Seeing the light: A Chaco Canyon adventure at the spring equinox 2025
And if this season is clouded by lack of funding and the park is shuttered or spring winds blow in cloud-cover, plan for the next major sunrise event during the summer solstice in June. Unique astronomical events occur each season.
Any vehicle can safely drive the road at this time, just take it slow, said Nathan Hatfield, who is in charge of interpretive programs for Chaco and Aztec Ruins National Monument.
A sunrise program is scheduled at Casa Rinconada on Thursday, March 20, dependent on weather and budget constraints, according to an email from Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The gates to the historic loop open at 6:30 a.m. Sunrise will be at 7:01 a.m., according to The Old Farmers' Almanac.
The vernal equinox falls on either March 20 or March 21 each year, according to the Almanac. In 2025, it will happen on a Thursday across the Northern Hemisphere. Equinoxes and solstices happen simultaneously around the world. Even with different time zones, the astronomical events are based on the Earth's orbit around the sun and its axis tilt.
An interpretive ranger plans to mark the event and teach about it during a ranger-led program at Casa Rinconada, the largest great kiva in Chaco Canyon. It is known for its solstice and equinox alignments. The park's annual sunrise programs have been going on there for more than two decades.
Were the structures built at Chaco to mark lunar and solar events, or just happenstance?
"I think it was intentional and most modern Indigenous people would agree," said Hatfield. "And we don't see the alignment of structures only at Chaco."
Other sites in the southwest United States exhibit many of the same characteristics in regard to the sun, moon and stars including at Salmon Ruins in the Four Corners and Aztec Ruins nearby, he said.
"The study of the astronomical practices, celestial lore, mythologies, religions and world-views of all ancient cultures we call archaeoastronomy," according to the Center for Archaeoastronomy at the University of Maryland. "We like to describe archaeoastronomy, in essence, as the anthropology of astronomy, to distinguish it from the history of astronomy."
Why does it work?
"The Chacoans aligned some of their structures due east and west since, on the vernal equinox, the sun will rise and set along this azimuth," according to an email from Kevin McKeown, who writes the daily Sky Watch column on the Albuquerque Journal weather page. You can find more information in Anna Sofer's work called the Solstice Project, McKeown said.
The equinox is also the first day of spring.
Manmade or "alien-on-earth" structures that are especially celebrated to view the change of seasons include Stonehenge in England and Machu Picchu in Peru.
Macho Picchu, a tourist hot-spot and bucket-list archaeological site, sits at about 8,000 feet in elevation — about 700 feet higher than Los Alamos, atop a mountain.
Other celebrated sunrise viewing spots include Chichén Itzá in Mexico, and the Great Sphinx and Pyramids in Giza, Egypt.
Chaco, much closer, though down a bumpy but accessible gravel road through the Navajo Nation, provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience that any intrepid traveler can reach in less than five hours from Albuquerque. Be sure to stop at one of the Sinclair Dino Mart gas stations and convenience stores along U.S. 550 to stock up on provisions including fuel before making the turn from pavement.
No restaurants, gas stations or hotels beckon after you leave the pavement. Reservations must be made on recreation.gov for the small Gallo campground, which is a great place to see the stars because Chaco is a Dark Sky Park location.
"Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies," Hatfield said.
