The Liquid Life of Las Vegas

Okay, with a title like this I know what you're thinking.  But no, I'm not talking about the drinks everyone's ordering up at Vegas bars on Friday night (or Wednesday morning for that matter).  I'm talking about the amazing way in which we as humans have managed to bring water to the desert.  And it's in no small quantity either.

My recent trip to the strip for my sister's birthday had me in awe over the amount of life that has built up around such an unlikely environment.  The temperature reached over 110° every day we were there, and I found myself drinking an excessive amount of water to avoid dehydration.  Of course, with all of the casinos, trams and tunnels, many people get away with spending their trip primarily indoors.  The hotels themselves are filled with thousands of people showering and flushing toilets.  Staff are constantly washing dishes and doing laundry.  And then you can't forget about the pools, fish tanks, fountains, and water shows.

I'll admit, a big part of the entertainment during my visit revolved around water.  Strange for a trip to the desert, right?  We spent three mornings at lavish pools.  We saw a handful of shows at Bellagio's famous fountain.  And then we sprung for tickets to Cirque du Soleil's "O," a water circus which also happens to be one of the most beautiful sets and performances I've ever seen in my life.

I felt privileged to be surrounded by so much wonder (and water), but I couldn't help but think about the reality of what keeps Las Vegas going.  So when I got home, I decided to dig a little bit deeper.

Here are the basics.  Southern Nevada gets about 90% of its water from the Colorado River, and the other 10% from groundwater (wells).  That's according to the Las Vegas Valley Water District.  They seem to be in agreement over numbers with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNVA), which explains that Lake Mead (a Colorado River reservoir), has dropped 130 feet since January 2000.  Drought restrictions have been in place since 2003 to help with conservation efforts - and have proved somewhat successful.  Las Vegas in particular has reduced Colorado River consumption by 30 billion gallons between 2002 and 2016, despite an increase in population.  That equates to a 38% decline in per capita use (although they're still adding a lower pump to Lake Mead in expectations of the water levels dropping further).

So what do those numbers break down to?  I found a really great article by the Las Vegas Review Journal that claims each person in Vegas uses about 125 gallons per day total.  That includes tourists and residents.  The average household flushes 33 gallons per day.  And it takes one gallon of water to sustain every 5 square feet of grass.  According to the Las Vegas Sun, the city has 2.8 million residents, and over 40 million visitors each year.  Clearly, it adds up.

Water that's used outdoors is typically lost to the system, so people are encouraged to design desert friendly yards, or only water gardens at night.  Indoor water use flows back into the sewers and is recycled.  For every gallon of treated water that goes back into the Colorado River, SNWA is allowed to take an extra gallon back out of Lake Mead.  I can't say that logic makes a ton of sense to me in an area where water levels are still decreasing... but apparently it's been working.  Officials say they've stretched the cities supply to last "over the next several decades."

As for the Bellagio fountain, I'm happy to report that their 8.5 acre lake uses private water from wells beneath the property - so it's not depleting the Colorado River or the city's drinking supply.  The 22 million gallon tank loses about 12 million gallons per year to evaporation.   That's over 30 thousand gallons per day - I guess that's what a dry heat can do!  Another great article by the Sun says not much else escapes... the show is designed to account for wind and spray, and keep water within its boundaries.

Although it's still an unnatural choice of setting, I love the conservation efforts and awareness.  Will they be enough to keep Las Vegas around for our grandkids?  Time will tell.

Dutch Tulip Season

holland.com

It's spring, and the flowers are blooming!  Even in your home garden or local park, it's wonderful to see color returning to the trees - but there are a few spots around the world where spring is particularly magnificent.  Last year, I wrote about the Japanese Cherry Blossoms (in Japan, not DC).  This year, I'm feeling inspired by the tulips of Holland (in the Netherlands, not Michigan)!

The Dutch are world famous for their tulips.  From mid March to mid May, the land becomes a sea of color, and flowers bring new life to the region.  Holland.com explains it starts with crocus early in the season- then daffodils and hyacinth.  Tulips are the grand finale, blooming brightest by mid April.  Supposedly, all you have to do is board a train or ride a bike through a rural area to see fields full of them... but for the full experience, imagine over 7 million bulbs at the Keukenhof flower park!

holland.com

Not far from Amsterdam, Holland.com says the Keukenhof is the largest flower park in the world.  It attracts over a million visitors and is only open for the season from mid March through May.  I did the math, and that's about 17 thousand guests per day.  I'm not sure what's more impressive, the number of people, or the number of flowers.  I'm sure the pictures don't do it justice.

