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| Clouds and Book Cliffs, Grand Junction, Colorado © Doug Hickok All Rights Reserved Afternoon clouds build above Book Cliffs in western Colorado. These cliffs are an arid escarpment of layered rock that span about 200 miles. They are an excellent example of stratified geology, and provide a consummate study model for scientists. The sandstone layers seen here are the remains of an ancient sea that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Yukon during the Cretaceous period, roughly 100 million years ago. This vast, largely undeveloped desert area contains a protected Wild Horse Range and is one of the few places in the country where bands of Mustangs roam free. The Book Cliffs also harbor coyotes, mountain lions, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and American bison. But alas no yaks. |