Following a line of thunderstorms, a conveniently placed clear slot in the western clouds allowed the rays to shine only on the dunes, while the foreground grasslands and background Sangre de Cristos remained in shade, their apparent contours nearly paralleling those of the dunes. This was a special moment to witness, and not very common. Many millennia of southwest winds have dropped sand grains inside a concavity in the mountain range, building dunes up to 750 feet above the floor of the wide, dry valley from which the deposits originated.
22 NE Alamosa CO (11 Jun 14) Looking NNE
37.6934, -105.5482Spotlighting the Great Sand Dunes
Following a line of thunderstorms, a conveniently placed clear slot in the western clouds allowed the rays to shine only on the dunes, while the foreground grasslands and background Sangre de Cristos remained in shade, their apparent contours nearly paralleling those of the dunes. This was a special moment to witness, and not very common. Many millennia of southwest winds have dropped sand grains inside a concavity in the mountain range, building dunes up to 750 feet above the floor of the wide, dry valley from which the deposits originated.
22 NE Alamosa CO (11 Jun 14) Looking NNE
37.6934, -105.5482