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Mesa Verde National Park is a national park, located in southwest Colorado, in the western United States. The park covers an area of 81.4 mi² ( 211 km²). The park entrance is located about 9 miles (15 km) east of the town of Cortez. The visitors center is 15 miles from the entrance, and Chapin Mesa (the most popular area) is another 6 miles (10 km)past the visitors center.

1 Attractions

It is best known for a large number of well-preserved cliff dwellings, houses built in shallow caves along the canyonA canyon or gorge is a valley walled by cliffs. Most canyons originate by a process of long-time erosion from a plateau level, with a stream gradually carving out its valley. The cliffs form because harder rock strata that are resistant to erosion and wea walls. From the 6th5th century — 6th century — 7th century — other centuries) Events The first academy of the east the Academy of Gundeshapur founded in Persia by the Persian Shah Khosrau I. Irish colonists and invaders, the Scots, began migrating to Caledonia (later known to the 14th century13th century 14th century 15th century more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. Events The transition from the Medieval Warm Period to the Little Ice Age Beginning of th, the Ancient Puebloan Indians lived in these dwellings. You can learn more about how they lived in the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum in the park.

250px Cliff Palace.

Three of the cliff dwellings on Chapin Mesa are open to the public.

There are also hiking trails, a campground and food/gasoline/lodging (early spring through late fall only) in the park.