If you are a Colorado native, you probably recognize this location:
Flickr/Bryce Bradford
Look familiar? If you said the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve near Alamosa, you’d be correct! If you have never visited the area (or if you don’t know much about these sandy marvels), here are seven things to keep in mind:
Flickr/Bryce Bradford
- The Great Sand Dunes National Park covers a whopping 44,246 acres, while the Preserve protects an additional 41,686 acres.
Flickr/Zach Dischner
- The Dunes are the tallest in the country, with the Star Dune (pictured) reaching more than 750 feet tall!.
Wikimedia Commons
- Since the San Luis Valley is such a windy area, it is easy to experience the dune-building process firsthand. (Word to the wise: wear long pants, as your legs may get hit by flying sand and rocks during your hike.)
Wikimedia Commons
- Parts of the Sand Dunes are made up of black sand, which is composed of the mineral magnetite.
Flickr/Brandon Satterwhite
- Any guesses as to how much sand there is at the Dunes? Believe it or not, there is an estimated 5 billion cubic meters of sand within an area of 30 square miles.
Wikimedia Commons
- In addition to protecting the unique area, the Great Sand Dunes were designated as a National Park in order to shield the extra water located just inches below the sand.
Flickr/Chris M Morris
- During the summer, sand temperatures can reach up to a scorching 140 degrees… ouch!
Flickr/James Adams
Have you had the chance to visit this unique area?
Flickr/Zach Dischner
Wikimedia Commons
Flickr/Brandon Satterwhite
Flickr/Chris M Morris
Flickr/James Adams
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
