AN INFORMATIVE GUIDE TO AWE-INSPIRING LANDSCAPES OF THE GREATER SOUTHWEST a non-technical account of what they are, where they are, and how they came to be from southern California to west Texas and northern Mexico to northern Utah & Nevada. Full of visual and factual surprises, this book is made to be enjoyed on many levels. While the whole has continuity, each page-spread is self-contained for clarity and ease of use on the road. The text blends travel tips, Native American legends, prehistoric and historic vignettes, and as a unifying theme explanations of earthly processes and events that have shaped land, people, and wildlife. The writing is informative without being academic. Readers will discover musical dunes and racing rocks, vanishing lakes and dinosaur tracks . . . which volcanoes are potentially dangerous, what makes the Grand Canyon grand, how the Painted Desert got its colors, and much, much more. Over 300 color photographs, 33 drawings, and seven customized maps (including a traveler-friendly pull-out map of the Greater Southwest) support the text. And the back-matter is packed with resources to help outdoor adventure-seekers plan their trips (all listings are annotated) and a comprehensive index.