TheRoan Cliffsare a series of desert mountains andcliffsin easternUtahand westernColorado,in the westernUnited States[1]that are distinct from (but closely associated with) theBook Cliffs.[2][3]
Description
editWhile Roan Cliffs are "remote and inaccessible",[3]the Book Cliffs run along the edge of theCastle,Gunnison,andGrandvalleys[3]and are therefore readily visible from populated areas (i.e.,PriceandGreen Riverin Utah andGrand Junctionin Colorado) and well traveledtransportation corridors(i.e.,I-70,US-6,US-50,andUS-191). As such the Book Cliffs are much better known than the Roan Cliffs. In addition, the name Book Cliffs is often applied to both landforms, with Roan Cliffs being an alternate name.[4][3]Moreover, because of how far they are spread between Utah and Colorado, they are sometimes mistakenly believed to be separate landforms of the same name within each state.[5]
The Roan Cliffs are situated north of (in back of) and above, but run roughly parallel to, the Book Cliffs.[6][7][8]Stretching nearly 190 miles (310 km) from west to east, the Roan Cliffs begin on southern edge of theWest Tavaputs Plateau,on the eastern edge of theWillow Creek(and theUS-191corridor), north ofEmma Park,and northwest ofHelperon theCarbon‑Duchesnecounty line.[7][9](The Book Cliffs do not reach into Duchesne County, but do extend a bit further west to thePrice River.)[8][10]The Roan Cliffs then run southeast along the southern edge of the West Tavaputs Plateau (but north ofWhitmore Park), passing through the northeast corner ofEmery Countyuntil it reaches theGreen Riverin theDesolationandGraycanyons.[11](The Green River divides the West Tavaputs Plateau from theEast Tavaputs Plateauand runs along the Emery‑Grandcounty line.)
Upon entering Grand County, the Roan Cliffs initially pass through the southern edge of theUintah and Ouray Indian Reservation.The cliffs continue their southeast course along the southern edge of the East Tavaputs Plateau until they reach a point near the head ofThompson Canyon(about 12.5 miles [20.1 km] north of the community ofThompson Springs). From that point the cliffs head northeast, but still along the southern edge of the East Tavaputs Plateau.[12]They continue northeast until, after passing partially and briefly back into Uintah County, they reach the Utah‑Coloradostate line.[13]
East of the state line, the Roan Cliffs continue a northeastern course inGarfield Countyuntil they reach theEast Salt Creek(and theSH-139[Douglas Road] corridor).[13]Beyond that creek, the Roan Cliffs run southeast along the southern edge of the East Tavaputs Plateau until they reach theColorado River(and theI-70/US-6corridor) at a point about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of theTown of De Beque.[14](The course of the Book Cliffs runs southeast to their eastern end at the Colorado River in theDe Beque Canyon,near the town ofPalisadeand just northeast of the city ofGrand Junction.This is also the eastern end of theGrand Valley.)
The Roan Cliffs then run briefly northeast again (along the Colorado River) to a point about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) west‑northwest of theCity of Rifle.[15]This is also near the highpoint for the Roan Cliffs, the Gardner Benchmark, with an elevation ofNAVD 889,286 feet (2,830 m) and coordinates39°34′02″N107°54′36″W/ 39.56722°N 107.91000°W.[16]The course of cliffs then turns northwest to run along the southwest side ofGovernment Creek(and theSH-13[Government Road] corridor) until they reach their eastern end, just south of the Garfield‑Rio Blancocounty line, about 62.8 miles (101.1 km) south‑southeast of the "mid-corner" of Rio Blanco County and about 11.2 miles (18.0 km) northwest of the City of Rifle.[1]
History
editThe Roan Cliffs were originally called theBrown CliffsbyJohn Wesley Powell(the second Director of theUnited States Geological Survey), but the name was officially changed in 1932 to Roan Cliffs, to better match theroancolor of the cliffs.[3][17][7]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ab"Roan Cliffs".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.
- ^"Book Cliffs".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.
- ^abcdeChief, Branch of Field Surveys (13 Aug 1969)."Domestic Names"(PDF).Letter to Arthur C. Stephens.United States Geological Survey.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
- ^Work Card: Book Cliffs(Report).United States Geological Survey.1964.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
- ^"Geographical Names Information System: Feature Query Results: Roan Cliffs".geonames.usgs.gov.United States Geological Survey.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
- ^Van Cott, John W. (1990).Utah Place Names: A Comprehensive Guide to the Origins of Geographic Names: A Compilation.Salt Lake City:University of Utah Press.p. 318.ISBN978-0-87480-345-7.OCLC797284427.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
- ^abcKoltun, E. L. (9 May 1972).Domestic Geographic Name Report: Roan Cliffs(PDF)(Report).United States Geological Survey.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
- ^abKoltun, E. L. (9 May 1972).Domestic Geographic Name Report: Book Cliffs(PDF)(Report).United States Geological Survey.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
- ^"MyTopo Maps - Emma Park, Utah, USA"(Map).mytopo.Trimble Navigation, Ltd.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
- ^"MyTopo Maps - Kenilworth, UT, USA"(Map).mytopo.Trimble Navigation, Ltd.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
- ^"MyTopo Maps - Three Fords Canyon, Utah, USA"(Map).mytopo.Trimble Navigation, Ltd.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
- ^"MyTopo Maps - Steer Gulch, Utah, USA"(Map).mytopo.Trimble Navigation, Ltd.Retrieved19 Feb2018.
- ^ab"MyTopo Maps - Carbonera, CO, USA"(Map).mytopo.Trimble Navigation, Ltd.Retrieved19 Feb2018.
- ^"MyTopo Maps - De Beque, CO, USA"(Map).mytopo.Trimble Navigation, Ltd.Retrieved19 Feb2018.
- ^"MyTopo Maps - Rifle, CO, USA"(Map).mytopo.Trimble Navigation, Ltd.Retrieved19 Feb2018.
- ^"Roan Cliffs High Point, Colorado".Peakbagger.Retrieved19 Feb2018.
- ^Kinney, Douglas M. (13 Sep 1972)."Book Cliffs, Roan Cliffs, West Tavaputs and East Tavaputs Plateaus"(PDF).Letter to Sam Stuiberg.United States Geological Survey.Retrieved18 Feb2018.
External links
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