cam, 278 words, 0 comments, Phoenix, Arizona, Bush Fires, Gila River, Fire

The Sonoran Plain has large dry river beds not unlike the NSW western plains. The largest of these is the Gila River which runs through the West Valley of Phoenix. It is a wide stretch of trees, shrubs, rocks and sand which presumably carries the water out of the city when the monsoons hit.*

Currently there is a brush fire in the Gila River basin. There is no danger to homes as the fire, fueled by high temperatures and wind, is running up the river bed. The brush fire has been going for three days now proving impervious to firefighters and water drops from the air. I took the photo above at sunset last night. (more)

cam, 362 words, 0 comments, Fire, Charles Mann, Aboriginal People, Native Americans, Animal Husbandry

The kangaroo population in Australia has exploded since European farming methods were introduced. This is mainly because European technologies for clearing land and replacing it with grazing fields were highly effective. Kangaroos, and wombats for that matter, are grazing animals, and compete with Sheep and Cattle for the grass.

The Native American Indians and Aboriginals did not have the mastery of metallurgy as the Eurasians and Central Americans did. Their forest clearing method, and consequently their animal husbandry technology, was fire. (more)