Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument
National park, western Colorado, U.S. Established in 1911, the 32-sq-mi (83-sq-km) park is known for its colourful, wind-eroded sandstone formations, towering monoliths, and steep-walled canyons.

Petrified logs and dinosaur fossils have been found in the area. Rim Rock Drive skirts the canyon walls, which rise more than 6,500 ft (2,000 m).

* * *

 scenic wilderness area in west-central Colorado, U.S., just west of the city of Grand Junction; the Colorado River parallels the eastern boundary of the monument. Established in 1911, it occupies an area of 32 square miles (83 square km).

      Situated on the Uncompahgre Plateau (which itself is part of the larger Colorado Plateau), the monument is known for its colourful, wind-eroded sandstone formations, towering monoliths, and steep-walled canyons. Rim Rock Drive, 23 miles (37 km) long, skirts the walls of the No Thoroughfare, Red, Ute, and Monument canyons at elevations more than 6,500 feet (1,980 metres) above sea level. The monument's more interesting rock formations include the 600-ton Balanced Rock, the domes of the Coke Ovens, Sentinel Spire, the 450-foot- (140-metre-) high Independence Monument, and Window Rock. Juniper, piñon pine, cactus, sagebrush, and wildflowers thrive in the canyons. Mule deer, bighorn, and coyotes inhabit the monument's backcountry, which is accessible through a network of hiking trails. Petrified logs and dinosaur fossils have been exposed in the locality.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Colorado National Monument — IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado National Monument — Monument Canyon mit der Formation Independence Monument, Fruita (Colorado) im Hintergrund …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Colorado National Monument — Monument national du Colorado Catégorie UICN III (monument naturel) Identifiant 1034 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Colorado National Monument — Sp Kolorãdo nacionãlinis pamiñklas Ap Colorado National Monument L JAV (Koloradas) …   Pasaulio vietovardžiai. Internetinė duomenų bazė

  • Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Complex — U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. Historic district …   Wikipedia

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Colorado National Monument — This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Colorado National Monument. This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado National Monument,… …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado National Monument — geographical name reservation W Colorado W of Grand Junction containing many unusual erosion formations …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Colorado National Monument — Parque nacional en el oeste del estado de Colorado en EE.UU. Constituido en 1911, este parque de 83 km2 (32 mi2) es conocido por sus coloridas formaciones de arenisca erosionadas por el viento, monolitos que se erigen en forma de torre y cañones… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • National Monument — Der Devils Tower war das erste Nationalmonument National Monument heißen in den Vereinigten Staaten durch die Bundesregierung ausgewiesene Schutzgebiete oder Gedenkstätten, die überwiegend vom National Park Service, einer dem Innenministerium… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Petroglyph National Monument — Monument national de Petroglyph Le monument national de Petroglyph, ou Petroglyph National Monument s étend sur 27 km le long de la New Mexico s West Mesa, un escarpement volcanique constitué de basalte qui domine l horizon ouest de la ville d… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”