The Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco

Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, it connects the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed during the year 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California.
At the time of its completion in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Subsequently, when World War II happened, many American sailors, soldiers, and marines shipped out overseas via San Francisco, which meant the last piece of the U.S. they saw was the Golden Gate and it was the first thing they saw when they came back.

The bridge is one of the architectural marvels of the 20 th Century and a testament to human strife, as it was constructed during the years of the Great Depression. For years, the Golden Gate Bridge held the title as the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Before its completion in 1937, the bridge was considered impossible to build, due to persistently foggy weather, 60-mile-per-hour winds, and strong ocean currents, which whipped through a deep canyon below. In fact, the bridge is commonly known as the "Bridge that couldn't be built." Despite these unforgiving natural elements, the bridge was constructed in a little more than 4 years. The total cost was $35 million. The total length of the bridge spans 1.2 miles. 11 men lost their lives during the construction of the bridge.

Even today, the massive spans of the bridge are often shrouded in fog. The bridge sways 27 feet to withstand winds of up to 100 miles per hour. International Orange was the color chosen for the bridge because it blended well with the bridge's natural surroundings. The 2 great cables extending from the bridge contain 80,000 miles of steel wire, which is enough to circle the equator 3 times. The concrete poured to cement the bridge into the stormy waters below could have also been used to pave a 5-foot sidewalk from New York to San Francisco.

The bridge is nothing short of a powerful force meant to combat nature. The often mighty winds from the Pacific Ocean are sustained by a mid span swing of 27 feet. The 2 towers of the bridge rise an impressive 746 feet, which is 191 feet taller than the Washington Monument. The pier of the bridge is only 1,215 feet from the shore, the distance between the 2 towers that support the cables, which in turn, support the floor of the bridge is 4,200 feet. These two cables are the largest bridge cables ever made at a little over 361 feet in diameter.

Today, pedestrians and bicyclists are still allowed to cross the bridge on pathways with breathtaking views of the city, Alcatraz, and the Marin Headlands. The bridge toll for vehicles is $3 when entering San Francisco. The first exit of the Marin side of the bridge is Visa Point, which provides a magnificent view of the San Francisco skyline. But, the best way to view the bridge is to walk across. This usually takes about an hour.
The Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world, as well as being one of the most popular for suicides. An average of 19 people per year leap from the bridge.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the first national parks in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area, and visited it on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery.

The canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles (6.4 to 29 km) and attains a depth of over a mile (1.83 km) (6000 feet).  Nearly 2 billion years of the Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted.  While the specific geologic processes and timing that formed the Grand Canyon are the subject of debate by geologists,  recent evidence suggests the Colorado River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago. Since that time, the Colorado River continued to erode and form the canyon to the point we see it as today.

Before European immigration, the area was inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon ("Ongtupqa" in Hopi language) a holy site and made pilgrimages to it. The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was García López de Cárdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540.

Exploring the Grand Canyon

There are many overlooks accessible by car that offer spectacular views of the canyon. Desert View Drive (Highway 64) follows the canyon rim for 26 miles/42 km east of Grand Canyon Village to Desert View - the east entrance to the park. Desert View Drive is open to private vehicles throughout the year. Hermit Road follows the rim for 8 miles/13 km west from Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest. Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles much of the year, but the park runs a free shuttle bus to provide transportation to overlooks.

A hiking trail, known as the Rim Trail, follows the rim from Pipe Creek Vista to Hermits Rest. The section of the Rim Trail between Pipe Creek Vista and Maricopa Point is paved, and mostly wheelchair accessible. Unpaved portions of the trail, between Maricopa Point and Hermits Rest, are narrow and close to the edge. Bicycles are not permitted on the Rim Trail.

Yavapai Observation Station at Yavapai Point offers panoramic views of the canyon, including the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. The Yavapai Observation Station is located in close proximity to the Grand Canyon lodging on the rim.

For viewing and photographing the canyon, the best light is early or late in the day. Mid-day sun tends to flatten the view and soften the colors. Remember that days are short in the winter and long in the summer. If you plan to see the canyon at sunrise or sunset, it is recommended that you be on the rim at least an hour before.

The Colorado River flows along the bottom of the canyon, 5000 feet/1524 m below the rim. Because of the enormous depth of Grand Canyon, the river is visible only from certain viewpoints. It is a two-day hike to the river and back from the South Rim. It's a longer trip from the North Rim. It is possible to drive to the Colorado River at Lees Ferry (near Marble Canyon, Arizona), a 2.5 hour drive (one way) from the South Rim. Lees Ferry marks the official beginning of Grand Canyon.

Most visitors make a stop at Bright Angel Point, at the southern end of the entrance road. From the parking area it is a short, easy walk to Grand Canyon Lodge and a classic view of the canyon. This facility is wheelchair accessible. A paved, half-mile (round-trip) trail leads from the lodge, out the spine of the ridge, to the point. This trail is steep in places, with drop-offs and stairs, but provides dramatic views into Roaring Springs and Bright Angel Canyons.

The Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.


Historically, the Niagara Region is one of the richest areas in all of Canada and much of that history has been preserved and is available to the visitor.
While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) on average. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 1800s.

