Hermosa Creek Wilderness: Difference between revisions
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The '''Hermosa Creek Wilderness''' is a {{convert|37236|acres|ha}} [[U.S. Wilderness Area]] in the [[San Juan National Forest]] north of Durango. It was established by the [[Hermosa Creek Protection Act]] of 2014, which also created the [[Hermosa Creek Special Management Area]], which shares its eastern border, [[Hermosa Creek]]. Elevation in the Hermosa Creek Wilderness ranges from 7,000 to 12,000 feet.<ref name="San Juan National Forest page">{{cite web|title=Hermosa Wilderness|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recarea/?recid=81608|website=San Juan National Forest|publisher=U.S. Forest Service}}</ref><ref name="wilderness.net">{{cite web|title=Hermosa Creek Wilderness|url=https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=760|website=Wilderness.net|publisher=Wilderness Connect}}</ref> |
The '''Hermosa Creek Wilderness''' is a {{convert|37236|acres|ha}} [[U.S. Wilderness Area]] in the [[San Juan National Forest]] north of Durango. It was established by the [[Hermosa Creek Protection Act]] of 2014, which also created the [[Hermosa Creek Special Management Area]], which shares its eastern border, [[Hermosa Creek]]. Elevation in the Hermosa Creek Wilderness ranges from 7,000 to 12,000 feet.<ref name="San Juan National Forest page">{{cite web|title=Hermosa Wilderness|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recarea/?recid=81608|website=San Juan National Forest|publisher=U.S. Forest Service}}</ref><ref name="wilderness.net">{{cite web|title=Hermosa Creek Wilderness|url=https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=760|website=Wilderness.net|publisher=Wilderness Connect}}</ref> |
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==Geology== |
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[[Sedimentary rock| Sedimentary rocks]] form the landscape of the Hermosa Creek Wilderness. The majority of the wilderness consists of beds of [[Paleozoic]] sediments. The oldest rocks, from the Molas and [[Hermosa Formation| Hermosa]] formations ([[Pennsylvanian (geology)|Pennsylvanian]]), were deposited in marine environments. Then, in the [[Permian]] period, there was a transition from marine to terrestrial deposits in the area as the Uncompahgre Highland was uplifted to the north. Sediments eroded from these mountains were deposited here and are found in the Rico and [[Cutler Formation| Cutler]] formations. <ref name=usgs>{{cite book| last1=Larson| first1=Esper S., Jr.| last2=Cross| first2=Whitman| title=Geology and Petrology of the San Juan Region, Southwestern Colorado | location=Washington, D.C.| publisher=U.S. Geological Survey| year=1956| series=Professional Paper 258| url= https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp258 | access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref><ref name=usgsmap>{{cite book| last1=Larson| first1=Esper S., Jr.| last2=Cross| first2=Whitman| title=Geology and petrology of the San Juan region, southwestern Colorado: Map| location=Washington, D.C.| publisher=U.S. Geological Survey| year=1956| series=Professional Paper 258| url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_4238.htm| access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref> |
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Along Indian Trail Ridge, the highest terrain in the wilderness, the Paleozoic sediments are capped by younger [[Jurassic]] sedimentary rocks of the Dolores Formation. Along the southern, highest extent of Indian Trail Ridge, there are yet younger Jurassic rocks of the [[Morrison Formation]] and [[Entrada Sandstone]] that cap the ridge.<ref name=usgs/><ref name=usgsmap/> |
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Noticeably lacking in the wilderness are [[Volcanism|volcanic]] [[Lava|lavas]], [[Tuff|tuffs]], and [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerates]] common in other areas of the San Juan Mountains.<ref name=usgs/><ref name=usgsmap/> |
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The wilderness was weakly [[Glaciers|glaciated]], and the area lacks distinctive glacial features. Glacial processes along the eastern side of Indian Trail Ridge show subtle [[cirque]] characteristics. <ref name=usgs/><ref name=hrna>{{cite book| title=Establishment Record for the Hermosa Research Natural Area on the Columbine Ranger District within the San Juan National Forest, La Plata County, Colorado| location=Durango, Colorado| publisher=San Juan National Forest| year=2018| url= https://www.fs.usda.gov/nfs/11558/www/nepa/97270_FSPLT3_4286412.pdf| access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 17:07, 19 February 2021
| Hermosa Creek Wilderness | |
|---|---|
 Indian Trail Ridge is the western border of the Hermosa Creek Wilderness | |
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| Location | La Plata County, Colorado, USA |
| Nearest city | Durango, CO |
| Coordinates | 37°31′08″N 107°58′23″W / 37.519°N 107.973°W |
| Area | 37,236 acres (15,069 ha) |
| Established | 2014 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Hermosa Creek Wilderness is a 37,236 acres (15,069 ha) U.S. Wilderness Area in the San Juan National Forest north of Durango. It was established by the Hermosa Creek Protection Act of 2014, which also created the Hermosa Creek Special Management Area, which shares its eastern border, Hermosa Creek. Elevation in the Hermosa Creek Wilderness ranges from 7,000 to 12,000 feet.[1][2]
Geology
Sedimentary rocks form the landscape of the Hermosa Creek Wilderness. The majority of the wilderness consists of beds of Paleozoic sediments. The oldest rocks, from the Molas and Hermosa formations (Pennsylvanian), were deposited in marine environments. Then, in the Permian period, there was a transition from marine to terrestrial deposits in the area as the Uncompahgre Highland was uplifted to the north. Sediments eroded from these mountains were deposited here and are found in the Rico and Cutler formations. [3][4]
Along Indian Trail Ridge, the highest terrain in the wilderness, the Paleozoic sediments are capped by younger Jurassic sedimentary rocks of the Dolores Formation. Along the southern, highest extent of Indian Trail Ridge, there are yet younger Jurassic rocks of the Morrison Formation and Entrada Sandstone that cap the ridge.[3][4]
Noticeably lacking in the wilderness are volcanic lavas, tuffs, and conglomerates common in other areas of the San Juan Mountains.[3][4]
The wilderness was weakly glaciated, and the area lacks distinctive glacial features. Glacial processes along the eastern side of Indian Trail Ridge show subtle cirque characteristics. [3][5]
References
- ^ "Hermosa Wilderness". San Juan National Forest. U.S. Forest Service.
- ^ "Hermosa Creek Wilderness". Wilderness.net. Wilderness Connect.
- ^ a b c d Larson, Esper S., Jr.; Cross, Whitman (1956). Geology and Petrology of the San Juan Region, Southwestern Colorado. Professional Paper 258. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Larson, Esper S., Jr.; Cross, Whitman (1956). Geology and petrology of the San Juan region, southwestern Colorado: Map. Professional Paper 258. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Establishment Record for the Hermosa Research Natural Area on the Columbine Ranger District within the San Juan National Forest, La Plata County, Colorado (PDF). Durango, Colorado: San Juan National Forest. 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
