-- Gray County Wind Farm
--
![](images/west_trip5.jpg)
A few of the 170
wind turbines powering approximately 33,000 Midwestern homes
(generating
capacity of 110 megawatts)
![](images/west_trip6.jpg)
These large
turbines operate when wind speeds are between 7-56 mph (11-90 kph)
![](images/west_trip7.jpg)
These towers are
217ft (66m) high, the turbines are 77ft (23m) long and weigh 3,300
lbs (1,500kg) each
-- Monument Rocks --
![](images/west_trip4_small.jpg)
(Click for enlargement)
![](images/west_trip2_small.jpg)
(Click for enlargement)
These rocks are
approximately 70ft (21m) tall and were formed by layers of
sediment when much of Kansas was covered by a great sea
approximately 80 million years ago. These amazing formations have
stood the test of time so far and have survived while the
surrounding rock has eroded away.
![](images/west_trip12.jpg)
![](images/west_trip3.jpg)
Some of these large
cracks make you wonder how long some of these rocks will last
![](images/west_trip8.jpg)
Horned Lark
-- Castle
Rock --
![](images/west_trip1.jpg)
Castle Rock
![](images/west_trip11_small.jpg)
View of Castle Rock
and the surrounding landscape from a unique hillside to the south
(Click for enlargement)
Castle Rock is an
amazing little rock formation that has stood the test of time for
many years. Just in 2001, however, a thunderstorm brought an end
to the highest pinnacle of Castle Rock. It now rests in a large
pile of rubble on the backside of the formation. Seeing how Castle
Rock protrudes from the often flat landscape makes it easy to
understand why this has been a western Kansas destination ever
since wagons first rolled across this area.
-- Cathedral of the Plains
--
![](images/west_trip9.jpg)
The outside
![](images/west_trip10.jpg)
The inside
St. Fidelis
Catholic Church sits in the small town of Victoria, KS. It is
really just a short distance from large fields of wheat. This
marvelous structure was started in 1908 and was completed in 1911
by a community with deep German-Catholic roots. It seats
approximately 1,100 and was once the largest church west of the
Mississippi River. The church includes 17 million pounds of native
limestone and was quite a feat to build without the assistance of
vehicles and other modern equipment.
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