- Larry Hill
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- Added 07 May 2009
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Sleepy clouds curl around the West Spanish Peak as an early fall storm clears.
The Spanish Peaks lie just south of La Veta, Colorado and have been designated as a Wilderness Area.
The Peaks are world-famous geologically. They formed deep underground under the stresses of the Rio Grande Rift, not far to the west. Great pools of lava, called stocks, pushed toward the surface and extended fingers into the surrounding rock. The molten rock cooled before it could surface as volcanoes; after millions of years of erosion they now top at over 13,000 feet. The fingers, solidified into dikes, extend like spokes for miles around the peaks.
The Spanish Peaks extend eastward into the Plains from the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Their immense beauty made them a favorite setting for American Indians. And because they are visible far out into the Great Plains they became a famous landmark for the Santa Fe and Taos Trails.
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Renni Ritzler 15 May 2009
A wonderful an beautiful view.Gordon Christie 10 May 2009
Great images of a landscape that needs to be protected for ever.Mike Helechu 07 May 2009
Beautiful panorama. Love all of the elements you've included. Those trees are a real bonus. You've done justice to the artistry of mother nature. An excellent image.Warren Ballard 07 May 2009
Magnificent landscape scenes!Sharon Gonzalez 07 May 2009
THE TOP ONE IS A VERY INCREDIBLE PHOTO WITH THOSE VERY LOW CLOUDS, LARRY. AWESOME IMAGE.