Southwestern United States

城市概覽

Landscape Contrary to the Southwest's image as a sprawling desert, it is one of the most geographically diverse regions in the United States. Beginning at the high elevations of the Wasatch and Rocky Mountains the landscape descends into dramatic bluffs and mesas before emptying out on the flatlands of the Rio Grande. The dry climate and dramatic red rock landscapes help tie the region together despite the dramatic differences in elevation.

History

Human settlement in the Southwest dates back over 12,000 years, and is preserved today by the rock art, cliff dwellings, and other archaeological remains found throughout the region. The Pueblo (sometimes known as the Anasazi although that term is offensive for some) people inhabited the area for well over one thousand years, but disappeared during the 12th or 13th century AD. The Athabascan people (Navajo and Apache) began arriving as early as 1000 AD and remain the largest indigenous group in the area to this day. In the 1500s Spanish explorers arrived and remained a dominant military force for nearly three hundred years. The area became part of Mexico in 1821 after Mexico won its independence from Spain. By the mid-1800s the expanding United States established a presence, and in 1848, after a war with Mexico, much of the area became United States territory. The colonization was commemorated in the legends of the Old West. In the post-war years, the Southwest has seen become part of the prosperous Sun Belt, with newcomers both from north and south, for gambling, mining, technology industry, and retirement.

Climate The region experiences the full range of climate extremes from 100-125°F (38-52°C) in the summer down to sub-zero in the northernmost regions in the winter. The dry, cold conditions in the northern mountainous regions make for excellent skiing, while the desert heat is perfect for those looking to escape winter's bite. In the summer, the northern parts of Arizona and New Mexico get hit with the Nor

如何抵達

By plane The region's primary airports are in:

Albuquerque (ABQ IATA) -- hub for Southwest Airlines, served by most majors, nominally an "international airport" but no nonstop international flights. Denver International Airport (DEN IATA) -- While not part of the "Southwest" per Wikivoyage, Denver is a major hub for many American carriers and offers direct flights to a lot of the region's smaller airports. El Paso (ELP IATA -- Although not part of the "Southwest" in context of this article it serves as the nearest airport to Las Cruces, Silver City, Almagordo, Carlsbad Cavarens NP, and other parts of southern New Mexico. Las Vegas (LAS IATA) -- another hub for Southwest Airlines, with some international services (on other airlines). It is also the nearest major airport to Grand Canyon, Lake Havasu, and other points in southern Utah and Northern Arizona. Phoenix (PHX IATA) -- home base and largest hub for Southwest Airlines, as well as a major hub for American Airlines; a major airport with service to a number of international destinations; Tucson also has limited international service. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA IATA) -- serves as the secondary airport in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, it serves as a southwestern base for Allegiant Airlines form multiple locations in the U.S. and by Sun Country from Minneapolis-St Paul. Plans are underway to expand the airport facilities in Mesa Reno (RNO IATA) -- nearest airport for Reno, Carson City and Lake Tahoe from all parts of the U.S. with major U.S. airlines. The only international connection is to Guadalajara, Mexico with Volaris. Salt Lake City (SLC IATA) -- major hub for Delta Air Lines with service to many domestic and international destinations. Tucson (TUS IATA) -- major airport for southern Arizona with flights from much of the U.S. with Alaska Airlines, American/American Eagle, Delta, Southwest, Sun Country and United. American Eagle operates the Phoenix and Tucson flights. Regional cities like Santa Fe

當地交通

The southwestern United States was the first region extensively served by Southwest Airlines, which began as a Texas-only low-cost (and low-frills) carrier before expanding first into the Southwest and now into most of the U.S. Southwest is notable for its widely distributed network of minor hubs in contrast to the hub-and-spokes approach used by most airlines in the United States. Not only as a result of Southwest's approach, but also because its competitors in the region have adopted its ways to some extent, the major cities of the region tend to be connected very well by air, and fares are relatively low. Intra-regional air service to the lesser cities can be much more expensive, due in part to the fact that Southwest has no agreements with commuter airlines that service the smaller airports. The imposing obstacle of the Grand Canyon limits road and rail traffic within the region. South of the Grand Canyon, Interstate highways 10 and 40 connect New Mexico and Arizona cities reasonably conveniently. I-40 basically follows the route of historic Route 66 in the region. I-80 serves a similar function for Nevada and Utah. However, getting from north to south or vice versa by road is a more challenging proposition. No railroads make this connection, and the few highways that connect Arizona to Utah or eastern Nevada are minor, generally two-lane, lightly traveled, and frequently far from traveler services. If you're driving north-south from Arizona, pay careful attention to your fuel level, and make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition. I-15 runs southwest to northeast from Barstow, California through Las Vegas, Nevada and Salt Lake City across Utah. I-17 runs in Arizona between Phoenix and Flagstaff. I-19 connects Nogales and Tucson. New Mexico is bisected north-south by I-25, which runs from I-10 in Las Cruces though Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Denver into Wyoming. Outside the major cities you will most likely have to rely on a car, but despite the reput

必看景點

The Southwest is best known for its stunning scenery. The terrain is incredibly varied. You might find yourself driving through a desert landscape of red rock, and within a few hours you'll wind up climbing into the mountains. Some of the most striking sights are National Parks, protected from development and offering easy access to some of the most stunning attractions - parks like Carlsbad Caverns N.P., Grand Canyon N.P., Bryce Canyon N.P., and Zion N.P. While known for its incredible natural beauty, the Southwest also has many historical sites. Throughout Arizona and New Mexico are reminders of the Native American culture, from the ruins of great pueblos in Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona, Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico, and Mesa Verde in nearby Southwestern Colorado, to the thriving culture in communities still inhabited, like Taos Pueblo in Taos, New Mexico. The Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico from Albuquerque to Taos was the site of some of the first permanent E