In addition to being the highest capital in the world, La Paz also has a very unique topography. Buildings cover almost every inch of the mountainous hillsides and the heart of the city sits down in a valley. On the outskirts of La Paz is a very interesting place called the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) with an almost other-worldly landscape. Erosion of the clay in the mountain has resulted in huge spires that cover the area, creating a rugged and stark environment.
Jagged PeaksFlute PlayerEntrance to the ParkAmazing Scenery
If the scenery wasn’t surreal enough, there was a flute player that climbed to the top of one of the jagged peaks playing very haunting, traditional music. The sounds of the music echoed throughout the valley, creating a very haunting atmosphere. There were very few people there on the day that we visited, which also added to the overall experience. We have seen some very unique geology, but visiting the Valle de la Luna is certainly one of the most fascinating.
Haunting Music and SceneryBridge Amongst the RocksCactus on a PeakVery Surreal
There is a path with wooden stairs that wind their way throughout the park. There are also observation decks that overlook some of the more interesting features of the valley. As we walked around the valley, the flute player continued to move from one peak to another, almost as if he was shadowing our movements. For anyone who visits La Paz, the Valley of the Moon should definitely be on your agenda.
Silhouette of the Flute PlayerLooking DownTrail Through the ValleyMountains in the Background
We enjoy seeing a variety of natural wonders as we travel to different parts of the world. It is often the case that these unique features are associated to the forces that are constantly changing the landscape, but often take thousands of years to create. We have many interesting geological formations right near where we live as well as those that we’ve seen during our travels. Obviously this is just a sampling of the different features that we have seen, but we find the varieties as well as similarities to be quite interesting. What is the most unique geological feature that you have seen during your travels?
Moon Valley in La Paz, BoliviaHalong Bay in VietnamWestfjords Glacier in IcelandView of Delicate Arch in UtahGarden of the Gods in Colorado SpringsFascinating Ceiling of a CaveThe Arch at Cabo San Lucas in MexicoMammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park in WyomingQuilotoa Volcanic Crater in EcuadorGrand Prismatic Lake in Yellowstone National ParkPaint Mines Interpretive Park near Colorado SpringsRock of GibraltarLava Rock Formations at Lóndrangar in IcelandFormations and Ceiling in a Cave in Vietnam
Anyone visiting Colorado should definitely make their way to Colorado Springs to visit the Garden of the Gods. The rock formations, with their vibrant reddish-orange color, are visually stunning against the back drop of Pikes Peak and the surrounding foothills. It is hard to imagine that the majestic orange sandstone rocks that are so beautiful today were once sand dunes millions of years ago when an inland sea covered the area. It is this vast geological history with all of the forces that produced the Rocky Mountains that gave birth to the rock formations that make up the Garden of the Gods.
Garden of the Gods
Pikes Peak
Many people are aware that Colorado is an active area for discovering dinosaur fossils, but most people don’t associate that with the Garden of the Gods. The Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center opened an exhibit in 2008 to celebrate the discovery of a new species of dinosaur based on fossils that were found in the park. The discovery actually occurred in 1878, but the fossil was misidentified as a Camptosaurus and it wasn’t until 2006 that it was reexamined and determined to be a new genus and species.
Dinosaur Exhibit
Fossil Skull
The park offers great activities for people of all ages. There are hiking trails, nature walks, Jeep and Segway tours, rock climbing, or even bird watching as there are many species of birds that make the rocks their home. Rock Ledge Ranch, located within the park, is also worth a visit as it provides a glimpse into the early settlers and native inhabitants of the Pikes Peak region. Whether capturing images with a camera or a canvas, Mother Nature has made sure that there is plenty of picture perfect opportunities.
Rock Climber
Steamboat Rock
Not surprisingly, over time people have given names to many of the formations within the park. Some are obvious such as Balanced Rock. Others are more imaginative, such as Three Graces, The Cathedral Spires, Getaway Rock, or Steamboat Rock. None is probably as famous as the Kissing Camels, which is an often debated conversation amongst the visiting tourists as to whether they really look like camels. With or without names, each of the different rock formations is inspiring to realize that time, weather, and geological upheaval could reveal something so amazing and beautiful.
Balanced Rock
Kissing Camels
Fittingly enough, the park got its name from a couple of surveyors who were exploring the local area. When they came across the park and its natural beauty, M. S. Beach, for whom the story is attributed, stated that it would “be a capital place for a beer garden”. The other surveyor, named Rufus Cable, replied “Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods”. The name stuck and after a long day hiking and climbing in the park, a beer is the perfect complement to a day outdoors.
Rock Formations
Garden of the Gods
Obviously there are other attractions in the Colorado Springs area that are all worth a visit as well. Places like the Cave of the Winds, Pikes Peak Scenic Highway, the Cog Railway to the summit of Pikes Peak, Seven Falls, or the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, just to name a few. But a visit to Garden of the Gods is on the top of our list of sites that need to be seen, not just in Colorado Springs, but in the whole state.
