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“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Mosca in Alamosa County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
 

The Mountain Barrier

 
 
The Mountain Barrier Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 1, 2008
1. The Mountain Barrier Marker
Inscription.
Mountains and passes were important in the formation
of the sand dunes.

You are looking at the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Prevailing southwesterly winds carrying sand across the San Luis Valley were blocked by the mountains.

As the winds rose to sweep through the passes, sand was dropped.

Some storms come from the northeast and reverse the wind flow through the passes, blowing sand back toward the Dune field.
 
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: EnvironmentNatural Features.
 
Location. 37° 43.992′ N, 105° 30.756′ W. Marker is in Mosca, Colorado, in Alamosa County. Marker can be reached from Highway 150. The marker is located on the back porch of the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11999 Highway 150, Mosca CO 81146, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sangre de Cristo Ecosystem (within shouting distance of this marker); Zebulon Pike's "sand-hills" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dimensions (approx. half a mile away); Stepping into Wilderness
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(approx. half a mile away); A Landmark for People (approx. 2.2 miles away); "Totally Unique and Unexpected" (approx. 3.2 miles away); Understanding the Great Sand Dunes System: the Sand Sheet (approx. 6.9 miles away); Sounds of Silence (approx. 6.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mosca.
 
The Mountain Barrier image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 1, 2008
2. The Mountain Barrier
The Mountain Barrier image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 1, 2008
3. The Mountain Barrier
Sand Dune Formation image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 1, 2008
4. Sand Dune Formation
Dunes form in response to wind patterns and sand supply. The high dunes you see are Reversing Dunes. The lower dunes near the creek are Barchan and Reversing Dunes. The Star Dunes are located on the far side of the Dune field.
Sand Dune Formation image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 1, 2008
5. Sand Dune Formation
Sign at the entrance to the park image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 1, 2008
6. Sign at the entrance to the park
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 691 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 2, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 19, 2024