interesting facts about rocky mountain national park
Interesting Facts About Rocky Mountain National Park
Established on 26th January, 1915, the Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the country. Though not as large as the Yellowstone National Park, it attracts just as many tourists. In this article, we'll look at some interesting facts that make this park so popular.
Did You Know?
The Rocky Mountain National Park will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2015! From September 4, 2014 to September 4, 2015, the park will host several festivities!The first mountains in the Rocky Mountain National Park were just islands when they surfaced. Today, after millions of years, they stand as some of the most magnificent in the world, sheltering a number of animals.
Founded in 1892, the Grand Lake Cemetery is the only active community cemetery that operates inside a national park.
The area surrounding this park is also protected. To the park's north and east is the Roosevelt National Forest; on the northwest is the Medicine Bow - Routt National Forest; and on the southwest is the Arapaho National Forest.
The park is home to an astonishing 150 lakes and 450 miles of streams!
In this park, you will also find 5 campgrounds, with a total of 585 campsites!
The eastern and western parts of this national park have distinctively different characteristics as they are divided by the Continental Divide.
72 named peaks in the park are higher than 3,700 m.
Rare animals like the wolverine and the lynx call this park their home. Apart from these, you will find black bears, elks, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, and mule deer. You will also see pikas and yellow-bellied marmots in the higher alpine regions.
The national park is home to a total of 600 buildings, of which 150 are historic structures.
The Rocky Mountain National Park is the highest national park in the country, with elevations ranging roughly from 2,395 m to 4,346 m.
Streams in the Park
The Trail Ridge Road reaches an elevation of 3,713 m, and is thus the highest road in any U.S. National Park. It is closed in winter; during other months, it is one of the best places on the globe to stargaze.
The scenic Sprague Lake, which is famous for fishing, is actually named after Abner Sprague, who started a homestead in the area in 1874.
Bear Lake, which lies in the heart of the park, is a famous trailhead. This lake was formed during the ice age!
The country's first female nature guides were licensed in this park in 1917.
Horseback riding is allowed on most trails; on limited trails, you can use llamas as pack animals.
Colorado's deepest and largest lake, the Grand Lake, is located in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Longs Peak is the highest point in the park, rising to 4,346 m.
In winters, deep snow is a common phenomenon above 2,700 m; this makes the park a popular destination for skiing and snowshoeing.
The warmest months in the park are July and August. During these summer months, the park sometimes experiences thunderstorms.
The Old Fall River Road was the first automobile road that penetrated the park's interiors.