Far away on the horizon we could see a long shore line, with large buildings at equal distances from each other. "These buildings, which you see," the leader pointed out, "are big dams. They are on all our shores, spaced at one hundred mile intervals, and are about ten times larger than your biggest dam. They are built to withstand the constant battering of the most powerful waves. Natural wave forces also create our electric light power and energy. Large filters, distilling, sterilizing, and refining plants extract from the sea water salt and other ingredients for our use, the water is then fresh and palatable for our consumption. This water is stored in immense reservoirs and pumped into our homes and to our hot water plants. The hot water and steam in turn are pumped wherever needed. We also use for power, heat, and other purposes powerful volcanic steam from wells drilled deep into the crust of our planet. We don't have to entirely depend on precipitation for our fresh water supply, like you Earth people do, during your frequent drought periods, which create famines for your inhabitants, and the destruction of your vegetations. Neither do we have to create cloud rains, as we have more than enough water for all our necessities. We even have secondary large fresh water reservoirs in our former deserts which have become productive. Our powerful pumps and our permanent automatic systems of cold water sprinklers and hot water and air pipes keep all our croplands, orchards, and in fact all our cultivations fully supplied, and thermostatically heat protected against frosts, snow storms, and freeze-ups. "The waters of all our fresh water lakes, large and small rivers, and springs are carefully guarded against pollution. They are always fit, and safe for human consumption. We also have many dams on our rivers. We use the abundant forces of nature at our command, of more than is sufficient for our needs, even if Mars' population were doubled. "Mother Nature is very generous in her abundant and unlimited gifts. We have harnessed only a few of them. Every day we discover new and better elements. From time to time our mode of life improves through their adaptation and reconstruction. Thus we are kept busy creating new occupations and abandoning some of the old and useless ones." We were speedily nearing land. They flew low, circling around to give us a bird's-eye view of a great stretch of suburban and city habitations, I would say ten times larger than New York City and its surroundings.