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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Mesa Verde National ParkView from Mancos Canyon Overlook
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Mesa Verde National Park
Natural Features & Ecosystems

natural features & ecosystems includes:

Geology
 
Images showing a variety of geologic features.
NPS PHOTOS
Top left: Cliff House Sandstone, Top center: Point Lookout Formation, Top right: Mancos Shale, Bottom left: Alcove (Cliff Palace), Bottom center: Seep spring, Bottom right: Concretions.
 


The geological history of Mesa Verde National Park is as diverse as the cultural history of the region. The Ancestral Puebloans recognized this diversity and used the geology of the area to create a sustainable and advanced lifestyle. These people thrived in the Southwest, supporting and nourishing their families with the remarkable natural resources on the mesa and from nearby areas.

 
Baron Gustaf Nordenskiold  

Did You Know?
In 1891, Swedish scientist Gustaf Nordenskiold studied, explored, and photographed many of Mesa Verde’s cliff dwellings. Considered by many to be the first true archeologist at Mesa Verde, his book, "The Cliff Dwellers of the Mesa Verde," was the first extensive record of its cliff dwellings.

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Last Updated: November 12, 2008 at 13:13 EST