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National Geographic
5 hours ago
- National Geographic
Meet the cowboys of the Andes
German explorer Alexander von Humboldt coined the grand name 'Avenue of Volcanoes' when he toured Ecuador at the start of the 19th century — but locals have viewed the country's rumbling giants with reverence for far longer. 'The Incas called the mountains Apus ['lord' in the Quechua language], as they believed them to be gods,' says my guide Luis Chinchín, on our drive south from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park along the avenue. The volcano-gods Pichincha, Rumiñahui and Iliniza are bearing down on us through a grey haze, magnified by the curve of the windscreen. A little further south is Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak at 20,550ft. This is the land of the chagras: the cowboys of the Andes, who have been herding cattle on horseback across Ecuador's highlands for centuries. Today, some chagras communities invite travellers to learn about their way of life, and we're on our way to meet one of them. Chagras have been herding cattle in the highlands of Ecuador for centuries, and many of their traditions remain intact. Though their ancestors were Indigenous, the chagras' culture is intertwined with the history of Ecuador's Spanish colonisers. Before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the chagras were farmers, who lived high in the mountains and planted corn, beans and tubers on fields they called chakras. When the Spanish brought over bulls and horses to help cultivate the land, it was these Indigenous peoples who taught them how to do it in the highlands. Over time, chakra became chagra, and the word was used to describe people who had become mestizo. This mixed Spanish and Indigenous heritage gave them a higher social ranking than those who were purely Indigenous; around the 17th century, they were taught to ride horses and handle bullfighting bulls. Yet they were never considered full equals to the Spanish colonisers, an attitude that persists in Ecuador to this day. The word chagra is still used by some to imply a person who is rustic or uneducated. Perhaps this misconception comes from the fact that more than 200 years after Ecuador's independence, the chagras retain much of their traditional farming lifestyle. We meet our hosts, including local community coordinator Rafael Changoluisa, and their horses, at Rumicorral. It's a small wooden corral with a corrugated iron roof within Cotopaxi National Park, 11,8110ft above sea level. Rafael wears a royal blue poncho and wide-brimmed felt hat. In preparation for a ride through the national park, he invites me to join him in wearing the chagras' uniform. I'm given tasselled cowhide zamarros (chaps) and a green wool poncho, over which I pull on a waxed leather rain poncho to combat the fat drops of rain that have just started to patter onto the roof. The colours of the ponchos chagras wear historically carried meaning, often reflecting their community roles and identities. Their horses are adorned with traditional woven bridles, intricately made by hand. Rafael tells me that, historically, poncho colours had significance — representing, say, red blood or the gold of barley fields — but these days, the colours simply reflect personal preference. Yet the leather betas (lassos) the chagras carry are the same as they were in colonial times, and they are keen to show me their wood stirrups, still traditionally carved with horses, flowers and leaves. Maintaining the chagras' way of life is a challenge, says Rafael, as fewer young people are taking up the reins. 'My father was also a chagra, but my children aren't really interested; they prefer the city,' he says. This is why he persuaded his community to open up their lives to travellers. 'I'd like this tradition not to be lost.' It's an unconventional method, yet one he believes strongly in. 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Yard-wide lightning knifes down, turning the paja to silver filigree. Thunder rumbles like the voices of the Apus. Fritada's musky scent funnels up through the ponchos and warms my face. After a few hours, we arrive at Tambopaxi Lodge — a former mountain climbers' hut, now upgraded to a hotel with private rooms and a corral. At the restaurant, I sit down for a coffee with Rafael, his brother William and fellow chagra Odalis Velozo. A skilled rider at just 13, she'd raced to the front shortly after we set off on our ride. Her outfit is a more stylish, curated version of her elders' — her black felt hat more angular, her striped beige poncho complemented by an ivory scarf. Odalis attends school in Machachi, a town around 30 miles from the national park that's known as the chagras' capital. Though it has a population of just 24,000, it's the largest town in Mejía Canton and has long been a centre for chagras' markets and festivals. Unlike Rafael's kids, she says that's as close to city life as she ever wants to get. 'I prefer the freedom we have in the grasslands,' she says. 