Dimensions
Great Sand Dunes National Monument
The scale of the Great Sand Dunes can be difficult to judge. The dunes you see from here are only the front lines of a sea of dunes that covers many square miles.
How far do the dunes extend into the distance? The dunes are 8 miles (13km) across. It would take a strong hiker 5 hours to cross them.
How high is the tallest dune? The highest dune rises nearly 700 feet (200m) –taller than a 50 story building.
How much sand is in the dunes? If all the sand was loaded into railroad cars, the train would be long enough to circle the globe more than 20 times. If the sand were spread out ankle-deep it would cover 1/10 of Colorado.
How large are the Sand Grains? The grains that make up the dunes are tiny, about 1mm in diameter, but most measure between 1/8 and 1/4 mm. Smaller particles blow away over the mountains.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 37° 44.336′ N, 105° 31.025′ W. Marker is in Mosca, Colorado, in Alamosa County. It is on
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and in the San Luis Valley. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Stepping into Wilderness (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Mountain Barrier (approx. half a mile away); Sangre de Cristo Ecosystem (approx. half a mile away); Zebulon Pike's "sand-hills" (approx. 0.6 miles away); A Landmark for People (approx. 2½ miles away); "Totally Unique and Unexpected" (approx. 3.4 miles away); Understanding the Great Sand Dunes System: the Sand Sheet (approx. 7 miles away); Sounds of Silence (approx. 7 miles away). Touch for a list and map
Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 392 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 25, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?
