Mesa Verde National Park
Cortez, United States
02.08.2013
Located in the southwestern corner of Colorado, Nationalpark Mesa Verde in Cortez is a breathtaking destination for nature and history enthusiasts. This national park is renowned for its well-preserved archaeological sites that showcase the rich history and culture of the Ancestral Puebloans, who inhabited the area for over 700 years.
The main attraction of Nationalpark Mesa Verde is its impressive cliff dwellings, which are some of the best-preserved examples of Native American architecture in the United States. These intricate dwellings were built into the natural alcoves of the canyon walls, creating a unique and awe-inspiring sight. Visitors can explore these dwellings and learn about the daily life of the Ancestral Puebloans through guided tours and interpretive programs.
Aside from the cliff dwellings, Nationalpark Mesa Verde also boasts a diverse landscape of canyons, mesas, and mountains, making it a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. The park offers a variety of hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging, that lead to stunning overlooks and ancient sites. Visitors can also go camping, birdwatching, and stargazing in this tranquil and scenic environment.
In addition to its natural and historical wonders, Nationalpark Mesa Verde is also home to a rich biodiversity. The park is home to over 5,000 archaeological sites and over 70 species of mammals, including black bears, mountain lions, and mule deer. It is also a haven for bird watchers, with over 200 species of birds spotted in the park.
Whether you are interested in history, nature, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, Nationalpark Mesa Verde in Cortez is a must-visit destination. With its stunning landscapes, ancient ruins, and diverse wildlife, it offers a unique and unforgettable experience for all who visit. So come and immerse yourself in the beauty and wonder of Nationalpark Mesa Verde in Cortez, and discover the rich history and natural treasures of this extraordinary national park.
A great concentration of ancestral Pueblo Indian dwellings, built from the 6th to the 12th century, can be found on the Mesa Verde plateau in south-west Colorado at an altitude of more than 2,600 m. Some 4,400 sites have been recorded, including villages built on the Mesa top. There are also imposing cliff dwellings, built of stone and comprising more than 100 rooms.
Mesa Verde National Park is an American national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Montezuma County, Colorado. The park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan ancestral sites in the United States.
Established by Congress and President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, the park occupies 52,485 acres (212 km2) near the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. With more than 5,000 sites, including 600 cliff dwellings, it is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States. Mesa Verde (Spanish for "green table", or more specifically "green table mountain") is best known for structures such as Cliff Palace, one of the largest cliff dwellings in North America.
Starting c. 7500 BC Mesa Verde was seasonally inhabited by a group of nomadic Paleo-Indians known as the Foothills Mountain Complex. The variety of projectile points found in the region indicates they were influenced by surrounding areas, including the Great Basin, the San Juan Basin, and the Rio Grande Valley. Later, Archaic people established semi-permanent rock shelters in and around the mesa. By 1000 BC, the Basketmaker culture emerged from the local Archaic population, and by 750 AD the Ancestral Puebloans had developed from the Basketmaker culture.
The Pueblo people survived using a combination of hunting, gathering, and subsistence farming of crops such as corn, beans, and squash (the "Three Sisters"). They built the mesa's first pueblos sometime after 650, and by the end of the 12th century, they began to construct the massive cliff dwellings for which the park is best known. By 1285, following a period of social and environmental instability driven by a series of severe and prolonged droughts, they migrated south to locations in Arizona and New Mexico, including the Rio Chama, the Albuquerque Basin, the Pajarito Plateau, and the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
