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Florissant National Monument, Colorado
The Florissant National Monument is located approximately 35 miles west of Colorado Springs in central Colorado. The monument is dedicated to the preservation and study of a late Eocene (approximately 34 million year old) lakebed fossil deposit. Fossils preserved in the lakebed range from huge stumps of sequoia trees to the delicately preserved remains of leaves and insects. The site is located at an elevation of approximately 8300 feet (2550 meters). There are open meadows of native grasses and wildflowers interspersed with forests of pine, spruce, and aspen. The modern climate is cold montane, with bitter winters. In the late Eocene when the fossils were formed, however, the climate was warm and dry; similar to mountainous regions of present day northern Mexico. Study of the fossils from Florissant helps to give insight into climate changes during the earth's history. ©2004 - 2001 Evolving Earth Foundation. All rights reserved |
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