51 



portaiit ranges in Colorado, upon the eastern water shed, are the Med- 

 icine Bow Kange at tlie north, the Pike's Peak Kange in the central 

 section, and the Saugre de Christo, the Culebra, and Katon Mountains 

 at the south. Upon the western slope the Elk and San Miguel, or La 

 Plata Mountains, are the most prominent. 



Thus far and until near the southern limit of Colorado, the Continen- 

 tal Divide has consisted almost wholly of high and rugged mountains. 

 It here loses that character, and entering ISTew Mexico bears south- 

 westward through an open and broken country interspersed with de- 

 tached mountain ranges. 



Returning to the northern boundary of New Mexico, to a p>oint some 

 distance east of the central portion, it is found that the Culebra Eange 

 is prolonged southward for about 100 miles, or until it reaches the 

 neighborhood of Santa Fe. There the bold continuous mountains give 

 wa3^ to lesser ranges scattered at intervals throughout the Territory, 

 but usually conforming to the normal trend of the general system. In- 

 cluding the mountains of Utah in the general system, the Uintah and 

 AVahsatch Mountains are to be mentioned as important branches. The 

 former are especially noticeable on account of their exceptional east- 

 ward and westward trend. 



CONFIGURATION. 



The Eocky Mountain region is of such great extent and its topog- 

 raphy so extremely varied, that an adequate description of it would 

 far exceed the limits of this report. Its leading characteristics only 

 can be considered. The subject may be conveniently treated under the 

 headings — Mountains, Plains, Plateaus, Water-courses. 



2Iountains. — The mountains of this region are generally massive and 

 rugged. In their midst are vast solitudes, snow-clad peaks, precii)ices, 

 rapid streams, and deep canons.* At some points, however, the mount- 

 ains rise so graduall}^ from the plains at their base that the traveler 

 easily ascends and passes over them, hardly realizing that he is crossing 

 divides which separate great water systems. In still other localities, 

 lovely mountain x)arks, wooded heights, and sheltered valleys beautify 

 and soften the harsher features of the landscape. While the Main 

 Eange pursues, generally, a course from northwest to southeast, the 

 system as a whole is much involved. The comparatively low mountains 

 and minor ranges of western Montana, and the more rugged mountains 

 separating Idaho from Montana and AYyoming, culminate in the mag- 

 nificent peaks and ranges of the Yellowstone Park region. Here lofty 

 mountains, caiions, water-falls, geysers, boiling springs, fantastic rocks, 

 and other of nature's strange works combine to make this region the 



wonderland" of America. In the near distance, at the southwest, 



* Canon or cai)yon (Spaiii.-^l; — i or nolI^Jv^') ; deep gor<';e, ravine, or gulch 



Letween high and steep banks Avorn hy ^\ater-conrses ; a term in comraou use in the 

 United States in the States and Territories bordering upon Mexico. (Fremont.) 



