The Great Sand Dunes
July 13, 2008
Miller having a drink from Don's camel back
Miller with his "hiking" boots on.
The sand is extremely hot and it was
advised that he were boots.
Isn't he SO handsome?
Medano Creek
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Great Sand Dunes
History of the Great Sand Dunes
Colorado
On the eastern side of the remote, high-mountain San Luis Valley, between the Blanca Massif and Crestone Needle, are the Great Sand Dunes, the tallest sand dunes in North America. The dunes cover approximately 39 square miles and rise to almost 750' above the valley floor.
The dunes are the product of the wind and rain eroding the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains that ring the San Luis Valley. They have collected here because the prevailing winds across the valley blow in this direction and meet winds blowing in the opposite direction. The sand drops to the valley floor and is held in place by water flowing from the Sangre de Cristo's. So over the course of millenia, the dunes have built up to where they are today. And tomorrow they will be different because the wind still blows, the sand still moves and the deposits of sand still grow.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
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