Texas' travel industry is very good. It gives them an average of about $40 million a year. 485,000 Texans work in travel related industries. There are about 130 state parks and Recreation areas that attract a total of more than 21 million people annually.

Texas is a very populous place. Back in the 2000 census, Texas had more than 20 million inhabitants. Which is the second most populous state. It sure would not be rare to see white people in Texas. About 71% of all people in Texas are white people. Houston is the city with the most people in Texas, with almost 2 million people! Houston is leaving Austin, the capital, far behind in 4th place and with only 660,000 people.

If you like snow, you shouldn't go to Houston, with only 0.4 inches of snow a year. If you like rain though you should go to Houston, with forty-eight inches of precipitation a year! Both El Paso and Houston are warm. El Paso gets warmer in July than Houston does, but it gets a lot colder in January than Houston.

Texas has a large amount of road length and other ways of transportation. The total public road length is 301,034 miles; the highway system road length is 13,435 miles. The length of the railroad tracks is 10,649 miles; there are 1280 airports, and 396 heliports in Texas during year 2000.

Those are some interesting facts about Texas. There are probably more basketball teams than you thought there was. A lot of other things you probably didn't know were in this report about Texas.

Now that I have tempted you into booking a flight to the USA immediately, its only fair that I inform you of what you will be treated to before you arrive…the flight. To demonstrate just what is in store, I would like to recount a recent flight I made to New York before catching a connection to Washington DC.

I set off for the airport early with the weather cool. The airport was blissfully quiet and after an uneventful check in, I was given "the forms". The forms provide, in my eyes, the first section of in flight entertainment! They consist of two pieces of bureaucracy. The first inquires about the value of the goods I am bringing into America and the other is the Visa Waiver. Basically, the waiver allows me to enter the US for 90 days to do whatever I want…except get a job, file for welfare, claim a pension or commit any crime (spoil sports). Furthermore, I have to swear that I'm not a terrorist, a communist, a spy, a criminal and that I've never been a Nazi. I have to wonder whether anyone has ever said "yes" to any of these questions. I'm always tempted to say "yes" in an attempt to be funny, however American immigration control…especially in New York, is famous for having large firearms and very little humour!

The flight was actually rather pleasant. The movies were poor, but it didn't matter as I was fortunately sat next to a very nice American lady. We chatted for several hours and after a while, I managed to forget that the seat in front of me had jammed my knees behind my ears and there was a baby screaming behind me.

Since the flight was a connection, I had a 90 minute layover in NY. I sat and read, listening to the permanently annoyed drawl of the New Yorkers rambling around me and boarded my flight at 5pm, heading to Washington DC. It was mercifully under booked and I had a window seat above the engine. I relaxed for nearly five minutes when the captain informed us that an emergency light had flickered to life as he was about to fire the engines and we had to pull off the runway. Suddenly, the window seat over thousands of gallons of jet fuel seemed less appealing. Still, I got a beautiful view of the clouds as we climbed through them and I was happy to be alive for the short flight. Landing in DC, I was amazed that I wasn't anally probed by customs...again, and I headed to the Metro stop, slightly disappointed that Customs had spared me my usual welcome to the US. It's not so bad when you get used to it!

So what have we learned about flying to America? Strike up a conversation with the person next to you whether they like it or not, try and enjoy the probing and never say you are a Nazi…even for a joke!

To get to the Grand Canyon, travel to Phoenix, Arizona first. It is about a 4 hour drive from Central Phoenix to the South rim. The entrance fee to the Grand Canyon is $25 per vehicle to cover maintenance costs. However if you possess a National Parks Golden Eagle pass the cost is reduced.

Importance of the site

The fact that the Grand Canyon is listed as a World Heritage site means a lot to groups and governments involved. Conservationist groups major argument was that the parks wilderness aspect was being exterminated by visitors trampling carelessly and coming too often. The excessive visitors were causing lack of biodiversity. The Grand Canyon met all four requirements of UNESCO World heritage customs thus becoming a World Heritage Site.

