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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Mesa Verde National ParkView from Mancos Canyon Overlook
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Mesa Verde National Park
Natural Features & Ecosystems

natural features & ecosystems includes:

Geology
 
Images showing a variety of geologic features.
NPS PHOTOS
Top left: Cliff House Sandstone, Top center: Point Lookout Formation, Top right: Mancos Shale, Bottom left: Alcove (Cliff Palace), Bottom center: Seep spring, Bottom right: Concretions.
 


The geological history of Mesa Verde National Park is as diverse as the cultural history of the region. The Ancestral Puebloans recognized this diversity and used the geology of the area to create a sustainable and advanced lifestyle. These people thrived in the Southwest, supporting and nourishing their families with the remarkable natural resources on the mesa and from nearby areas.

 
View of mesas  

Did You Know?
The Ancestral Puebloans inhabited Mesa Verde for more than 700 years (550 A.D. to 1300 A.D.), but for the first six centuries, they primarily lived on the mesa tops. It was not until the final 75 to 100 years that they constructed and lived in the cliff dwellings for which Mesa Verde is known.

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Last Updated: November 12, 2008 at 13:13 EST