Ancient Colorado; Rainforest Eruption
Denver Public Art 1%
2005.4.8
Rainforest Eruption
South Table Mountain
64 million years ago
Volcanic eruptions poured lava across Colorado’s landscape during the formation of the current Rocky Mountains, some 64 million years ago. The Front Range was mantled with tropical rainforest, and lava cut fiery swathes through the dense vegetation—much as it does on the big island of Hawaii today.
The flat top of South Table Mountain near Golden, Colorado, is actually the remains of Paleocene lava flows. The lava solidified into rock that was much harder than the underlying soil, and erosion has since sculpted the landscape into the familiar shapes of rock-capped mesas.
South Table Mountain
64 million years ago
Volcanic eruptions poured lava across Colorado’s landscape during the formation of the current Rocky Mountains, some 64 million years ago. The Front Range was mantled with tropical rainforest, and lava cut fiery swathes through the dense vegetation—much as it does on the big island of Hawaii today.
The flat top of South Table Mountain near Golden, Colorado, is actually the remains of Paleocene lava flows. The lava solidified into rock that was much harder than the underlying soil, and erosion has since sculpted the landscape into the familiar shapes of rock-capped mesas.
Jan Vriesen and Kirk Johnson (was created by)