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For information about ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK:
National Park Service
Information Page
The "Unofficial
Rocky Mountain Homepage"
The above site also posts information about lodging.
About ESTES PARK,
headquarters for Rocky Mt National Park:
ESTES PARK ONLINE
The Estes Park site includes a skycam.
GEOLOGY and ECOLOGY Of The Rocky Mountains:
National
Park Service Website
Rocky
Mountains
Interested in BOTANY?
Learn more about Colorado ASPENS:
Aspen
Trees
Southern
Rocky Mountain Steppe
The Aspen
Project
ARETE:
A narrow, jagged mountain crest, often above the snowline, sculptured
by alpine glaciers and formed by backward erosion of adjoining cirque
walls.
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ASPEN:
Aspen (tree), common name for certain related trees (see Poplar), particularly
the so-called quaking aspens, several species of which have the petioles,
or leafstalks, so compressed that the leaves can move easily from side
to side but not up or down. A breeze sets all leaves of one of these trees
into motion. The most familiar species are the American aspen, found in
North America; the large-toothed aspen, found in eastern Canada and the
United States; and the European aspen, found in Europe, western Asia,
and northern Africa. Scientific classification: Aspens belong to the genus
Populus, of the family Salicaceae. The American aspen is classified as
Populus tremuloides, the large-toothed aspen as Populus grandidentata,
and the European aspen as Populus tremula.
credits:http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=053B9000
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CIRQUE:
semicircular, concave, bowl-like area with steep face primarily resulting
from erosive activity of a mountain glacier.
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CONTINENTAL DIVIDE:
(or Great Divide), watershed in Rocky Mountain region between streams
flowing toward the Atlantic and those flowing toward the Pacific.
credits:
http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/nssh/629.htm
http://www.comptons.com/encyclopedia/ARTICLES/0325/03318272_Q.html#top
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For information on the role GLACIATION
played in the sculpting of the Rocky Mountains, please visit the following
websites:
http://www.americanparknetwork.com/parkinfo/rm/geology/index.html
http://www2.nature.nps.gov/grd/parks/icag/index.htm
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TRAIL RIDGE ROAD:
Easily, Trail Ridge Road is the most popular road in the Rocky Mountain
National Park region. It is also the highest continually paved highway
in the United States, peaking at just over 12,100 feet above sea level.
The road travels through several climactic zones, and gives travelers
the unique opportunity to experience alpine tundra first-hand. Be careful,
however, as the tundra is a fragile place. Atop Trail Ridge Road is the
Alpine Visitors Center, which includes a snack bar, gift shop and exhibits
staffed with Park rangers. Beyond that is Milner Pass, where the road
crosses the Continental Divide. Trail ridge road can be easily reached
via Estes Park or Grand Lake. The higher reaches are generally closed
for much of the year due to high snowfall. The National Park Service tries
to open the road by Memorial Day each year, and the road stays open until
late September or early October. Throughout this time, the road may temporarily
close due to high winds or snow. The high elevations may cause altitude
sickness in some people, or may aggravate heart or lung troubles. Also,
beware afternoon thunderstorms and the lightning they carry.
credits: http://estes.on-line.com/rmnp/rmnp-rds.html
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