Page 93 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

TUCSON  91

West theme park was built as a Birdwatching in the Canyons of
set for a Western movie, Arizona,
in 1939. Since then, Old Tucson Southern Arizona
Studios has formed the backdrop The landscape of southern Arizona may
for some of Hollywood’s most seem dry at first glance, but this high desert
famous Westerns, such as environment gets about 11 in (280 mm) of
Gunfight at the OK Corral (1957) rain annually. This enables a surprising range
starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk of vegetation to flourish, from cacti to brightly
Douglas, and Rio Bravo (1958) colored wildflowers in spring. In turn, this attracts
starring John Wayne. The popular an amazing variety of birds, and the area is one of
1970s and 1980s TV series Little the top five birdwatching locations in the US.
House on the Prairie was also The verdant canyons between Tucson and the Broad-billed
filmed here. ¡Three Amigos! Mexican border offer the best birdwatching. Just hummingbird
(1986) and Tombstone (1993) off I-19, near Green Valley, Madera Canyon plays
host to some 400 bird species. As well as more
were also partly shot here. common varieties of hummingbirds, flycatchers, and warblers,
Main Street’s 1860s frontier many rare species such as the brown-crested flycatcher and
atmosphere provides an authentic the black-and-white warbler are often sighted here. Further
setting for perfor mers in period afield, Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains is the
costume, who entertain visitors country’s hummingbird capital with 14 varieties of these tiny
with stunt shows, gunfights, delicate creatures.
and stagecoach rides. Visitors
can also try panning for gold.
and supersonic bombers. The E Biosphere 2
museum also runs the Titan 32540 S. Biosphere Road, Oracle, AZ
Missile Museum (open daily 85623. Tel (520) 838-6200. Open 9am–
except Thanksgiving and Dec 4pm daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Dec
25) located 20 minutes south of 25. & 7 8 ∑ biosphere2.org
the city at Sahuarita. Biosphere 2 is a unique research
facility that was set up in 1991.
} Mount Lemmon Eight people were sealed within a
Gunfight staged outside the mission at Old n (520) 749-8700. futuristic structure of glass and
Tucson Studios Mount Lemmon is the highest white steel furnished with five of
peak in the Santa Catalina the Earth’s habitats: rainforest,
R San Xavier del Bac Mission Mountains, standing at 9,157 ft desert, savanna, marsh, and an
See pp92–3. (2,790 m). During the hot ocean with a living coral reef.
summers the cooler air of the Over a period of two years the
E Pima Air and Space mountains’ higher elevations effect of the people on the
Museum attracts many visitors. A one- environment as well as the effect
6000 E. Valencia Rd. Tel (520) 574-0462. hour scenic drive, beginning in on them of isolation in this “world,”
Open 9am–5pm daily (last adm 3pm). the Tucson city limits and con- were studied, with varying results.
Closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & 7 necting to the Mount Lemmon Today, Biosphere 2 is part of the
8 call for times. ∑ pimaair.org Highway, takes you to the University of Arizona, and is a
Some 9 miles (14.5 km) south- summit. There are 150 miles (240 research center with seven model
east of downtown Tucson, the km) of hiking trails here, while ecosystems which are used for
Pima Air and Space Museum a side road leads to the resort research by scientists. Projects
contains one of the largest village of Summerhaven, with include growing food on Mars,
collections of aircraft in the shops and restaurants. At the consequences of rising carbon
world. Visitors are met with the top, the Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley dioxide levels in the oceans, and
astonishing sight of more than lift operates for a small fee most impacts of El Nino on tropical rain
300 vintage aircraft set out in of the year (tel: (520) 576-1321). forests. Tours available daily.
ranks across the desert.
The VC-118 “Air Force 1” used
by presidents Kennedy and
Johnson are displayed here as
well as a replica of the Wright
brothers’ famous 1903 aircraft,
and bombers from World War II.
Exhibits in five aircraft hangars
show military and aviation
memorabilia, including a replica
World War II barracks. The
adjacent Davis-Monthan Air
Force Base displays more than
2,000 planes, including B-29s Space-age buildings of the Biosphere 2 Center, north of Tucson
For hotels and restaurants see pp237–8 and pp249–51

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