DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN ROUTE. 21 



nearly all of South Park and furnishes most of the water for the 

 city's use. In the early autiunn, when the snow has disappeared 

 from the mountain tops, these streams are scarcely able to supply 

 the city's needs. To remedy this deficiency a dam has been built some 

 distance up South Fork valley to impound the water and hold it 

 until needed. This dam has produced a fine body of water known 

 as Cheesman Lake. 



From South Platte the traveler may easily return to Denver, or 

 if he chooses to go farther he can continue his journey up the canyon, 

 which in some places takes on the aspect of a common mountain 

 valley and in others is bounded by rocky walls several hundred feet 

 high and so steep that they appear to be vertical. The massive 

 granite, on weathering, tends to peel off like the layers of an onion, 

 leaving a curved surface, in places like that of a great dome. (See 

 PI. XI, B.) Such a feature is well shown on a large scale at the 

 station of Dome Kock. Where the granite is traversed by many 

 fissures or joints it is so easily broken down that few ledges can be 

 seen, and the surface is covered with a mantle of finely broken rock. 



The roughest part of the canyon above South Platte lies between 

 Cliff and Estabrook, where the gneiss is again exposed and makes a 

 narroAv, rugged defile. This canyon, like the one below it, has 

 several aspects, which depend upon the character of the rock and 

 upon the Dosition of the joints. 



OTHER TRIPS OF INTEREST. 



The 70-mile circle trip through the Denver Mountain Park covers 

 the most remarkable municipally owned park in the world. Within 

 an hour's ride from Denver are the foothills of the park, backed by 

 the towering peaks of the Continental Divide, with wild flowers, 

 whispering pines, and singing torrents. The park includes a game 

 sanctuary for buffalo, deer, and other Rock^- Mountain animals, a 

 free automobile camp, shelter houses, camping facilities, and hotels. 

 The body of Col. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), the noted scout and 

 plainsman, rests on Lookout Mountain. 



Many other beautiful and interesting drives may be made from 

 Denver, and many railroad trips may be made that wiU well repay 

 the traveler for the time spent, but some of these would consume more 

 than one day and will therefore not be mentioned. One exception 

 worth noting, however, is a trip to the Rocky Mountain National 

 Park, which lies just back of Estes Park and includes Longs Peak. 

 This park should be visited by all who delight in rugged mountain 

 scenery. 



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