Although the area's first Spanish explorers named the feature Mesa Verde, the term is a misnomer, as true mesas are almost perfectly flat. Because Mesa Verde is slanted to the south on a 3% grade, the proper geological term is cuesta, not mesa. The park is made up of several smaller cuestas located between canyons. Mesa Verde's slant contributed to the formation of the alcoves that have preserved the area's cliff dwellings.

Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde, CO
December 2017

Point Lookout by Paul Sager, on Flickr
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4720/39004324675_6f10cbaaeb_h.jpg



Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4658/39903244191_46cc4a20de_h.jpg



From Point Lookout on a clear day, you can see mountain peaks in all four states of the Four Corners region.

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4661/39192596744_29f8dc5eb5_h.jpg



In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt approved creation of the Mesa Verde National Park and the Federal Antiquities Act of 1906. The park was an effort to "preserve the works of man" and was the first park created to protect a location of cultural significance. The park was named with the Spanish term for green table because of its forests of juniper and piñon trees.

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4741/39870318932_f95b32d88d_h.jpg

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4624/39192614974_2b50ae41ad_h.jpg



Mesa Verde was designated a World Heritage Site in 1978. In its 2015 travel awards, Sunset magazine named Mesa Verde National Park "the best cultural attraction" in the Western United States.

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4755/26030278658_935ceeb4f3_h.jpg

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4613/39870311332_d8e151594c_h.jpg

These images are from an EOS 5DIII and mostly the EF 24-105 f/4L IS II. They're sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from host Flickr page as well. On the Flickr site, use your L-key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.

Although the area's first Spanish explorers named the feature Mesa Verde, the term is a misnomer, as true mesas are almost perfectly flat. Because Mesa Verde is slanted to the south on a 3% grade, the proper geological term is cuesta, not mesa. The park is made up of several smaller cuestas located between canyons. Mesa Verde's slant contributed to the formation of the alcoves that have preserved the area's cliff dwellings.

Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde, CO
December 2017

Point Lookout by Paul Sager, on Flickr
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4720/39004324675_6f10cbaaeb_h.jpg
Beautiful set Paul. Have been enjoying this series.


Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4658/39903244191_46cc4a20de_h.jpg



From Point Lookout on a clear day, you can see mountain peaks in all four states of the Four Corners region.

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4661/39192596744_29f8dc5eb5_h.jpg



In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt approved creation of the Mesa Verde National Park and the Federal Antiquities Act of 1906. The park was an effort to "preserve the works of man" and was the first park created to protect a location of cultural significance. The park was named with the Spanish term for green table because of its forests of juniper and piñon trees.

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4741/39870318932_f95b32d88d_h.jpg

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4624/39192614974_2b50ae41ad_h.jpg



Mesa Verde was designated a World Heritage Site in 1978. In its 2015 travel awards, Sunset magazine named Mesa Verde National Park "the best cultural attraction" in the Western United States.

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4755/26030278658_935ceeb4f3_h.jpg

Mesa Verde National Monument
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4613/39870311332_d8e151594c_h.jpg

These images are from an EOS 5DIII and mostly the EF 24-105 f/4L IS II. They're sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from host Flickr page as well. On the Flickr site, use your L-key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.