Faultline in Colorado National MonumentColorado National MonumentMay 22, 2007. There are several campgrounds available in the Fruita / Grand Junction area. We chose Monument RV-Park just because we needed to easily & quickly get into the campground and head out to experience Colorado National Monument. Monument RV-Park is a good clean park but at at $35 price tag. They do have location ---- like, within a mile of the western entrance to Colorado National Monument. The Colorado River State Park is located directly across the street from Monument RV-Park. I think we would probably stay in the State Park on a return trip if for no other reason than cost.
Colorado National Monument
Only moments after entering Colorado National Monument we start our climb up the shear sandstone cliff. Joyce snapped this picture of the Fruita/Grand Junction Valley below Colorado National Monument from midway on that climb.
Years ago there wasn't a valley. There was a time when the the valley and the mesa was flat. Forces in the earth's crust made them move to the positions they now occupy. These forces in the earth's crust made the Mesa rise while a fault line developed and the valley fell. The fault runs east and west almost parallel to I-70.
Graphic illustration of showing fault line geology in Colorado National Monument
Pay attention to this graphic. The following pictures in this travelogue I will present pictures where these events are evident.
Fault line that created Colorado National Monument
The almost vertical angle of this formation is on the fault. This formation is falling into the valley.
Fault line on northern side of Colorado National Monument
From this angle you can see the fault. On the right side different layers of sediment are virtually flat. While on the left it is easy to see the almost vertical piece falling into the valley.
Fault line where it is bending not breaking in Colorado National Monument
Rock formations along the fault "bent" instead of completely breaking.
Bending fault line in Colorado National Monument
Picture showing rock formations along the fault bending instead of breaking.
Bending fault line in Colorado National Monument
The road is dropping on about a 7% grade while it is evident this rock formation is dropping at a much steeper rate. In this instance these rocks are being bent by pressures deep within the earth. Sometimes the rock bends along fault lines other times it breaks.
View from fault line in Colorado National Monument
Across the valley you can see the entire block that faulted and fell creating this valley. The sandstone rock in the bottom left corner if this picture is almost vertical. We are standing on the fault line while taking this picture. Rocks did not bend here the block on one side of the fault fell and created a sharp cliff face.
Red Canyon Colorado National Monument exposing Kayenta formation and Wingate Sandstone
This is Red Canyon on the eastern side of Colorado National Monument. This view is looking north into the valley and Grand Junction, Colorado in the distance.
These are some of our other Travel Logs in this area: The John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River, Utah Arches National Monument in Moab, Utah Driving US-191 from Blanding to Moab, Utah
More Colorado AdventuresSome Exciting Drives** More 2007 Travel Adventures
Mike & Joyce Hendrix
Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects
We would love to hear from you......just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us Until next time remember how good life is.
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