Feel yourself on the moon? - Easy . Come to Idaho and visit the valley of the Moon craters - a unique place on the planet, exactly the same as the relief of its satellite . And in this one of the most sparsely populated states of the country you can see the canyon deeper than the famous Grand Canyon, the waterfall is higher Niagara, salmon-filled rivers that make their way right in the center of the city, lakes of crystal clearness, dense forests, hot springs and many other natural treasures that the "gem state" boasts (this is the nickname Idaho was given), rich not only with gold, but also with natural attractions . What to say, Idaho is an ideal holiday destination for adventurers .

The largest city in the state and its capital is Boise City, the largest cities are Nampa, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and others. The terrain is very mountainous. In the northeast are the Clearwater mountains and, along the border with the state of Montana, Bitterroot, which is part of the Rocky Mountains. In the central part of the state there are the Salmon River, Soutout and White Cloud, in the north-central - Lemhi and Lost River.

How to get there

If you decide to rest in Idaho, you will have to fly with one or two transplants. Inveterate tourists traditionally choose one of the major cities of the state - its capital or Idaho Falls. Flight from one capital city to another (Moscow-Boise) will take about 20 hours and cost around 70 thousand at one transplant, and 42 thousand - at two. In Idaho Falls, an air taxi will take you from Sheremetyevo (with two transfers) for 20 hours, and the cost of the trip will be about 40 thousand rubles.

The state is better to travel by car, which can be rented, or on trains. By the way, although the railway communication in the country is very developed, there is a ticket for the train not cheap. However, the undoubted advantage of such a trip is the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful views that the state is famous for without risking to get lost or to miss the right turn, looking at the enchanting pristine nature of these places. Although, on the other hand, maybe, it is getting lost, you will find on the unexplored deposits of natural beauties.

Climate in Idaho

The climate in Idaho is diverse (from +44 ° C in the summer in the valleys to -30 ° C in the mountains in winter), the hottest month is July (up to +38 ° C), However, the heat is "facilitated" by low humidity and cool evenings in the summer months. By the way, the famous American hurricanes do not reach here.

In the winter, the temperature does not go down for a long time below zero (though occasionally there are frosts to -30 ° C, so when you go in winter do not forget the warm jacket.)

Entertainment, excursions and attractions

Speaking about the sights of Idaho, first of all it is necessary, of course, to mention the unique natural objects of the state. The most famous of them are the Hells Canyon, the Shoshone Falls, the Moon craters, the World Center for Birds of Prey. Among the attractions here are fishing, car and bike tours, mountain skiing, rafting, mountaineering, a lot of museums and galleries and, of course, endless photography, admiring stunning views and an extensive collection of impressions.

Helles- Canyon

"Devil's, or infernal" canyon, which is how the name of this masterpiece of nature is translated, is formed by the Snake River and is located on the border of the states of Idaho and Oregon. The depth of the Hells Canyon is 2436 m, it is the deepest canyon in the USA (more than half a kilometer deeper than the famous Grand Canyon in Arizona). Three hydroelectric power stations are built in the canyon. Interestingly, during their construction, "stairs for fish" were provided, allowing salmonids to climb upstream during spawning. How can you not envy this scaly ?!

The deepest river gorge of North America has almost 160 km of unruly, stormy river elements, which attract kayaking, rafting and other extreme sports lovers. And who likes to spend time in a calmer environment can go fishing.

Shoshone-Falls Waterfall

Shoshone-Falls Waterfall is located on the Snake River near the city of Twin Falls, Idaho. This beautiful waterfall is called "Niagara West". The height of the Shoshone Falls is about 65 meters - 11 meters higher than the Niagara Falls. The width of the waterfall is 274 meters. Like a hereditary sorceress, the waterfall enchants with its majestic noise, capturing inexperienced tourists for hours to admire it.

Moon craters

In the central part of Idaho, there are "Moon Craters" - one of the most stunning national monuments and reserves USA. Three lava fields formed by the eruption of the volcano occupy almost three thousand square meters. km. The unique landscape was called "Moon craters" because of the similarity to the surface of the Earth's satellite.

"Lunar Craters" appeared about two centuries ago back as a result of the eruption of the volcano. The landscape looks unreal, and the silence of this place is simply amazing. Yes, an unforgettable contrast after the Shoshone Falls. 80 sq. M. km covered with incredible in the structure of columns, mysterious caves and space craters. Around them protrude fossilized mutilated trees, suggesting horror, for which they were called the Garden of the Devil. Many survive not only trunks and roots, but even separate branches.

Caves are striking in size, and fantastic shapes, and antiquity, and that even on the hottest day they keep minus temperature, in some there is even ice. It turns out that you can feel like a conqueror of other planets and a hero of the "Star Wars" without going into space.

The Sunny Valley

The Sun Valley resort is very popular among tourists and fans of mountain skiing - "Sun Valley", the first winter resort in the USA , modeled after the resorts in the Alps

Today in the Valley for holidaymakers two zones for skiing with a total area of ​​more than 2.5 sq. m are open. km, there is a large number of lifts made with the latest technology, a huge ice rink is running, where ice shows with Olympic stars, restaurants, cafes, hotels, shops are often held.

Do not be surprised if you are standing in the neighborhood of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Bill Clinton while skiing on the slopes of the Sun Valley or lacing skates. This place has long been chosen by American celebrities - here rested Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Ernest Hemingway lived here last days. Here, the film "Serenade of the Sun Valley" was shot.

Fans of mountain skiing come here from all over the world for the sun (sunny days here 335 a year), snow, air and silence, and the resort of San Vallée welcomes everyone who wants to be in a fairy tale and believes that it will certainly happen a miracle.

All prices are indicated in June 2013