The Grand Canyon; Lake Powell And The Canyon Country

Both of these programs are characterized by the spectacular scenery which graces the pages of the producer's magazine Arizona Highways, as well as prose which, while not fully purple, tends toward lavender. Narrated by Lorne Greene, The Grand Canyon is a picturesque overview of both the canyon and its immediate environs as well as an introduction to some of the activities that are available to visitors. Tourists take to mule back for an 11-mile ride down the canyon which, interestingly, takes them through a variety of climatological changes (incorporating 6 of the 7 climate systems found in the U.S., temperatures can vary as much as 35 degrees from the rim to the Colorado River below). On the river, whitewater enthusiasts are shown whipping through some of the 150 rapids, with drops of up to 30 ft. In addition to the fun, the program covers the geology of the Grand Canyon as well as its history (with an intriguing look at the caves left by early Indian settlers), concluding with a brief tour of the sights and facilities at Grand Canyon Village. In Lake Powell and the Canyon Country, narrator William Shatner covers, in a briefer version, the Grand Canyon, and also looks at the beautiful Lake Powell, Monument Valley (Western director John Ford's filming locale of choice), the Navajo national Monument, featuring the centuries old buildings of the Anasazi Indians, Zion National Park, with its impressive cliffs carrying Biblical names, and Bryce Canyon National Park, where the natural sandstone sculptures (called "hoodoos") have fascinated young and old alike for years (although one of the early inhabitants had a different interpretation of the canyon's sculptures: "a helluva place to lose a cow.") Both of these programs are good tourist introductions to the scenic grandeur and multitude of recreational activities available to the would-be visitor. Both are recommended for libraries looking to bolster their travel video collections. (Available from: Arizona Highways, 2039 West Lewis Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009.)