Through the breaking apart and movement (rifting) of large surface plates on Earth’s surface, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains were uplifted in the rotation of a large plate. Fossils from the bottom of an ancient sea are now preserved in high layers of rock in the Sangre de Cristos. The San Juan Mountains were created through extended and dramatic volcanic activity. With these two mountain ranges in place, the San Luis Valley was born, covering an area roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. Sediments from both mountain ranges filled the deep chasm of the valley, along with water from mountain streams and rivers.Sand that was left behind after these lakes receded blew with the predominant southwest winds toward a low curve in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The wind funnels toward three mountain passes here – Mosca, Medano, and Music Passes – and the sand accumulates in this natural pocket. The winds blow from the valley floor toward the mountains, but during storms the winds blow back toward the valley. These opposing wind directions cause the dunes to grow vertically. - From the National Park Service Back to the Beach! There are a lot of activities for the whole family to participate in at the park. Like what you ask? Sand boarding, skiing and sledding down the dunes, building sand castles, wading and rafting/tubing in the Medano Creek, hiking, backpacking, camping, singing camp songs, roasting marshmallows over a campfire (check with the ranger first for fire restrictions), 4-Wheel Drive trails, climb 13,000 peaks, and horseback riding! The park is part of the National Parks system, so if you visit the Rocky Mountain National Park already, or it’s on your list of things to do, consider buying the yearly pass. You can purchase the pass online or in person. For more information visit:www.nps.gov
Explore North America’s tallest dunes at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. How the dunes came to be is an extensive and evolving story as geologists continue to learn more about this area. The short version is this:
About the Author: Kelly Young, GRI
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Kelly is an Associate Broker with Red Rock Realty. She has over 12 years experience in Real Estate in the Colorado Springs and Front Range region of Colorado. She represents buyers and sellers of real estate buying homes, land for sale, mountain getaways. Specific areas include: Black Forest, Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Divide, Falcon, Downtown, Manitou Springs, Monument, Old Colorado City, Westside, Woodmen Hills and Woodland Park. You can reach her at 719-226-0126 or by clicking "email the author" above.
