Battling Rivers

Desert Deluges

Salt Lake City, Utah

Just to show that rivers don't discriminate, they even pop up to flood riverless towns like Salt Lake City. The cause of the flood recorded in this May 1983 image was record heavy snowfall followed by a rapid warming -- the same combination that makes many arid region cities, like Reno, Sacramento and others, especially vulnerable. This particular freak flood caused $621 million in damage. It just goes to show you that with the right conditions, almost anyplace is a flood zone (just don't tell your insurance company).

Photo credit: Rulon Christensen/USGS

Slide show by Larry O'Hanlon

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