1.   Authorities said soldiers are patrolling the rugged mountains and arid valleys on foot, on horseback in off-road vehicles and from armed helicopters.

2.   Vast arid valleys blossomed with crops as water was piped from distant waterways.

3.   Lured by the promise of affordable homes, bigger lots and open space, more Californians moved over the Coast ranges and into the arid agricultural valleys.

4.   Maroon-walled Buddhist monasteries rise fortress-like from arid valleys.

5.   The official Saudi news agency SPA said the migration toward Mina, an arid valley encircled by mountains, was free of incident.