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September 2014

Internship at NVIDIA 2014

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5 Traveling around California

A big part of this internship was traveling. This was mostly because me and my friend went by car from Indiana to California and back. If you are on internship in California I highly recommend you to visit some of the national parks there. I have to admit that I was really surprised by the beauty of the national parks — pictures cannot capture the scale and depth of the real experience.

In this chapter I go over all the places I have visited during my internship. You can take this as a travel advisory or just bunch of nice pictures.

5.1 Arches National Park

Arches National Park is located in eastern Utah and it is known for containing over 2000 natural sandstone arches. The lucky composition of materials and erosion gave birth to all the amazing arches. The erosion process is still happening and it is possible that there might be no arches left in a thousand years, so remember to take pictures! :)

  • North Window and South Window arches.
    North Window and South Window arches.
  • Arches.
    Arches.
  • No arches.
    No arches.
  • North Window arch (I think).
    North Window arch (I think).
  • Rain is coming.
    Rain is coming.
  • You can see an arch forming out of that rock. The rain reveals that it is actually separating from the rock.
    You can see an arch forming out of that rock. The rain reveals that it is actually separating from the rock.
  • A nice view at Arches National Park.
    A nice view at Arches National Park.
  • Structure of some arches is quite complex.
    Structure of some arches is quite complex.
  • Those trees look like dead and dry but they are actually not.
    Those trees look like dead and dry but they are actually not.
  • Another arch (do not remember its name).
    Another arch (do not remember its name).
Figure 1: Photos from Arches National Park.

5.2 Red Canyon

Red Canyon is on the way to Bryce Canyon. This place is very interesting because there is sudden change of land from green to red. We stopped there just for 15 minutes but the view was amazing.

  • Red Canyon — sudden transition of land from green to red.
    Red Canyon — sudden transition of land from green to red.
Figure 2: Red Canyon — sudden transition of land from green to red.

5.3 Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah. The beauty of this park is that it is very unexpected. Unlike Arches, Bryce Canyon is somewhat hidden. You do not know what to expect until you get out of car and walk to the cliff. Unfortunately there was no time to hike there but you can actually go down to the canyon.

  • Typical spike structures in the Bryce Canyon.
    Typical spike structures in the Bryce Canyon.
  • Look across Bryce Canyon.
    Look across Bryce Canyon.
  • Amazing structures and layers of Bryce Canyon.
    Amazing structures and layers of Bryce Canyon.
  • On the way in and out you get to drive through two arches above the road.
    On the way in and out you get to drive through two arches above the road.
Figure 3: Photos from Bryce Canyon National Park.

5.4 Las Vegas

I know that Las Vegas is not national park but it is worth visiting if you are going around. I am personally not very much into crazy partying and drinking but Las Vegas has something for everybody!

Me and my friends stayed in hotel called Stratosphere that has 350 m (1150 ft.) tall tower which is actually the tallest point is Las Vegas. On top of the tower there are some crazy thrill rides and of course a bar.

  • A look from top of the Stratosphere hotel in Las Vegas.
    A look from top of the Stratosphere hotel in Las Vegas.
  • Crazy spinning thrill ride on top of hotel Stratosphere in Las Vegas.
    Crazy spinning thrill ride on top of hotel Stratosphere in Las Vegas.
  • Hotel Stratosphere in Las Vegas.
    Hotel Stratosphere in Las Vegas.
  • Las Vegas strip.
    Las Vegas strip.
  • No "IFs" "ANDs" or ...
    No "IFs" "ANDs" or ...
  • The Fountain Show at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip.
    The Fountain Show at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip.
  • You can find nearly everything in Las Vegas — including a small Eiffel tower or a Statue of Liberty.
    You can find nearly everything in Las Vegas — including a small Eiffel tower or a Statue of Liberty.
Figure 4: Photos from Las Vegas.

5.5 Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. It is named after the Joshua trees that are very distinct and grow in high concentration through the park. One thing that amazed me about Joshua trees is that they are somewhat hybrid between traditional trees and palm trees. As you may know, traditional trees grow wood and form tree rings in the wood and branches rapidly. On the other hand palm trees have no tree rings and they do not branch at all. Joshua trees grow like palm trees but they actually branch.

  • Elder Joshua Tree.
    Elder Joshua Tree.
  • Joshua Tree seeds.
    Joshua Tree seeds.
  • Nearly broken Joshua Tree but it still grows just fine.
    Nearly broken Joshua Tree but it still grows just fine.
  • Joshua Tree National Park.
    Joshua Tree National Park.
  • Another big one.
    Another big one.
Figure 5: Photos from Joshua Tree National Park.

