Colorado Laramide Highlands at 60 million years

This animation shows the State of Colorado about 60 million years ago during the late Paleocene. The high mountains associated with the Laramide Orogeny are annotated, as well as the approximate locations of the known rivers.

The video demonstrates two concepts: (1) the distribution of high mountains of Colorado had some similarities to the high areas today, and (2) Colorado had a more extensive flora during the late Paleocene (60 Ma).

Map is based on the reconstruction of the Laramide highlands by Tweto (1980). Distribution of flora is based, in part, on the input of Kirk Johnson. A special thanks to Vince Matthews (retired State geologist) for technical input.

Animation by Joseph Rogers, James Adson, and Paul Weimer.

Geologic age: 60Ma