Lake Powell is a reservoir on the Colorado river, that sits on the States of Utah and Arizona. It was created after the construction of Glen Canyon dam in 1963, and it's the second largest man made lake in the United States. Planet of the Apes was shot there in 1968 and 2001.
It is a major vacation spot, especially for water sports lovers. Indeed there are almost a hundred side canyons with red and ocher rocks, that are only accessible by boat, canoe or jet ski. Even though it will cost you an arm, the thing to do is to spend at least a day or two on the lake to be able to discover some of its nooks. Rainbow Bridge particularly, which is the biggest natural bridge known in the world, is only accessible by boat and it takes almost two hours to get there. (The lake is 300 kilometers or 180 miles long). We did not do it, but if you come as a group, and that you have time, and money, it might be interesting to rent one of those house boat to stay in the middle of the lake.
The little town of Page, next to the lake, was founded in 1957 to serve as a housing community for workers and their families during the construction of Glan Canyon dam. Its site was obtained in a land exchange with the Navajo tribe. For us tourists, it serves as a place to sleep when visiting the lake and everything around: Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, etc... There is nothing interesting to see in the town itself. Though as you drive by, you'll be able to notice the succession of churches along South Lake Powell Boulevard: Episcopal Church,
Lutherian Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the
Mormons), First Baptist Church, etc.... In short, they are all contained in the same place, in buildings that look nothing like churches. A dozen of cult venues for such a small town seems astonishing, but religion occupies a very important place in the United States. And above all, there are different churches, different religious denominations. When one comes from France, where there are mostly catholic churches, and often one per village, it inevitably seems puzzling. Let's say that it gives us the opportunity to mug up on all the branches of the Protestant Church...
Aside from that, oddly I ate the best croissant I've ever had in America! It was at the "Blue Bakery Coffee and Wine Bar" on North Navajo Drive. But let's not get carried away: it was a croissant that had the taste of a croissant and the consistency of a croissant. To me it is now worth getting carried away.
