Show colorado s national monuments challenge human imagination nature leaving a giant imprint from prehistory pre history has stamped out a heritage of grandeur in colorados tour four national monuments set aside for all peoples by presidential proclamation here are rock formations as old as time fossil remail remains of giant dinosaurs and 0 other her ki kindred dred life that roamed the earth 60 million to million years ago and vestiges of long vanished human civilization probably the two best known monuments are the black canyon of the gunnison and the colorado national monument becoming g equally well known is dinosaur r national monument currently carrent ly the center of a heated controversy beautiful grand sand dunes dune national monument also gains thousands ot of new ent enthusiasts each year spanish explorers in 1761 are thought to be the first white men to see the black canyon of the gunnison Gu nalson trappers military expeditions ions and finally settlers re discovered the canyon that finally became a national monument ol 01 acres in 1933 here for a 10 mile stretch the sheer canyon walls rise 1730 feet to 2425 feet above the narrow raging river yet the runs rims of tbt the gorge are only 1300 feet apart at the nearest approach except at noontime the bottom of the canyon is shrouded in darkness hence the canyons name the river carving its way for perhaps millions of years has left bands of black and pinkish rock on the canyon faces evidences of dinosaurs and prehistoric indians are found and trees dating back to the years 1220 and 1470 still grow wild life and flowers are abundant the monument attracts tourists from early spring until late fall almost brashly beautiful colorado national mon monument ent wag was established by presly presidential dennial proclamation in 1911 here are acres of oL upland flanking the colorado river on either side of grand valley an area where wind and water have carved deep red sandstone into weird haunting shapes over centuries upon centuries of time mans achievements arc an dwarfed by natures handiwork including the immense monolith independence rock which jut juts feet into the air adjectives like fantastic and fabulous seem commonplace mon place to describe the beauties of the area nature hag has been at work since before the age of dinosaurs whose remains can be found elk bison other animals flowers and trees of rare beauty can be seen visitors can either take a circle trip or go one way through the monument the eastern entrance is four miles from grand junction and the northern entrance but miles from fruita dinosaur national monument 80 acres established in 1915 by presidential proclamation and enlarged to acres in I 1 1938 Is in the wil wilderness derne of northeastern utah and northa northwestern ellern colorado through the monument wind the canyons of the green and yampa rivers the main entrance to the monument is north of jensen utah on U S 40 now an area of oi great gorges and giant canyons of desert like patches and fock cock stratifications the monument once was a lush tropical place in which dinosaurs and other prehistoric life flourished over million years ago fossilized remains are everywhere as are the remains of p prehistoric historic indians who orce ore called Ig the monument grouws their home within the monument Is a temporary museum exhibiting fossilized bones at no charge chug to ile the public |