To many, the most outstanding natural features of Colorado National Monument are the park's geological formations. In each of the canyons, visitors can see the remarkable effects of millions of years of erosion on a landscape of sedimentary rock. ![]() Photos courtesy of USGS Canyonlands Research Station ![]() Graphic Courtesy of USGS Canyonlands Research Station Have you noticed the bumpy, knobby, and sometimes dark soil along the trails? That’s biological soil crust! Just like a coral reef is formed over time by lots of small organisms living together, soil crust is formed the same way. Moss, lichen, green algae, cyanobacteria (sigh-AN-oh bacteria), and microfungi all work together to hold sand grains in place and create an environment where seeds can grow. ![]() NPS Photo: Lynn Mager |
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Last updated: January 2, 2024