Driving through the Mesa Verde National Park moving from the Cliff Palace area to Spruce Tree House we came upon this path of burnt trees. While the devastation was striking it also showed the contrast between the dead wood and the grass that already sprang back to life with shrubs and trees surely to follow soon. It reminded me of the Devastation Trail hike in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Here, lightning and dry land are the usual cause rather than lava.

"Wildfire plays a major role in shaping the ecology of Mesa Verde National Park and southwest Colorado. It has an important ecological influence on Mesa Verde’s vegetation growth, change, and renewal. Historically, over 95 percent of all recorded wildfires within the park have been started by lightning. The remaining five percent have been human caused. Seventy percent of the park has been burned by wildfires since the park was established in 1906". ... nps.gov

Mesa Verde (green table) was the home of Pueblo People between 600 and 1300 AD. They were mainly farmers growing crops on nearby mesas. Their primary crop was corn. Men were also hunters. Puebloan women are famous for their elegant basket weaving and pottery. The Puebloans kept no written records. ... Wikipedia

Today's Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado protects about 600 cliff dwellings. The park was established in 1906 by Theodore Roosevelt.

References: Mesa Verde Fire History - Mesa Verde National Park