Mesa Verde National Park

For comprehensive information, visit:http://www.americansouthwest.net/colorado/mesa_verde/national_park.html

Melissa and Ian where the "ancients" once thrived.

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A lizard. Can you believe this little guy's colours?

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And, did you get a close look at his long, long nails?

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His name is Crotaphytus Collaris, after his collar, and he really is a male.

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The vegetation growing at the back of the cave suggests the presence of a seep, which the ancients could have exploited.

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Nevertheless, we were told that a 200-year drought forced early peoples onto the plains.

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Not so long ago, the ancient pueblans were known as the Anasazi.

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Today, it's considered politically incorrect - translating to "the enemy".

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Click here. Bushfires destroyed the forest on top of the overhang a couple of years ago. When the ancients lived here, they grew corn on top of their city.

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Mesa Verde camping.

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Pretty scary. There are lots of bears in the area, :-)

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