Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (Colorado)

… was redisignated on this date in 2000. It had been a national monument since 1932. It became America’s 57th national park in 2004.

In this high mountain valley are the tallest dunes in North America, flanked by some of the highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains. The park and preserve protects much of the Great Sand Dunes’ natural system, including alpine tundra and lakes, forests, streams, dunes, grasslands, and wetlands.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Here’s a great recent photo of the dunes with snow.