In this masterful tour de force of nature writing, Kenneth Brown explores one of the most awe-inspiring regions on earth -- the Four Corners of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Weaving together its geological, ecological and human histories, he presents a unique portrait of this ruggedly beautiful landscape that goes beyond mere description to give readers a true sense of the land in all its richness. Here are rock croppings that are 2 billion years old and broad desert valleys where rivers of lava cooled to form floors of solid rock. Here ancient hunter-gatherers stalked the woolly mammoth, four-story pueblos were carved by the Anasazi from sheer stone cliffs and an ancient midnight Holy Week ceremony is still practiced in a modern Spanish village. Providing a fresh perspective on a region currently enjoying an upwelling of interest, Four Corners is a fascinating study of one of the world's great wonders -- compelling reading for all science, nature, anthropology and travel aficionados. It is one of the most awe-inspiring regions on earth. Bottomless canyons, fierce rivers, sky-scraping mountains, and ancient peoples populate the United States desert Southwest in a stunning and seemingly random collage. In Four Corners, Kenneth Brown embarks upon a fascinating odyssey through this mysterious and beautiful region, writing about the people who rose and fell there, the subtle geological forces that sculpted the landscape, and the delicate yet enduring ecosystem that sustains life across the often brutal terrain. Brown journeys across the Four Corners region on foot and by air, weaving a fascinating portrait of the cultural, natural, and geological histories that have created the unique landscape that exists today. From four-story pueblos carved into sheer stone cliffs and a mountain peak where snow covers the ground for all but three months a year to an ancient midnight Holy Week ceremony in a modern Spanish village, Four Corners is a compelling exploration of one of the world's great treasures. In this masterful tour de force of nature writing, Kenneth Brown explores one of the most awe-inspiring regions on earth -- the Four Corners of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Weaving together its geological, ecological and human histories, he presents a unique portrait of this ruggedly beautiful landscape that goes beyond mere description to give readers a true sense of the land in all its richness. Here are rock croppings that are 2 billion years old and broad desert valleys where rivers of lava cooled to form floors of solid rock. Here ancient hunter-gatherers stalked the woolly mammoth, four-story pueblos were carved by the Anasazi from sheer stone cliffs and an ancient midnight Holy Week ceremony is still practiced in a modern Spanish village. Providing a fresh perspective on a region currently enjoying an upwelling of interest, Four Corners is a fascinating study of one of the world's great wonders -- compelling reading for all science, nature, anthropology and travel aficionados. Kenneth A. Brown's work has appeared in Newsweek, The Christian Science Monitor, and Discover. He lives in Kettering, OH. Paper back with scene of the desert southwest. 367 pages