So why Holland?  There's a lot of history to tulips in the Netherlands.  They were originally brought from the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s, and were such a big hit they ended up being used as currency for a period in the 1600s (when the flowers became worth more than the money in people's pockets).  In fact, The Amsterdam Tulip Museum (ATM) says "tulip mania" is a term still used today when talking about an economic crisis.

holland.com

But of course, since this is a weather blog, climate has a lot to do with the flowers' success.  Holland.com says the long spring season and cool nights provide perfect conditions, but ATM elaborates.  It's not just springtime that makes the Netherlands prime tulip territory.  Winter temperatures are mild, averaging between 35-40 degrees (F) from December through April.  That's warm enough to protect from a prolonged deep freeze, but cool enough for bulbs to convert starch into sugar for energy.  Summers in Holland are relatively mild as well.

Another plus is the country's location along the North Sea.  ATM says tulips grow best in maritime climates, so within 30-50 miles of a coast.  In dry periods, the Dutch use polders for irrigation to create constantly watered but well drained soil [Yes, I had to google what a polder is, so for those of you who don't know, it's a low-lying spot of land that's protected by dikes and locks from outside water sources - unique to the Netherlands].  Water can easily be funnelled through canals and ditches to keep the tulips hydrated.

Sure, you can grow tulips in your backyard.  You'll see them all around the US this Spring.  But I'm not sure anywhere can compete with the Netherlands.  They've got this flower down like the backs of their hands!

Stas Sedov, airpano.com

Safari in the Serengeti

tanzaniatourism.com

It might not be every kid's dream to go on a safari, but it was certainly one of mine!  To see wild animals in their natural habitat always amazed me... and the older I get, the more I want to go.  But there's a reason you have to fly all the way to Africa for the experience, and weather has a bit of a role to play... especially when it comes to "The Great Migration" of wildebeest herds.

Before we talk about the animals, let's talk about the people who have made the Serengeti home.  LiveScience says the native Maasai tribes named the Serengeti after their word for "endless plains."  The Serengeti spans about 12,000 square miles in northern Tanzania, half of which make up Serengeti National Park.  The miles of grasslands are interrupted by one active volcano.  For most of the year, the weather is warm and dry.  Two rainy seasons return moisture to the area (and play a big role in animal life).

Courtesy of Cayla Ann Photography

Because of this, the Maasai people live a semi-nomadic life, much like the Bedouin of the Middle East (see my previous blog post).  Their lives revolve in large part around livestock, which have to move with the water.  What's unique to the Serengeti is the threat of lions.  The Maasai Association describes handmade fences made of acacia thorns for protection.  Women build the houses, and men defend them - facing lions that get too close to the cattle.

Can you imagine living with a handmade fence between you and a lion?  Not likely.  But to watch them from the relative safety of a tourist convoy is a more realistic dream.  You can go on safaris in a few African countries: Botswana, Kenya, and South Africa to name a few.  CNN Travel ranked the top 8 from a safarbookings poll which put Tanzania at the top - partly thanks to the Serengeti wildebeest migration.  To find the animals, you'll have to plan your trip around the weather and time of year.

According to U.S. News & World Report, here's how it works: In November, brief rain showers signal the "Great Migration" for animals to return to their breeding grounds in the southern grasslands.  That's where they stay for much of the winter, making the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in southeastern Serengeti a prime destination for that time of year - filled with wildebeest, zebras, and wildcats (oh my!).

Courtesy of Cayla Ann Photography

Then the spring comes with heavier and prolonged rains that last through April and May.  In June, the Great Migration makes its way back north.  The plains are covered in a batch of freshly watered flowers - a gorgeous setting.  Animals graze in the park's Western Corridor in the early summer, and then move north to Lobo and Bologonja Springs for July through October.  That's where you can see wildebeest and zebras hanging out with elephants and giraffes, like something out of "The Lion King."

This is a more direct instance of climate affecting animals than people.  But with safaris becoming such a big tourist attraction, it's also a reminder of how beautiful the natural cycle can be.  Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest making their way across the Serengeti because the weather told them it was time?  The tour companies can count me in.