Cool mist from the veil of Havasu Falls drifts across turquoise pools buttressed by travertine terraces. This desert oasis has been home to the Havasupai Indians, the “people of blue-green water,” for hundreds of years. Mineral rich, the water of Havasu Creek deposits endless fine layers of calcium carbonate to form travertine terraces and aprons. Exposed to air, the minerals oxidize to rusty hues. Minerals that settle below water remain white and, like a mirror, reflect the blue sky.