Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado covers 150,000 acres and has the tallest sand dunes and largest dune field in North America. It contains a variety of ecosystems and wildlife, including bison, elk, and mountain lions.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is a US national park covering 150,000 acres (about 600 sq km) in southwestern Colorado. The park was authorized by Congress in 2004. A much smaller national monument, established in 1932, previously existed in the same area. Great Sand Dunes National Park has the tallest and highest sand dunes as well as the largest dune field in North America. It is also known for the huge range of ecological zones it contains and the multitude of wildlife species found there.
The heart of the park is the 30 square miles (about 70 sq km) of sand dunes in the main dune field. The star dune, the tallest of these, measures 750 feet (about 230 m) from base to top. The dunes are made of sand left over from prehistoric lakes that once existed in the San Luis Valley where the dune field is located. Winds in that area are channeled by the surrounding mountains in ways that build and maintain dunes.
Although the top few inches of the sand are normally dry, there is persistent moisture below that level. This allows animals and plants to thrive in a place few would expect to live. Sand surface temperatures can reach 140-150 degrees F (about 60-65.5 degrees C), while annual lows can be as cold as -20 degrees F (about -29 degrees C.)
The dune field is surrounded by an area of sandy soil which supports both grassland and a mixed scrub of juniper and pinion. West of the field the terrain rises rapidly into the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rockies. Six peaks over 13,000 feet (approximately 3,960 m) rise within Great Sand Dunes National Park. The ecosystems found in the park range from the high desert of the dune field to the treeless alpine tundra atop the tallest mountains.
A diverse range of animals are found within the park, including at least six species of insects found exclusively in this area. Some of the amphibians and reptiles commonly seen there include Great Plains toads, bull snakes, and short-horned lizards. The alpine lakes are home to suckers, chubs and several species of trout.
Mammals are very well represented in Great Sand Dunes National Park. Among the largest are bison, elk and bighorn sheep. Mule deer and pronghorn are also present, as well as skunks, rabbits and raccoons. In addition to coyotes, predators in the park include black bears, foxes and mountain lions.
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