"The Wild West" Part One

While California, situated on the cool Pacific, is known through its metropolises Los Angeles, far from being the City of Angels;-), Sacramento, and San Francisco….

Arizona shines as the Grand Canyon State with its Route 66 and the Saguaro 🌵 cactus.

Utah, on the other hand, has made a name for itself through its Mormon history and its five magnificent national parks.

Nevada is synonymous with Las Vegas gambling, light entertainment, and, in contrast, the desert landscape of Death Valley.

The history of the Native Americans dates back to when the first people migrated from Asia across the Bering Strait.

The Navajo live along the Colorado River in the largest reservation in the USA, which encompasses Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.

In 1864, the army forced around 9,000 Navajos to relocate over 300 miles to Fort Sumner.

The internment was devastating for the Navajos as the government provided little water, wood, or supplies.

In 1872, the Navajo Tribal Police was established to defend against raids and to fight for the peaceful conditions of the Navajo Treaty created in 1868.

During World War II, many young Navajos enlisted in military service to remain true to their warrior culture. They excelled particularly in devising code languages. The Navajo code was never deciphered by the Japanese. Many did not return to the overcrowded reservation where jobs were scarce.

In the 1940s, large quantities of uranium were discovered in Navajo territories. Until the early 21st century, uranium was mined in the USA without sufficient environmental protection for workers (mostly Navajos) and waterways. The victim counts of lung and cancer diseases were enormous.

Today, tribal income from tourism is generated, for example, through the sale of leather goods, textiles, silver jewelry, and wooden items.

Los Angeles Union Station opened in 1939 and is a historical landmark. The architecture is historically opulent and executed in colonial style.

Hollywood, a district of Los Angeles, is a synonym for the American film industry, icons, and the Walk of Fame.

In 1853, there was only an adobe hut here, built from water and clay. By the end of the 18th century, Harvey Wilcox had purchased land, and his wife created the name “Holly” for this area.

In 1910, the first theater troupe arrived, and by 1915, most US films were produced here. The moderate climate and consistent daylight were good reasons to invest. The largest film studios include Universal Studios and Warner Bros. Studios.

Since 2006, under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hollywood has official district boundaries.

The Bryce Canyon in the state of Utah was covered by an inland sea 50 million years ago. Rivers transported sediments into the area, which solidified. Through later plate tectonics (see below Grand Canyon), this area was uplifted, exposing the sediment layers to the elements. Frost and water are crucial for the formation of hoodoos, which can reach heights of up to 60 m. Wildlife includes chipmunks, rattlesnakes, salamanders, and coyotes. Today, Bryce Canyon is a hiking area of overwhelming beauty.