'It's not the same in the big cities like Quito; there isn't the freedom we feel in an open space like this.' I cradle my coffee close to my cold face and look out the window; the storm is breaking up, and the park's fauna is emerging from hiding. Tiny violetear hummingbirds flit by, the growing light dancing over their blue and emerald feathers. Llama and white-tailed deer munch on the paja; Andean gulls soar in the oxygen-starved heights. Condors and Andean foxes are also occasionally spotted here, though none are visible today. Balancing act Cotopaxi National Park was founded in 1975 to protect this unique environment. However, Rafael says the increasing enforcement of national park preservation orders has created frustrating conflicts for the chagras who live off the land. 'A long time ago, we just let the animals roam free on the páramo,' he says. 'Nowadays, there are restrictions. It's to take care of the ecosystem, but life in the park isn't just the ecosystem — it's us, too.' But what challenges the chagras' traditions may also protect them. Under national park rules, they're the only people allowed to work the land, meaning that industrial farmers can't turn it over to monocultures. 'La naturaleza y la libertad — nature and freedom,' Rafael says, when I ask him what he loves most about his life on the páramo. In modern times, preserving the first means compromising the other; it's a delicate balance that the chagras must come to terms with. On leaving the chagras, Luis and I drive to Chilcabamba, a mountain lodge hotel with cabin-like rooms ringed by twittering, bird-filled gardens. Sinking into a bean bag by the window, I see the day's last golden rays finally pierce the grey veil to reveal the chiselled face of Cotopaxi, both sparkling and stern, his white brow furrowed with wisps of cloud. Chilcabamba is unique in that the hotel is integrated into the chagras' community. 'Here, you get to see the way they really live, in their own territory,' says general manager Cristina Coronel. I'm staying here so I can try out a new experience offered by the hotel — the opportunity to see a chagras rodeo. It's not a rodeo in the North American sense: there are no bucking broncos or wrestling steers. It's a display of their traditional culture through activities such as rounding up cattle, lasso tricks and bullfighting. The next morning, I arrive at the mountainside pen where the rodeo will take place. Rafael, William and half a dozen more chagras are already there fitting spurs to their boots. Scattered cattle chew slowly with blank-eyed stares, unaware they're about to be rudely awakened by Omar Cumbaiin and his 13-year-old son Matteo. The boy is too shy to talk; his father does the boasting for him. 'When he was eight, he won a lassoing competition in which there were 100 participants,' he tells me. 'He won in every category.' Matteo wears an identical black hat and scarlet poncho to his father and, from a distance, it's impossible to tell them apart. They gallop out to the fringes of the cattle herd and start chasing them into the pen. This is a smaller, more intimate version of what travellers could see at El Paseo del Chagra — one of Ecuador's biggest festivals, held each July in Machachi. There, hundreds of chagras parade through the streets, show off their skills and take part in bullfights — no-kill events, since the tradition was banned in 2011. A cow clatters past me; Matteo barrels after it, whirling a lasso. It's hard to believe this is the same kid who was hiding from us minutes ago. He shouts, digs in his spurs and thunders over the crest of the hill. Perhaps with the help of tourism and the next generation led by young chagras like Odalis and Matteo, their traditional culture will be reinvigorated and passed on for many generations to come. Flights from London to Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport typically connect through major hubs such as Amsterdam, Madrid or Miami. From Quito, visitors can catch a bus to Chimborazo or opt to rent a car for a more flexible journey through the highlands. For more information, visit This paid content article was created for Ecuador Tourism. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveller (UK) or their editorial staffs. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
How do you move a beloved Swedish church down the road? With prayer, engineering and some Eurovision
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The church was a gift from the mining company In 2001, the Swedish people voted the wooden church the 'best building of all time, built before 1950' in a poll connected to the Ministry of Culture. Built on a hill so worshippers could overlook the rest of Kiruna, the Swedish Lutheran church was designed to emulate the Sami style as a gift from LKAB, the state-owned mining company. The Kiruna mine itself dates back to 1910 and the church was completed in 1912. Its neo-Gothic exterior is considered the town's most distinctive building and tourists regularly traveled there before it was closed a year ago to prepare for the relocation. It's set to reopen in the new location at the end of 2026. Tjärnberg said the final service in the old spot was bittersweet. 'The last day you go down the stairs and close the church door, you know it's going to be several years before you can open it — and in a new place,' she said. 'We don't know how it's going to feel to open the door.' 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Stefan Holmblad Johansson, LKAB's project manager for the move, would not say how much it has cost the mining company. ___ Associated Press journalist Pietro De Cristofaro in Kiruna, Sweden, contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Time Business News
