The editor's word: Mr. Chilian is my German long friend for philately. I have introduced his brief features here, and his story have been published in our philatelic web site . This year, Mr.Chilian and his wife Maria revisit the old haunt--America. But there are two point in this trip: one is driving a car as himself; Other one is in western America, especially Arizona and Grand Canyon. He sent many rare photos for us, It is very valuable for Morricone's Fans who are interested in the Spaghetti Westerns very much. So we publish these photos below for share (Mr.Chilian's more pages : 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13 ...)

Mr. Chilian said in an E-mail: "attached is a map showing our trip. We started in Denver drove up north to Mt. Rushmore, than west to Yellowstone NP, south to Salt Lake City to Grand Canyon. From there we drove east along all the canyons back to Denver."

The park is located near Moab, Utah, and is 119 square miles (310 km2) in size. Its highest elevation is 5,653 feet (1,723 m) at Elephant Butte, and its lowest elevation is 4,085 feet (1,245 m) at the visitor center. Since 1970, forty-three arches have toppled because of erosion. The park receives 10 inches (250 mm) of rain a year on average.

The area, administered by the National Park Service, was originally designated as a national monument on April 12, 1929. It was redesignated a national park on November 12, 1971. More than 833,000 people visited in 2006.(See here)

In Arches National Park, the forces of nature have—over an immense span of time—created a wondrous landscape. Slickrock caps of Navajo sandstone cover layers of sediment from ancient oceans, shores, and deserts. Folds and warps in the layers indicate movement of long-buried salt deposits in an incomprehensibly slow geological drama that seems to have culminated—fortunately for us—in the present day.

Arches' incredible towers inspire rock climbers to scale heavenward. Hiking trails lead to enormous rocks balanced on thin spires, standing rock fins and cliff walls hundreds of feet high, and graceful sandstone spans arcing against the sky—a photographer's paradise. The scenic park road makes it easy to visit these wonders by bike and by car.

Arches possesses a beauty both grand and strange. In his book Desert Solitaire, the well-known nature writer and environmentalist Edward Abbey found the unique charm of Arches to be epitomized by its most famous feature, Delicate Arch:

"If Delicate Arch has any significance it lies, I will venture, in the power of the odd and unexpected to startle the senses and surprise the mind out of their ruts of habit, to compel us into a reawakened awareness of the wonderful — that which is full of wonder."
The sublime beauty of this land speaks to all its visitors.(See here)

From the overlook, canyon erosion may be viewed on a grand scale. This erosion process has taken approximately 150 million years. Much of it is caused by the river slicing down into the earth's crust as land is forced upward. These powerful forces are still sculpting the fantastic shapes of the precipitous bluffs and towering spires.

Before the turn of the century, mustang herds ran wild on the mesas near Dead Horse Point. The unique promontory provided a natural corral into which the horses were driven by cowboys. The only escape was through a narrow, 30-yard neck of land controlled by fencing. Mustangs were then roped and broken, with the better ones being kept for personal use or sold to eastern markets. Unwanted culls of "broomtails" were left behind to find their way off the Point.

According to one legend, a band of broomtails was left corralled on the Point. The gate was supposedly left open so the horses could return to the open range. For some unknown reason, the mustangs remained on the Point. There they died of thirst within sight of the Colorado River, 2,000 feet below.

Vegetation and wildlife in this desert environment exist on a severely limited water supply. Plants have adapted by diminishing the size and physiology of their leaves--smaller leaves tend to lose less water through evaporation.

Most of the animals are nocturnal. They venture out in the evenings when the relentless heat has subsided and there is less need for water, Other wildlife and vegetation may have dormant periods depending upon precipitation patterns.

These desert plants and animals have only a slight edge on their environment. Please do not disturb them in their struggle for survival.

Dead Horse Point State Park is on SR 313 18 miles off Hwy 191 near Moab.(See here)