Synopses & Reviews
The San Juan Skyway winds its way up, over, and through canyons, mesas, plateaus, mountains, plains, and valleys. The sheer variety of landforms makes the Skyway a veritable classroom for the amateur naturalist and historian.
The most complete work published on the natural history of southwest Colorado's majestic mountain system, The Western San Juan Mountains: Their Geology, Ecology, and Human History is designed to be used while exploring the scenic 235-mile paved San Juan Skyway, which passes through Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Telluride, Dolores, and Cortez.
The Western San Juan Mountains covers the physical environment, the biological communities, the human history, and points of interest represented on milepost signs along the highway. Some of the many topics covered include: how the San Juan Mountains were formed; why the landscape is so rugged and picturesque; why the vegetation changes from the lowlands to the alpine heights; energy and mineral resources of the area; why these mountains intrigued early explorers; factors that influence the unpredictable weather; and the first-known inhabitants.
The contributions to this guide include Fort Lewis College geologists, biologists, archaeologists, historians, and other specialists. Together they have amassed more than one hundred years of study based not only on previous work but on their own research.
This generously illustrated guidebook is aimed at all those who wish to understand this intricate mountain system in much greater detail than provided by most picture books.
Synopsis
The most complete work published on the natural history of southwest Colorado's majestic mountain system, The Western San Juan Mountains: Their Geology, Ecology, and Human History is designed to be used while exploring the scenic 235-mile paved San Juan Skyway, which passes through Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Telluride, Dolores, and Cortez, Colorado.
About the Author
Rob Blair is a professor emeritus of geology at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
Table of Contents
Origin of landscapes / Rob Blair -- Paleotectonic history / Douglas C. Brew -- Precambrian rocks / Jack A. Ellingson -- Paleozoic history / John A. Campbell -- Mesozoic and early Cenozoic history / Jack Campbell and Doug Brew -- Volcanic rocks / Jack A. Ellingson -- Ore deposits and minerals / Scott Fetchenhier -- Energy resources / T.L. Britt and J.M. Hornbeck -- Weather and climate / Richard A. Keen -- Ecological patterns / Albert W. Spencer and William H. Romme -- Biotic communities of the semiarid foothills and valleys / Lisa Floyd-Hanna, Albert W. Spencer and William H. Romme -- Biotic communities of the cool mountains / David W. Jamieson, William H. Romme and Preston Somers -- Wetlands, riparian habitats, and rivers / Preston Somers and Lisa Floyd-Hanna -- The foragers of the forest / Philip Duke -- The Anasazi : prehistoric farmers / Gary Matlock -- The Spanish / Richard N. Ellis -- The Utes / Richard N. Ellis -- The miners : they builded better than they knew / Duane Smith -- Points of interest along the San Juan Skyway / Rob Blair and Preston Somers -- Points of interest along the Durango-to-Silverton narrow-gauge railroad / Rob Blair -- Points of interest along the Alpine Loop / Barb Byron.