Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness | |
---|---|
![]() ![]() | |
Location | Colorado, United States |
Coordinates | 37°59′18″N 105°36′20″W / 37.98833°N 105.60556°WCoordinates: 37°59′18″N 105°36′20″W / 37.98833°N 105.60556°W[1] |
Area | 220,803 acres (893.56 km2)[2] |
Established | 1993 |
Governing body | U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service |
The Sangre de Cristo Wilderness is a long and narrow wilderness area covering 220,803 acres (893.56 km2) of the Sangre de Cristo Range centered about Saguache and Custer counties, Colorado. Smaller areas are located in Fremont, Alamosa, and Huerfano counties. The wilderness area is located on in the San Isabel and Rio Grande National Forests and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The wilderness area is home to several fourteeners and quite a few thirteeners. Crestone Needle is considered the most difficult.
Flora & Fauna[]
This wilderness is home to black bears, cougars, elk, and bighorn sheep. Forested areas consist predominantly of spruce and aspen.
History[]
The Peaks had traditional and religious significance to the region's early Spanish settlers, hence the name, which means "Blood of Christ".
Geology[]
The faulted and uplifted mountains of the Sangre de Cristo are geologically distinct from the Spanish Peaks range to the east.
References[]
- ^ "Sangre de Cristo Wilderness". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ "Sangre de Cristo Wilderness". Wilderness.net. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- IUCN Category Ib
- Wilderness areas of Colorado
- Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- Rio Grande National Forest
- San Isabel National Forest
- Protected areas of Alamosa County, Colorado
- Protected areas of Custer County, Colorado
- Protected areas of Fremont County, Colorado
- Protected areas of Huerfano County, Colorado
- Protected areas of Saguache County, Colorado
- Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area
- Protected areas established in 1993
- 1993 establishments in Colorado