Lower Colorado River

An interesting fact about the dam is that about 50% of the hydroelectric power generated by the dam is used for the pumps of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

On the north end of what would be considered the Parker strip is Parker Dam, a good example of the effort put into architecture and design in the 1930's.

Looking south from above Parker, the right side of the picture is California.

Just below Parker Dam

On the north end of what would be considered the Parker strip is Parker Dam, a good example of the effort put into architecture and design in the 1930's.

Particularly surprising to me was the gated community on the river of Lake Moovalya Keys. As this and the adjacent photo shows, this is a complex of individual homes with canals between the homes. Considering the topography of the area, the existence of a housing complex with man-made canals just seemed to be too improbable (see the satellite view on the map.).

A suburban looking development, with canals, on the Colorado north of Parker

Summer recreation on the Colorado at Parker.

Arizona & California RR bridge crossing the Colorado at Parker, AZ.

The Arizona & California railroad, though small, is still active with important links to major rail lines and interesting lines through remote parts of eastern California.

The Arizona & California railroad, though small, is still active with important links to major rail lines and interesting lines through remote parts of eastern California.

Yuma seemed like an older, primarily working-class, agricultural border town with some interesting preservation activities going on in the center city.

On the north end of downtown Yuma is the nicely restored Ocean-to-Ocean Highway bridge, originally built in 1915 and at one time the only highway bridge across the Colorado. It is now a foot and bicycle bridge. The sign on the bridge is difficult to see during daylight, but is white lights at night

North of Yuma the various efforts to control the Colorado via dams, for American usage, are clearly evident. The Imperial Diversion Dam diverts the Colorado into multiple irrigation canal systems, two of which bring water into Imperial County, California. Like many dams of that era (the late 1930's), the architecture of the dam is attractive. The WPA provided significant funds for the construction of the dam.

North of Yuma the various efforts to control the Colorado via dams, for American usage, are clearly evident. The Imperial Diversion Dam diverts the Colorado into multiple irrigation canal systems, two of which bring water into Imperial County, California. Like many dams of that era (the late 1930's), the architecture of the dam is attractive. The WPA provided significant funds for the construction of the dam.

North of Yuma the various efforts to control the Colorado via dams, for American usage, are clearly evident. The Imperial Diversion Dam diverts the Colorado into multiple irrigation canal systems, two of which bring water into Imperial County, California. Like many dams of that era (the late 1930's), the architecture of the dam is attractive. The WPA provided significant funds for the construction of the dam.

North of Yuma the various efforts to control the Colorado via dams, for American usage, are clearly evident. The Imperial Diversion Dam diverts the Colorado into multiple irrigation canal systems, two of which bring water into Imperial County, California. Like many dams of that era (the late 1930's), the architecture of the dam is attractive. The WPA provided significant funds for the construction of the dam.

On both sides of Tucson is this national park with interesting cacti and some wonderful WPA-era park buildings (no pictures of those) (best viewed as part of Arizona set)