Still More Plate Tectonics: The Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountain National Park

A high-elevation park in Colorado known for its peaks, glaciers, wildlife, and metamorphic rocks.

Long’s Peak

A prominent summit in the park reaching 14,256 feet, first climbed by John Wesley Powell in 1868.

John Wesley Powell

Explorer and geologist who first navigated the Grand Canyon and later led the U.S. Geological Survey.

Active Glaciers

Small, shrinking ice masses still carving the Rocky Mountains today.

Tarn Lakes

Small mountain lakes formed in glacially carved depressions.

Moraines

Accumulations of rock and debris left behind by retreating glaciers.

Trail Ridge Road

A scenic route across the tundra of Rocky Mountain National Park, showcasing periglacial landscapes.

Periglacial Processes

Geologic and ecological processes occurring in cold, tundra-like environments near glaciers.

Colorado River Headwaters

The origin of the Colorado River, located on the west slopes of the park.

St. Vrain Creek

A trout stream flowing down the east slope of the park.

Horseshoe Park

A wildlife-rich area in the park where elk and bighorn sheep often cause traffic jams.

Metamorphic Rocks (Park)

Rocks in the park that have been transformed by heat and pressure, now exposed at the surface.