Arizona Winter
Weekend road trips to out-of-the-way places —
a highlight of winter in the desert.
The roads beckon in the desert...
Lake created by backwater from damming the Colorado River
Perfect winter blue sky
North of Phoenix — lake and mountains near the desert complete with Saguaro cactus
The desert meets the lake
Saguaro cactus in bloom
San Xavier Del Bac Mission near Tucson, AZ
Sedona, AZ
Casa Grande — Prehistoric Village
The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument at Coolidge, Arizona preserves the remains of a farming village and the Great House (Casa Grande) of the ancient people now known as the Hohokam.
The Casa Grande was constructed prior to 1350 AD and is 4 stories high. Strategically placed holes in each wall allow observations of the position of the sun and moon. Summer solstice is marked when the sun is in position to shine directly into a small hole in the western wall. Additional holes mark other significant seasonal dates.
Casa Grande (Great House) under it's protective shelter
Outlying buildings discovered after excavation of the area
Buildings are constructed of the subsoil in the area called "caliche"— a composite of clay, sand, and calcium carbonate; similar to concrete
Foundation of the Great House is 4 feet thick at base — building is 4 stories high
Will demonstrates just how small the doors were