The mighty river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale. Niagara Falls is the second largest  falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa.

One fifth of all the fresh water in the world lies in the four Upper Great Lakes-Michigan, Huron, Superior and Erie. All the outflow empties into the Niagara river and eventually cascades over  the falls. The water flow on the American side of the falls is much less in strength because of Goat Island,  whereas Horseshoe Falls has no obstruction to divert it. It should be noted that a third much narrower falls exists. Over the years these falls have been  called at different times; Luna Falls, Iris Falls and is currently named Bridal Veil Falls.

The tremendous volume of water never stops flowing,  However, the falling water and mist create ice formations along the banks of the falls and river. This can result in mounds of ice as thick as fifty feet. If the Winter is cold for long enough, the ice will completely stretch across the river and form what is known as the "ice bridge".  This ice bridge can extend for several miles down river until it reaches the area known as the lower rapids.  Until 1912,visitors were allowed to actually walk out on the ice bridge and  view the Falls from below. February 24th of 1888 the local newspaper reported that at least 20,000 people watched or tobogganed on the ice. Shanties selling liquor, photographs and curiosities abounded. On February 4th 1912 the ice bridge broke up and 3 tourists lives were lost.

Alaska History

During the most recent ice age, about 15,000 years ago, much of the water covering Earth's surface was in the form of ice and snow.  Great land masses, which today are under water, were then exposed. One such land mass connected Alaska to Siberia.

Anthropologists now believe that most of Alaska's native people are descended from these nomadic hunters and gatherers who crossed from Siberia to North America.

These first Alaskans developed into 3 distinct groups: Eskimos, Aleuts, and Indians. The Eskimos scattered throughout the northern and western regions of Alaska, while the Aleuts settled mainly on the islands which now bear their name--the Aleutians.

In June 1741, Russian sailors led by Danish explorer Vitus Bering sailed from Siberia in search of whatever lands lay to the east. On July 16, Bering sighted Alaska's mainland.

The Russians were soon followed by British, Spanish, and American explorers and adventurers. But it was Russians who stayed and had the greatest impact on Alaska. In 1784, they established their first permanent settlement on Kodiak Island and by 1799 expanded their reach all the way to Sitka on Alaska's southeast coast. Russia's claim to Alaska was now firmly established. Whalers and fur traders from other nations began to move into the North American territories claimed by Russia. As the profits from the fur trade declined, Russian interest in Alaska faded.

William H. Seward, Secretary of State under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, offered Russia $7,200,000 or 2 cents per acre, for Alaska at the end of the American Civil War. The offer was accepted, but many Americans scoffed at the purchase calling Alaska "Seward's Icebox," and "Seward Folly." Nevertheless on October 18, 1867 the Stars and Stripes flew for the first time over Alaska.

Throughout the following decades the distant federal government was preoccupied with a war in Europe, and a depression at home. But when America declared war on Japan in 1941, the nation was suddenly aware of Alaska's strategic position. When Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands in 1943, more than 140,000 military personnel were stationed in Alaska. The Aleutian campaign, known as the "One Thousand Mile War," was the first battle fought on American soil since the Civil War.

Since early territorial days, many Alaskans had favored statehood. But Congress was initially reluctant to act on the request of this vast, sparsely settled territory. Alaskans would not give up, however, and on June 30, 1958, Congress finally approved the Alaska Statehood Act.

North America

North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass, and it is generally called as a New World. North America is connected to South America by an only land connection at the narrow Isthmus of Panama.

North America can be divided into 4 great regions: the Great Plains; the mountainous west that includes the Great Basin, the Rocky Mountains, Alaska and California; in the northeast, the plateau of the Canadian Shield; and the eastern region, which embraces the coastal plain along the Atlantic seaboard, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Florida peninsula. Mexico is the part of the western region, with its long plateaus and cordilleras.

Some of the popular tourist attractions in North America are Cleveland Museum of Art, Grant's Farm, West Side Market, Children's Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Graceland Cemetery, Stanley Park, Art Institute of Chicago, Ford's Theatre, Museum of Science & Industry and Denali, the highest peak located in Alaska.

Great Lakes is the most popular choice of tourists as it offers all kinds of outdoor sports, which include swimming, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, golfing, dog skiing sledding, and sailing. If you are among those who do not like to have so physical activities, you can go shopping, enjoy yourself in jazz and blues festivals, take pleasure in the best of auto racing, sunbathe on the mesmerizing sandy beaches, watch out the romantic sunset and sunrise, enjoy your bed tea, breakfast or lunch in a stylish resort and go for sightseeing in the vibrant of all cities.

Your trip in North America offers you incomparable variety. North America is a New World that represents blend of cultures, which is only one of its kind, when compared from everywhere else in the world. On your North America tour, you are sure to enjoy both the colorful scenery and friendly people who are native to this new world.

When seen economically, North America is considered as one of the wealthiest regions of the world. It is also rich in tourism attractions such as natural wonders like, Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountains, which draw both local and international tourists in great deal. North America is named after the famous discoverer Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to put forward the idea that America is not the part of East Indies. It is a formerly undiscovered new world.