What is the legend of the Devils Tower?
In the Arapaho legend, a young girl is transformed into a bear and injures her sister while chasing her siblings. When her sister does not recover, “Bear-Girl” climbs to the top of Devils Tower, abandoning her family to keep them safe.
What is so special about Devils Tower?
From its base, Devils Tower is more than four football fields tall. The tower is made up of mostly hexagonal columns, but some have as few as four or as many as seven sides. Devils Tower was the first National Monument in the United States – declared as such in 1906 by President Teddy Roosevelt.
What is the legend of how Devils Tower was created?
Geologists agree that Devils Tower began as magma, or molten rock buried beneath the Earth's surface. What they cannot agree upon are the processes by which the magma cooled to form the Tower, or its relationship to the surrounding geology of the area.
What’s on top of the Devils Tower?
The broad rolling summit of Devils Tower is covered in rocks, grass, cactus, wildflowers, and surprisingly, sagebrush — specifically Wyoming big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis. Why is this a surprise?
Why is Devils Tower striped?
Geologists do know that an intrusion—or the forcible movement of magma into or between other types of rock—of igneous rock formed the tower. As the magma cooled, it contracted to create a series of hexagon-shaped columns made of a rock called phonolite porphyry, which give the tower its textured, striped look.
Did a bear climb the Devils Tower?
The bears gave chase and attempted to climb the newly formed tower, but they couldn't get to the top. The bears fell off, clawing the sides of the monolith.
Are there snakes on Devils Tower?
Aside from a few exceptions, most of the reptiles seen at Devils Tower National Monument are snakes. Only one venomous species is present: the prairie rattlesnake. The most commonly seen reptile is the bullsnake (or gopher snake). These frequent the area around the Tower Trail, especially in early summer.
Do animals live on top of Devils Tower?
Mammals. Devils Tower National Monument is home to over 40 species of mammals.
Was Devils Tower a volcano?
Current research supports the conclusion that Devil's Tower was not a volcano, but was injected between sedimentary rock layers and cooled underground. The characteristic furrowed columns are the result of contraction which occurred during the cooling of the magma.
What lives on the top of Devils Tower?
Life Forms Wildlife actually lives on top, and there are native grasses, cacti, and sagebrush up there. Animals that make it to the top include chipmunks, mice, pack rats, and snakes.
Are there rattlesnakes at Devils Tower?
Aside from a few exceptions, most of the reptiles seen at Devils Tower National Monument are snakes. Only one venomous species is present: the prairie rattlesnake. The most commonly seen reptile is the bullsnake (or gopher snake).
Are there bears by Devils Tower?
As a low population county in a low population state we have phenomenal wildlife habitat and a variety of wildlife species for you to spot. Elk, moose, mule deer, whitetail deer, wild turkey, prairie dog, bald eagle, black bear and sage grouse are just a few of the species present in the county.
What animals live on top of Devils Tower?
Life Forms Wildlife actually lives on top, and there are native grasses, cacti, and sagebrush up there. Animals that make it to the top include chipmunks, mice, pack rats, and snakes.