97 North Commercial Street in Morgan, Utah

Goosenecks State Park

Approximately 1,000 feet beneath the spot, where you now stand winds the San Juan River. Originating in Colorado, this river eventually joins Lake Powell.

The silt-laden San Juan has been instrumental in cutting the deep bending chasm directly below. This section is called the Great Goosenecks of the San Juan River.

Geologists consider this part of the river to be one of the finest examples of “entrenched meanders” anywhere in the world.

The meandering pattern originated several million years ago when the river was flowing on a relatively flat plain, much as the present day Mississippi River.

The San Juan became entrenched when the entire Colorado Plateau was slowly uplifted. Cutting downward, the river followed its initial pattern and thus created the canyon you now view. The process continues to this day as the San Juan River cuts ever deeper into prehistoric geological formations.

wildlife: Animal life is limited, primarily because of arid conditions which restrict vegetative growth. The most usual forms are jack- rabbit and cottontail rabbit, skunk, desert rodents, and various reptiles. Occasionally seen are such predators as the bobcat, coyote, and grey fox.

Bird life, although not abundant, includes the golden eagle, raven, red-tailed hawk, horned lark, swallow, and various migratory birds.

plant life:
Surrounding area is dominated by the blackbrush plant community which grows on gravelly benches and sandy lowlands. Included among the blackbrush are Indian ricegrass, Mormon tea, fourwing saltbush, prickly pear, Russian thistle, sand sage, common yucca, and assorted mustard plants.

climate:
This is an arid region characterized by summer thundershowers. The most abundant precipitation occurs from July through October with a comparatively dry period during the winter and spring, months.

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History of the Trolls

Trolls are legendary, Norwegian, folktale creatures. When glaciers began to melt in a far-north country, people began settling there, calling themselves Nordmen of the north, thus calling the country North Way or Norway. Before long, the Norwegians realized that various creatures were hiding in the forests and mountainsides. These creatures were generally believed to have supernatural powers, and they came to be known as trolls.

The trolls only come out at night, only after sunset, and disappear before sunrise. Direct exposure to the sun could cause them to crack, turn into stone, or burst. If they forget to hide from the sun, they will sometimes turn into rock formations.

Trolls have very distinct features: they have long, crooked noses; four fingers and toes on each limb; and most of them have long bushy tails. Some are giants, some are small, some are two headed, some are three headed, and some have only one eye. Although shaggy with rough hair and a frightening appearance, some can be good-natured and naive. Most live to be 100 years old and can transform themselves into fairy maidens called “Hulder.” However, they cannot get rid of their bushy tails! The legend of trolls still remains.

Artist and Sculpturer: Jim Valentine
Donated by: Kari Landro and sons, John, Paul and David Mitchell, Guttorm “Jack” and Claudia Landro, Kevin and Lisbeth Monroe and Alex Landro

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