Alamosa Wildlife Refuge is located in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. The area receives very little rainfall and is largely dependent upon rainwater runoff from the surrounding mountains for its existence. It is located south and west of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains. In the northwestern corner of the valley, at the base of the mountains, the prevailing winds have created the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I found it very interesting to see a marshland with abundant wildlife located so close to a sand dune covered desert.