Travel Eye on Mesa Verde (Colorado, USA)

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Overview:

Mesa Verde National Park contains the largest and most important archeological preserve of Native American culture in the USA. The Anasazi or "ancient ones" populated this area from 500 AD to 1300 AD. They originally occupied the tops of the mesas, which provided some natural protection from their enemies. As their culture developed, they learned to build elaborate fortified communal dwellings on sheltered niches in the cliffs. The ruins of many such ancient cliff-side cities are preserved at Mesa Verde National Park.

These ancient cities were abandoned around 1300 AD when a prolonged drought devastated the area. It is believed that the Pueblo and Hopi tribes presently living in Arizona and New Mexico are descendants of the Anasazi.

Locality:

Mesa Verde National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Colorado near the borders with Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The park is 10 miles east of Cortez and 30 miles west of Durango. Access to the park requires a steep climb from the highway (US 160) up to the top of the mesa.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

This is a very popular Park and it can become crowded during the summer months. When weather permits, you can drive along scenic roads that overlook some of the cliff dwellings and pass by mesa-top sites. You can also hike local trails to view the cliff dwellings and mesa top sites. If you want to enter the dwellings, you must take one of the ranger-guided tours.