State Located
The Rocky Mountains are the largest mountain system in north america. Extends 3,000 miles along the western part of Canada. Located west of the Great Plains and east of the Basin and Range.
founder
on January 26, 1915 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Rocky Mountain National Park Act into law. Rocky Mountain National Park became the 10th national park in the United States.
History of Development
The National Park Service was created to protect both natural and cultural resources side by side. Exploring the park's human past can tell us things about our role as park stewards now and in the future. The stories of Rocky Mountain National Park began with the earliest inhabitants and will continue for generations.
Funding Source and number of visitors
Visitation
While 2014 visitation for Rocky Mountain National Park totaled 3,443,501 visitors, the park also keeps monthly statistics.
Description
- it has many trails and campgrounds for visitors,
- there are mountains, lakes, rivers,grasslands,wetlands,some small glaciers and permanent snow areas,many types of trees,and forests around the park.
- the park features varied climates ad environments and variety of wildlife.
Size of the park
Rocky Mountain National Park’s 415 square miles encompass and protect spectacular mountain environments. Enjoy Trail Ridge Road – which crests at over 12,000 feet including many overlooks to experience the subalpine and alpine worlds – along with over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife, starry nights
Climate
It is getting warmer (a 3.4° F rise in average annual temperature over the last century) in Rocky Mountain National Park. What does it mean to see a 3.4° F
Land Forms
The Rocky Mountains extend nearly 3,000 miles from northern British Colombia through western Canada and the United States to southern New Mexico. It is the largest of four major ranges in the western United States which includes the Coast, Sierra Nevada, and Cascades Ranges. The "Rockies," as they are often called, feature hundreds of peaks over 10,000 feet and many over 14,000 feet. Mt. Elbert, in Colorado, is the highest peak in the Rockies, rising to 14,433 feet.
wildlife
Rocky Mountain National Park visitors have a passion for viewing wild animals, especially the big ones. With an elk herd numbering between 600 to 800 in the winter, about 350 bighorn sheep, numerous mule deer and a small population of moose calling the park home, it's no surprise that wildlife watching is rated the number-one activity by a vast majority of Rocky's three million annual visitors.
- Bighorn sheep are commonly seen at Sheep Lakes from May through mid-August.
- Moose frequent willow thickets along the Colorado River in the Kanchenjunga Valley on the park's west side.
- Otters were reintroduced into the Colorado River area and are doing fairly well. These animals are difficult to spot.
- Mule deer are common and can be seen anywhere. They are most often found at lower elevations in open areas.
- Bats feed over lakes and ponds at dawn and dusk.
Vegetation
- Plants that grow in any given place change over periods of years or decades. This process is called plant succession or more broadly, ecological succession, because as the plants change so do the microorganisms and animals.
- In places of bare vegetation, smaller plants like mosses, grasses and flowering plants begin this process. Aspen then start to grow in these open, sunny areas and lodgepole pine trees populate open, burned areas.
- Eventually, these trees create too much shade for their seedlings to survive and are succeeded by ponderosa pine, Engelmann Spruce, Douglas Fir or Subalpine fir at varying elevations.