Site Management

The US National Park Service managed the sight since 1919 as a National Park. This was before it became a World Heritage Site. There was a site management plan made in 1977 in accordance to the Environmental Policy act of 1969.

Characteristics of the site

This is a natural World Heritage site, not cultural as humans did not make it, the environment did. The sheer spectacular view would leave you speechless. The canyon is a world heritage sight as of 1979. It is revered for historical importance as it tells us history dating back millenniums. It helps in understanding of geological activity in the last 6 million years as nothing but the elements created it.

Location

Located in the state Arizona, in America the Grand Canyon shows millenniums of history. The abyss is nearly 1500m deep.

Climate

At the Grand Canyon the weather varies, and often the north rim and the south rim are different. The temperature can rise or drop dramatically, so be prepared for anything. Also, altitude sickness can occur due to being so high up. The South rim is 7000 feet above sea level, and the North rim is 8000 feet above sea level. At the south rim, June and July are the warmest however it is also the rainiest season. The coolest time is January, reaching down to -8c Celsius. The north rim is generally colder than the south, with the rainfall being higher and the temperature cooler.

As you would know, the Atlantic Ocean is very big. There are many states in this region. The states are: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rohde Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. This seems like a lot, but some people predict that there will be three more states in this region. They even have ideas for names, such as Maine, Florida and Vermont.

Now you are probably thinking that if this region is so big it must have lots of water. Then you are right. Some of these bodies of water are: Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Hudson River, Connecticut River, and Savannah River. Wait there is more: the geographical features and the climate. The climate can vary from too cold in winter to too hot in summer. Similarly, the geography shows great variation. Geographical features include: beach fronts, marsh lands, forests, and farm lands. What an interesting region!

Another region is the Appalachian Highlands Region. The Appalachian Region is a mountain range. The Appalachians also have many states - Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The region also has thinkers mystified. Again, they think we will split up into even more states.

The following states may potentially be included in this region: Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Vermont, and Maine. There is enough water for the people who live there - almost none. Even so the water is important so here it is - the Alabama River, the Tennessee River, Delaware River, Savannah River and some more. Most of this region is cold because this is a mountain range. In addition, there is no flat land.

A third region is the Gulf Coast Region. This region might include the following states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Nobody can really know because Georgia claims all that land. This is pretty much the same as the Atlantic Coast Region - flat land, farm land, beaches, and forests. However, it is never too cold.

Another region is the Great Plains Region. The Great plains is a might be name for (as you might think) a great plain. This region is (as you might suspect) very flat. It is also a bit hilly in some places, but it is mostly flat. There are many (maybe) sources of water that might have these names: the Missouri River, the Platte River, the Arkansas River, the Pecos River the Colorado River, the Brazo River, and the Red River.

There are no special geographical features to this region. The potential states are Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, South and North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Montana. The climate might be something like 40 degrees to 70 degrees, Hot summers, Cold Winters, and a Short rainy season.

Another region is the pacific coast region. The pacific ocean is very big, like the Atlantic ocean. However, there are only three states that our seers think will exist. They are California, Oregon, and Washington. This region has been explored a lot and has some names for water supplies. Some are, the Pacific Ocean, the San Francisco bay, the Eel River, the Salinas River, the San Joaquin River, the Sacramento River, the Klamath River, the Columbia River, and the Strait of San Juan De Fuca. Some geographical features are Deserts, Mountains, Waterfalls, and flat valleys, Mountains, Valleys and Rivers. The area is usually around30˚- 80˚F.

The Rocky Mountains Region's name is another idea. Its states would include Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Montana. This would be a mountain region so many rivers start here. Some are Pent Oreille Lake, Flat Head Lake, Yellowstone Lake, the Green River, and the Colorado River. This region, although a mountain range, also has some forests, tundra, and grassland. Because this region is a mountain range, its temperatures range from 0 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

There is another region similar to the Great Plains Region. It is the Central Plains Region. The Central Plains is similar to the Great Plains in almost every aspect - it even shares some of the same states. The states that are in the Central Plains Region are North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Texas, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York. This region is the only region that touches the Great lakes. These are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie. This region has plains and hills, and has temperatures from 40 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit.