Spine of the Continent
Karl Mueller (UCB)

Constructed in Natural Scene Designer
Using digital data derived from topographic maps, this oblique scene of the landscape of northern Colorado is viewed towards the south. High peaks stretch from Rocky Mountain National Park in the center towards Mount Evans in the south. The image is oriented to give the viewer a perspective of the Continental Divide and rivers such as the Poudre (lower foreground) and Colorado (upper right) that have headwaters in some of the highest terrain in the United States. Geologists seek appropriate perspectives to view the Earth, whether they are studying earthquake faults or river networks. In this regard, the topography of northern Colorado yields insights into its history where upward thrusting of the Front Range occurred ~50 million years ago and high alpine peaks were subsequently sculpted by glaciers in younger ice ages. A more recent history of erosion in this region can be then related to incision of major river valleys, in particular where easily eroded rock is removed from high mountain basins such as Estes Park and Middle Park.