Monthly Archive: December 2022

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake – Cedar Bog – Ohio

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake - Cedar Bog - Ohio

An Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, seen the Cedar Bog nature reservoir, north of Cincinnati, Ohio.  This snake goes by a couple of different names, including Swamp Rattler and Black Snapper. It is a highly venmous snake, but smaller than the other two venomous snakes common to Ohio, the Northern Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake.  Its is fairly rare, and typically inhabits, wetlands, bogs, and other marshy areas.  In fact its name comes from the Chippewa Indians, and refers to the marshy areas commonly found at the mouth of a river.  Its prey generally includes mice, shrews, voles, lizards, birds, frogs, crayfish and other snakes.

Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir in the Fall – Utah

Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir in the Fall - Utah

A view of Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir in the Fall.  Bell Canyon sits just to the south of Little Cottonwood Canyon, in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah. The reservoir itself sits in the foothills above the city of Sandy, one of many communities in the Salt Lake Valley. The hike to the reservoir is a fairly short and enjoyable one, while more extended hikes can be had to Bell Canyon Falls, and Upper Bell Canyon Reservoir farther up the canyon.

Parker Dam – Lake Havasu – California

Parker Dam - Lake Havasu - California

Purchase Print

A view of Parker Dam, which is responsible for Lake Havasu on the Colorado River between Arizona and California. The dam is 320 feet high, 235 feet of it buried below the riverbed. The dam was completed in 1938. Lake Havasu provides a water source  for both California’s Colorado River Aqueduct, as well the  Central Arizona Project Aqueduct, which provides agricultural and municipal water to Tucson and Phoenix.  The dam also produces a limited amount of hydroelectric power.