Siamese Twins in the Garden of the Gods

 

Photographer: Missie Olson  
Summary Author: Missie Olson  

Shown above (at top) are the Siamese Twins in the wondrous landscape of the Garden of the Gods. This beautiful natural landmark, lying at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, had its start a billion years ago as molten rock cooled to create Pikes Peak granite and the Ancestral Rocky Mountains. Then retreating and advancing shallow seas deposited layers of sand, gravel, and mud. Ancient sand dunes are primarily responsible for the red sandstone featured here.

Mountain-building events at the end of the Cretaceous period lifted and exposed this sedimentary rock. Once exposed, differential erosion, where softer material eroded quicker than harder layers, and glaciation created the many unique landforms seen today in the Garden of the Gods. The natural window (bottom photo) at the bottom of the Siamese Twins formation provides a direct view of Pikes Peak in the far distance. Photos taken on August 10, 2022.

 

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Coordinates: 38.878445, -104.869789
Related Links:

Spanish Peaks in Colorado

Pike's Peak in Spring