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- Time Business News
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Ontario is blessed with some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in Canada. From crystal-clear lakes to lush green forests and rolling hills, it's no surprise that camping is one of the province's favorite pastimes. Whether you prefer peaceful lakeside getaways, adventurous hiking trails, or family-friendly campgrounds, there's a perfect spot waiting for you. At Accommodating Bay, we specialize in helping you discover the most beautiful camping spots in Ontario — places where you can relax, recharge, and create memories that last a lifetime. Let's explore some of Ontario's top camping destinations that combine stunning scenery with unforgettable outdoor experiences. Algonquin Provincial Park is Ontario's crown jewel for camping. With over 7,600 square kilometers of pristine wilderness, it's a dream come true for nature lovers. The park is home to shimmering lakes, winding rivers, and diverse wildlife, including moose and beavers. Whether you choose car-accessible campgrounds, canoe-in sites, or backcountry camping, Algonquin offers endless opportunities for adventure. In autumn, the park transforms into a spectacular display of fall colors, making it one of the most beautiful camping spots in Ontario year-round. Located north of Kaladar, Bon Echo is famous for its dramatic Mazinaw Rock — a towering 100-meter cliff adorned with ancient Indigenous pictographs. This natural wonder rises above Mazinaw Lake, creating breathtaking views for campers. Canoeing, hiking, and photography are popular activities here. Campsites along the shoreline allow you to wake up to peaceful water views and end the day with glowing sunsets. Bon Echo perfectly blends nature, history, and beauty in one place. If turquoise waters and rugged cliffs are your style, Bruce Peninsula National Park is a must-visit. Nestled along Georgian Bay, this park is home to rare orchids, lush forests, and the famous Grotto — a sea cave with an underwater tunnel. Camping here offers easy access to hiking trails, swimming spots, and some of the clearest night skies in Ontario. Its combination of rocky landscapes and sparkling waters makes it one of the province's most photogenic camping destinations. Killbear Provincial Park is the perfect blend of sandy beaches, rocky shores, and forest trails. Situated on Georgian Bay, it's a top pick for families looking for a safe yet scenic camping experience. The park is ideal for swimming, cycling, kayaking, and wildlife spotting. Its accessible yet picturesque setting makes it a go-to spot for summer camping trips in Ontario. Killarney is a hidden gem for campers who crave solitude and striking scenery. Known for its white quartzite cliffs, sapphire-blue lakes, and dense pine forests, the park offers unmatched beauty. Backcountry camping here is perfect for paddlers and hikers seeking untouched wilderness. As a designated Dark Sky Preserve, Killarney is also one of the best places in Ontario for stargazing. Book Early : Popular parks fill up quickly, especially during summer weekends. : Popular parks fill up quickly, especially during summer weekends. Pack Smart : Ontario weather can change fast, so bring layers and waterproof gear. : Ontario weather can change fast, so bring layers and waterproof gear. Respect Nature : Follow Leave No Trace principles to keep these locations pristine. : Follow Leave No Trace principles to keep these locations pristine. Explore Locally: Many camping spots are close to charming small towns and local attractions. At Accommodating Bay, we go beyond just listing campsites — we curate experiences. Our mission is to connect you with Ontario's most beautiful camping spots while ensuring comfort and convenience. Whether you're setting up a tent by a quiet lake, booking a family-friendly campground, or trying a unique glamping stay, we help you find the perfect match for your needs. We understand that a great camping trip is about more than just the location — it's about creating a seamless experience from planning to campfire. That's why we offer recommendations, insider tips, and resources to make your trip smooth and enjoyable. With Accommodating Bay, every outdoor adventure becomes a memory you'll cherish. From the vast wilderness of Algonquin to the dramatic cliffs of Bon Echo, the turquoise waters of Bruce Peninsula, and the hidden beauty of Killarney, Ontario offers some of the most spectacular camping experiences in Canada. These destinations aren't just about pitching a tent — they're about connecting with nature, exploring new landscapes, and finding peace away from daily life. If you're ready to experience the most beautiful camping spots in Ontario, let Accommodating Bay be your trusted guide. Pack your gear, invite your loved ones, and get ready for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Ontario's great outdoors. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
