE FLOWERING PLANTS.

THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THREE GREAT DESERTS MEET: THE MOJAVE, THE GREAT BASIN, AND THE SONORAN.

IT IS SPRING. STORM CLOUDS GATHER. WIND HOWLS WITH A CHILL; ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF THE GREAT DESERT. HEAT VANISHES LIKE A SUMMER DREAM.

LAKE MEAD IS DEEP WITH COLORADO RIVER WATER. WAVES LAP THE SHORE IN MONOTONOUS REGULARITY. AN INTERNAL RHYTHM IS SERVED. THIS WATER TRAVELED THROUGH GRAND CANYON AND CONTINUES. ITS QUEST IS FOR THE OCEAN.

THE COLORADO RIVER FUNNELS THROUGH TOPOCK GORGE NEAR NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA. IT IS WIDE AND SLOW; THE COLOR A TRANSLUCENT GREEN.

DENSE VEGETATION LINES THE SHORE MAKING THE RIVER'S EDGE HARD TO REACH.

THIS METHODICAL PACE IS YET ANOTHER MOOD OF THE COLORADO. MOMENTS OF HIGH DRAMA ARE REPLACED BY TRANQUILITY.

THERE ARE SIGNS OF ANCIENT NATIVE PEOPLE IN THIS HARSH DESERT ENVIRONMENT. THE COLORADO BEARS SILENT WITNESS TO THIS HISTORY.

A CURTAIN PARTS IN THE TALL REEDS. INSIDE IS HIDDEN SPLENDOR.

SPRING IN THE DESERT EXPLODES WITH COLOR. OCOTILLO CACTUS BLOOMS ARE FIRE RED.

THE LANDSCAPE IS A PAINTING. THIS DESERT IS ALIVE.

PALO VERDE TREES BLOOM IN BRIGHT YELLOW.

IT IS BUT A MOMENT IN THE DESERT. A SEARING HEAT WILL SOON RETURN.

THE COLORADO CONTINUES ITS JOURNEY. THE RIVER RUNS SLOWLY AND GENTLY THROUGH THE IMPERIAL WILDLIFE REFUGE NEAR YUMA, ARIZONA.

WAVES, DRIVEN BY WIND, MOVE GENTLY BACK AND FORTH. ALONG THE RIVER ARE HIDDEN COVES; EACH WITH THEIR OWN TREASURES.

A DESERT TORTOISE WALKS TIMIDLY THROUGH A HARSH WORLD. ITS LOOK IS PRIMITIVE AND PREHISTORIC.

TORTOISES ARE PLANT EATERS. THEY OFTEN BURROW UNDERGROUND SEEKING REFUGE FROM SOARING TEMPERATURES.

TORTOISES MAKE SOUNDS OF HISSING AND GRUNTING. A HARD SHELL PROTECTS THEM FROM DANGER.

WHITE, INTIMIDATING LANDSCAPES OF THE SALTON SEA APPEAR DEAD AND LIFELESS. THE SALTON SEA IS IN SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA.

THE COLORADO RIVER CREATED FRESH WATER LAKES IN CALIFORNIA'S SALTON BASIN THROUGH MILLENNIA. THERE WAS HISTORICALLY AN OUTLET TO THE SEA OF CORTEZ IN MEXICO.

TODAY'S SALTON SEA IS THE RESULT OF THE COLORADO BREACHING ITS WESTERN BANK. THE BANK WAS CUT FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES IN THE EARLY 1900s.

MUCH OF THE COLORADO'S FLOW BREACHED INTO THE SALTON BASIN.

THE SALTON SEA CONTAINS LARGE AMOUNTS OF SALT FROM AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF WHICH REPLENISHES IT.

THE SALTON SEA IS HOME TO MILLIONS OF BIRDS. IT'S A VALUABLE WETLANDS IN THE PACIFIC FLYWAY FOR MIGRATING BIRDS.

AVOCETS SKIM FLATS OF THE SALTON SEA. AN EGRET KEEPS WATCH FROM A LOFTY PERCH. BLACK-NECKED STILTS WITH PINK LEGS SEARCH IN SHALLOW WATER.

THE COLORADO RIVER FLOWS TOWARD MEXICO. A SOLITARY TREE STANDS OVER THE RIVER IN SALUTE. IT IS AN UNWAVERING COMPANION.

NEAR YUMA, ARIZONA, EXOTIC IMPERIAL SAND DUNES APPEAR. IT SEEMS A SAHARAN ILLUSION.

THE COLORADO'S LIQUID RIBBON IS NOT FAR AWAY.

SUMMER TEMPERATURES CAN REACH 110 DEGREES WITH LITTLE RAIN. THE DUNES MAY RISE 300 FEET IN ELEVATION.

RIPPLES IN THE SAND TELL STORIES OF WIND AND TIME. PLANTS ARE SPACED FAR APART IN THIS ARID, ALMOST WATER LESS ENVIRONMENT.

THERE IS A FRAGILE BEAUTY CAMOUFLAGED IN THE HARSHNESS; WAITING FOR A SINGLE DROP OF RAIN.

THE COLORADO RIVER FLOWS INTO MEXICO SURROUNDED BY DESERT. WIND RIPPLES GENTLE WATER IN LIQUID POETRY.

BELOW MORELOS DAM IN MEXICO, THE RIVER CHANNEL IS NARROW.

THE COLORADO IS SEEMINGLY TIRED FROM A LONG JOURNEY OF ABOUT ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED MILES. THE RIVER HAS SERVED THE NEEDS OF THE WEST.

NEAR THE TOWN OF SAN LUIS, MEXICO, DRY SAND FILLS THE COLORADO RIVER CHANNEL.

FARTHER DOWNSTREAM, THE RIVER RESURFACES AFTER FLOWING UNDERGROUND.

THIS MASQUERADE IS REPEATED AS THE COLORADO STRIVES FOR THE OCEAN.

THE COLORADO RIVER ONLY REACHES ITS HISTORIC RENDEZVOUS WITH THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA IN VERY WET YEARS.

NEAR EL GOLFO DE SANTA CLARA, MEXICO, THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER DELTA SPRAWLS FOR MILES IN BARREN DESERT.

LACK OF RAINFALL MAKES IT ONE OF THE DRIEST AREAS IN NORTH AMERICA.

THERE IS LITTLE HINT OF THE VIBRANT RIVER ECOSYSTEM THAT ONCE EXISTED.

PERIODIC FLOODING HAS BROUGHT SOME RESURGENCE OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION.

CONSERVATIONIST ALDO LEOPOLD DESCRIBED THE HISTORIC DELTA AS A "MILK-AND-HONEY WILDERNESS". JAGUARS PROWLED THE DELTA.

THE COLORADO RIVER MET THE OCEAN IN MEXICO'S GULF OF CALIFORNIA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SEA OF CORTEZ.

THE LOWER DELTA MAY HAVE LOOKED SIMILAR TO THE MARSH AT LA CIENEGA DE SANTA CLARA. IT'S ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER DELTA IN MEXICO.

LA CIENEGA DE SANTA CLARA IS THE LARGEST WETLANDS IN THE SONORAN DESERT.

HARSH DESERT SURROUNDS LA CIENEGA DE SANTA CLARA. THE LAND IS HARD WITH AN UNFORGIVING SUN. NOT A SINGLE PLANT GROWS ON THESE FLATS.

THE GULF WAITS FOR THE COLORADO RIVER. PELICANS SWOOP, INCHES ABOVE THE OCEAN. A SPRINKLE OF RAIN ONLY TEASES.

THE RIVER'S POWER AND EMOTION IS A FLEETING, DISTANT MEMORY.

THE END