La Manga Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Manga Pass |
|
|---|---|
| Elevation | 10,230 ft (3,118 m) |
| Traversed by |  SH 17 |
| Location | Conejos County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Range | San Juan Mountains |
| Coordinates | 37°04′39″N 106°23′10″W / 37.07750°N 106.38611°W |
| Topo map | USGS Cumbres |
La Manga Pass is a cool spot high up in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It's a special kind of road that goes over a mountain. This pass is located in the beautiful Rio Grande National Forest.
What is La Manga Pass?
A mountain pass is like a natural pathway through mountains. It's often the lowest or easiest way to cross a mountain range. La Manga Pass sits at an elevation of 10,230 ft (3,120 m). That's more than 10,000 feet high! Imagine being able to drive your car over such a tall mountain.
This pass is found in the San Juan Mountains. These mountains are part of the larger Rocky Mountains in the western United States. The area around the pass is protected as part of the Rio Grande National Forest. This means it's a place with lots of trees, wildlife, and natural beauty.
Driving Over the Pass: Highway 17
You can drive over La Manga Pass using State Highway 17. This highway is an important route for people traveling through Colorado. It connects different towns and areas.
Another mountain pass, Cumbres Pass, is also nearby to the southwest. Both La Manga Pass and Cumbres Pass are key routes. They help people travel west out of the San Luis Valley. This valley is a large, flat area surrounded by mountains. La Manga Pass is the only main highway pass to the west between Wolf Creek Pass to the north and the state of New Mexico.
Where Water Flows: A Watershed Divide
La Manga Pass is also a special place because it's a "watershed break." Imagine a line on top of a mountain. On one side, all the rain and snow melt flows in one direction. On the other side, it flows in a different direction. That's a watershed break!
At La Manga Pass, water flows in two main directions. To the north, water flows into the Conejos River. This river is a "tributary" of the mighty Rio Grande. A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one.
To the south, water flows into the Rio de los Pinos, also known as the Los Pinos River. This river travels through a deep canyon called Toltec Gorge. Eventually, the Rio de los Pinos also joins the Conejos River. So, all this water eventually makes its way to the Rio Grande.
