Introduction

by: W. Large, D. Denton, & 4A Students

The Dine, also known as the Navajos, were a nomadic tribe of Native Americans. The word "Dine" means "the people" in their native language, Athapascan. They were often referred to as "the great fields" by the Spanish explorers.

Have you ever traveled to the Southwest region of the United States and seen the panoramic deserts and buttes? This is where the Navajos lived, specifically in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado. Other landforms included canyons, plateaus,mesas,and valleys. Also, there were many mountains, including the Rocky Mountains and the Four Sacred Mountains. These were called Blanca Peak, Mount Taylor, San Francisco Peak, and Mount Hesperus. One of the few bodies of water in this dry region was the Rio Grande. This geography where the Navajos lived is beautiful.

The beautiful home of the Navajo Indians was a region of extreme climates. In the winters, it was quite cold and very dry. In the summers, it was hot in the desert, but mildly cool in the mountains. It rained less than 10 inches each year. As you see, the Navajos lived in a varied landscape.