Mosca in Alamosa County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Mountain Barrier
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: Environment • Natural 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 (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.
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.