The Eastern San Juan Mountains: Their Geology, Ecology, and Human History

摘要

The San Juan Mountains are located in southwestern Colorado. This unique region is characterized by violent geologic history, high elevation (80% of the area is over 10,000 feet), vast areas of southern subalpine forest, the largest wilderness area in Colorado (488,201 acres), and a 150-year history of hard rock mining. This book on the eastern San Juan Mountains contains 16 chapters organized in four parts: physical environment, biological communities, human history, and points of interest. The first six chapters address various aspects of the physical environment of the San Juans, including volcanism, mineralogy, geology, geomorphic history, and long-term tem- perature trends. The first two chapters on geology were a challenge for me, having a minimal background in geology.