5.6 Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam is located southeast of Las Vegas on the border of Nevada and Arizona. This marvelous piece of engineering was built in 1936 and its installed capacity of 2 GW is equal to a nuclear power plant. Nowadays the water level is relatively low and you can clearly see where the water used to be because the rock turned white.

  • 180 degrees panorama looking down the Hoover Dam.
    180 degrees panorama looking down the Hoover Dam.
  • Hoover Dam from the highway bridge.
    Hoover Dam from the highway bridge.
  • The white areas show where the water levels used to be.
    The white areas show where the water levels used to be.
  • Hoover Dam from the back, you can see the four intake towers.
    Hoover Dam from the back, you can see the four intake towers.
  • Not all power poles that are straight up.
    Not all power poles that are straight up.
  • The actual power plant - it's huge, do you see the cars?
    The actual power plant - it's huge, do you see the cars?
Figure 6: Photos from Hoover Dam.

5.7 Death Valley National Park

Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. It is the lowest, driest, and hottest area in North America (hence the name). It was so hot there that our car was not able to cool down the air in the car so we were sweating all the way. The fact that there is actually water is quite interesting to me.

  • The lowest point of Death valley 86 m (282 ft.) below see level actually contains a small pond of salty water.
    The lowest point of Death valley 86 m (282 ft.) below see level actually contains a small pond of salty water.
  • Sea level sign on the rock.
    Sea level sign on the rock.
  • Death Valley is not dead — there are animals there!
    Death Valley is not dead — there are animals there!
  • The lowest point of Death Valley — dried-out lake.
    The lowest point of Death Valley — dried-out lake.
  • You better come prepared there, no services for long time.
    You better come prepared there, no services for long time.
  • Straight highway, no cars and just 65 mph limit...
    Straight highway, no cars and just 65 mph limit...
Figure 7: Photos from Death Valley National Park.

5.8 Crowley Lake

Crowley Lake was created in 1941 by the building of the Long Valley Dam by as storage for the Los Angeles Aqueduct and for flood control.

  • Crowley Lake.
    Crowley Lake.
Figure 8: Crowley Lake.

5.9 Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is located in eastern portion of state California. Yosemite is really spectacular place! You can find there Yosemite Falls — the highest waterfall in North America with height 739 m (2425 ft.). The park also has ancient Giant Sequoia trees which are one of the tallest and longest-lived tree species. Yosemite has an elevation range from 648 to 3997 m (2127 to 13114 ft.). Definitely a place to visit at least for a whole weekend!

  • Tenaya lake.
    Tenaya lake.
  • Yosemite Falls.
    Yosemite Falls.
  • Ellery lake.
    Ellery lake.
  • East entrance to Yosemite National Park.
    East entrance to Yosemite National Park.
  • A rock, really big rock.
    A rock, really big rock.
  • Scenery after the Ellery lake.
    Scenery after the Ellery lake.
  • Down in the valley of Yosemite National Park.
    Down in the valley of Yosemite National Park.
  • Snow in June? I had to try it out and yep, it was snow indeed.
    Snow in June? I had to try it out and yep, it was snow indeed.
Figure 9: Photos from Yosemite National Park.

5.10 Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is located along the border between California and Nevada. It has surface elevation of 1897 m (6225 ft.) and it was formed about 2 million years ago. It is known for the clarity of its water which is unfortunately decreasing at an average rate of 0.25 meters per year. Lake Tahoe is very nice area for camping, hiking or even skiing but I disliked the amount of tourists there.

  • Lake Tahoe.
    Lake Tahoe.
  • Water in Lake Tahoe is very clear.
    Water in Lake Tahoe is very clear.
  • Fallen leaf lake next to Lake Tahoe.
    Fallen leaf lake next to Lake Tahoe.
  • Nature nearby Lake Tahoe.
    Nature nearby Lake Tahoe.
Figure 10: Photos from Lake Tahoe.

5.11 Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is located in northwestern part of Wyoming. Half of the world's geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled from underground by the largest super-volcano on the continent centered over the Yellowstone Caldera. Yellowstone also has one of the most famous and most predictable geysers Old Faithful. Definitely another place to visit over a weekend!

  • Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park.
    Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park.
  • Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
    Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
  • Yellowstone National Park.
    Yellowstone National Park.
  • Mammoth Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park.
    Mammoth Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park.
  • Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
    Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
  • Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
    Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
  • Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
    Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.
Figure 11: Photos from Yellowstone National Park.

5.12 Mount Rushmore National Memorial

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located in southwestern part of South Dakota. You might know it as "president heads in a rock" because that's what it is. In case you want to be smart and know the names (left to right): George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

  • Mount Rushmore entrance.
    Mount Rushmore entrance.
  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
    Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Figure 12: Photos from Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

5.13 Other places worth visiting

Following places were on my list but I had no time to visit them:

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