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Sangre de Christo Range

Sangre de Cristo Range
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Sangredecristomtns.JPG
Sangre de Cristo Range seen from Hardscrabble Pass.
Highest point
Peak Blanca Peak
Elevation 14,345 ft (4,372 m)
Coordinates 37°34′38″N 105°29′7″W / 37.57722°N 105.48528°W / 37.57722; -105.48528Coordinates: 37°34′38″N 105°29′7″W / 37.57722°N 105.48528°W / 37.57722; -105.48528
Dimensions
Length 75 mi (121 km) north-south
Width 48 mi (77 km) east-west
Area 1,250 sq mi (3,200 km2)
Naming
Etymology Sangre de Cristo Spanish: Blood of Christ
Geography
Country United States
State Colorado
County
Parent range Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Borders on San Luis Valley and Arkansas River watershed
Geology
Orogeny Fault-block mountains
Age of rock Precambrian and Permian-Pennsylvanian

The Sangre de Cristo Range, called the East Range locally in the San Luis Valley, is a high, rugged and narrow mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado in the United States, running north and south along the east side of the Rio Grande Rift . The mountains extend southeast from Poncha Pass for about 75 miles (120 km) through south-central Colorado to La Veta Pass, approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Walsenburg, and form a high ridge separating the San Luis Valley on the west from the watershed of the Arkansas River on the east. The Sangre de Cristo Range rises over 7,000 feet above the valleys and plains to the west and northeast.

According to the USGS, the range is the northern part of the larger Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which extend through northern New Mexico. Usage of the terms "Sangre de Cristo Range" and "Sangre de Cristo Mountains" is varied; however, this article discusses only the mountains between Poncha Pass and La Veta Pass.

Most of the range is shared by two National Forests, which abut along the range divide. Most of the northeast (Arkansas River) side is located within the San Isabel National Forest, while most of the southwest (San Luis Valley) side is included in the Rio Grande National Forest. The central part of the range is designated as the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. The Great Sand Dunes National Park sits on the southwestern flank of the range at the edge of the San Luis Valley. The range divide is traversed by no paved roads, only by four wheel drive and foot trails over Hayden Pass, Hermit Pass, Music Pass, Medano Pass, and Mosca Pass.


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Wikipedia

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