"Crossing the Colorado River" Yuma by mht_in_la

Yuma is located at the south bank of Colorado River, in the southwestern corner of Arizona bordering the state of California and Mexico. It's very rich in history. From the 16th to the early 20th century the theme in Yuma had been around the Colorado River and how to cross it. This includes the Spanish missions, gold seekers and the 69ers, the railroad industry, and the U.S. military. And when they came here they all had to interact with the Quechans, the native residents of Yuma.

Yuma Territorial Prison

Crossing the Colorado River is no longer a problem. In fact, when you drive around Yuma or along freeway #8 you are likely to cross the river many times without knowing it.

Today, the theme in Yuma is the hordes of snowbirds who come here in their RVs year after year. They are attracted by Yuma's warm weather and easy access to cheap Mexican drugs. A lot of them stay and become premanent residents. According to 2000 census, Yuma is the 3rd fastest growing community in the U.S. (behind Las Vegas, Nevada and Naples, Florida with the same theme). It's also the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Arizona, right after Phoenix and Tucson. But I think Yuma has more personality than these two.

Listed below are the things I found interesting in Yuma...
1. Yuma Crossing - a small state park that encompasses comprehensive history of Yuma.
2. Ocean-to-ocean Highway Bridge - the final link of U.S. coast-to-coast highway system was the pride of Yuma.
3. Yuma Territorial Prison - this photogenic state park is Yuma's #1 tourist attraction.
4. Yuma Indian Reservation - cross the river to the Quechan territory on the California side to see the old mission and new casino.
5. Algodones Dunes - also called Imperial Dunes, Algodones Dunes are the largest sand dune system in the U.S.
6. Algodones, Mexico - a small town built completely on drug stores, dental, and optometry offices is quite a site to see.

Finally I found this Yuma site has lots of useful information.