Bayou Salado "Salt Marsh"

Bayou Salado "Salt Marsh". . Dubbed Bayou Salado by early European explorers, South Park is one of four high-altitude mountain parks in Colorado., The view from Wilkerson Pass looks down to a great flat plain, perhaps the best-known mountain park in the state., The name, Bayou Salado, combines French and Spanish terms that refer to the large salt deposits on the southwestern margin of South Park, a major attraction for grazing animals. The vast numbers of these game animals in South Park led to the use of the French word parc, meaning hunting preserve., Mountains ring the basin. The unique rock formations to the east are part of the Kenosha and Tarryall Mountains. The Mosquito Range lies to the west and the Park Range is on the north. The Continental Divide runs along the highest points of these two sets of mountains. In the south are the volcanic formations of Thirtynine Mile Mountain, Black Mountain, and Dick's Peak. The waters of the Middle and South forks of the South Platte River and its tributaries traverse the park on their way to the Missouri., Captions , Left: Colorado's four mountain parks, visible from space, are high-elevation prairies that serve as transition zones for many plant and animal species. , Right: South Park's high water table, natural salt deposits, and thick native grasses were a strong draw for game animals and humans alike. The landscape now consists mostly of shortgrass prairie, but its power of attraction continues.