A Tree Grows in Yuma, Arizona

Yuma, Arizona is located in the hottest desert in North America, the Sonoran Desert. Part of the desert is the vast Imperial Sand Dunes located twelve miles west of Yuma on Interstate 8 in California. The Gila Mountains stretch out north to south on the east side of Yuma.

By and large, Yuma is made up of sand. At times, temperatures reach 120 degrees plus during the summertime. But you would never know that you were in the middle of the desert by looking at certain photographs.

The pictures that I have provided show another side to the city under the sun. With the right angles and camera equipment, you would think that you were in the middle of a vegetated area with tons of boat and beach activities. There are many parks and ponds, twelve golf courses, and lots of water recreation as Arizona and California are split by the once mighty Colorado River.

There is a beach area in the city, and you can launch your boat at the West Wetland's Park, but if you travel a little north, you can also launch your boats at places like: Senator's Wash, Martinez Lake, Picacho State Park, and of course, Lake Havasu, a very popular resort town.

While the hot weather only lasts for about three months, the rest of the year boasts a wonderful climate and lots of activities. The winter months are the best time of the year to enjoy nine-holes of golf at the Mesa Del Sol Golf Course, shopping at the Yuma Palms Shopping Center or just simply relaxing at the Polished Image Day Spa.

The Imperial Sand Dunes are the place to be if you like riding ATV's, sand rails and motorcycles. There is never a dull moment through out the winter at the Dunes and it never fails that every year the Dunes pack in several hundred thousand campers during the Thanksgiving holidays.

As one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, there are many reasons to like Yuma, Arizona. If you do visit Yuma, don't forget to hike up Telegraph Pass or Pilot's knob. Or, you could apply for a pass at the Marine Corp Air Station (MCAS) and take a geocash trip down to the Fortuna Mine area located on the Barry M. Goldwater range.

And the bright spot, a tree does grow in Yuma, Arizona. You may just have to water the dickens out of it.