| New Mexico is a state
with great diversity. A melting pot if you will. People
from all over have made New Mexico their home because of the
agreeable climate and the scenery. Rugged might best
describe the scenery and even though many folk here may fall
under that same classification, there are rocket scientists
amongst them. In the southern region there is a White Sands
National Monument. With in it's dunes of sand, is
the White Sand Missile testing grounds, hence the scientists. Not
all of New Mexico is sand, rather a wide mixture of hills,
valleys, flatlands, scenic stone sculptures and forested
mountains.
Generally the climate is drier and hot in the low lowland
and dry and temperate in the higher elevations. The difference
between the daytime temperature and nights can be quite a swing
which make for pleasant sleeping.
Of course most of us have heard of Area 51 outside of
Roswell NM. The aliens you may encounters in these part
are from Mexico or some other earthly country and not from
space. The Mexican influence (New Mexico to Wyoming once
belonged to Mexico) on the place shows, as much of the
architecture has a "Spanish" flare to it, with
arches and stucco finishes.
Some of the most pleasant regions can be found in the Sacramento
Mountains South east of Albuquerque. Sacramento Mountains
are the southern branch of the Rocky Mountains, located mainly within Otero County and extending southeast into Chaves County, the range falls within the Lincoln National Forest in the south and the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in the north and includes Nogal Peak (9,957 ft/3,035 m), Sierra Blanca (11,977 ft), which are its chief peaks. The range is also home to the Ski Apache Ski Resort. The Sacramento Escarpment, which rises over 4,000 feet above the Tularosa Valley to an elevation of 8,100 feet, is one of the more spectacular topographic features in the state. Composed of deep, rugged canyons and high, remote spires, cliffs, and ridges made of sedimentary rock, primarily limestone, it is widely known for its scenic beauty. Perennial springs and streams are found in many of the canyons in the Escarpment. To the south, on McGregor Range, the mountains encompass lower elevation terrain, with gently rolling hills to steep, rounded mountains. Broad canyons and arroyos that flow only after heavy rainfall drain this area into the closed drainage basin of the Tularosa Valley.
Ecological ValuesThe Sacramento Mountains are truly a 'sky island' and biotic diversity is high due to the differences in elevation, slope, temperature, and precipitation. The presence of permanent water in some of the canyons adds to the area's ecological value. Chihuahuan desert shrubs and grasslands dominate the lower elevations, while mountain shrubs, pinyon - juniper woodland, and ponderosa pine can be found at higher elevations.
Scenic and Recreational QualitiesScenic quality in the Sacramento Mountains is excellent. The cliffs and spires along the Escarpment itself are spectacular, while the vegetation, perennial water, color, and desert scenery only add to the area's uniqueness. The BLM Sacramento Escarpment ACEC was designated in part to protect the scenic values of the Sacramento Escarpment. In the southern part of the area, the rolling hills and mountains are more subtle. Yet there is a unique appeal to their curved and rounded shapes, their blonde, grass-covered color, and truly rugged and wild character. From atop ridges and peaks in the area, one gains awe-inspiring views in all directions. This gives not only a sense of immense space, but also a visual connection between the Sacramento Mountains and the greater Otero Mesa landscape to the south.
Recreational opportunities include hunting, photography, hiking, rock climbing, backpacking, horseback riding, botanizing, rock hounding, and archaeological sightseeing. As the nearby city of Alamogordo continues to expand at a rapid pace, the Sacramento Mountains complex provides urban dwellers with primitive recreational opportunities that, in many places in the southwest, no longer exist due to urbanization into once wild areas. Although only a short drive from Alamogordo, the primeval nature of the Sacramento Mountains complex provides visitors with a wilderness experience and primitive recreational opportunities of the highest order.
There are several parks and attractions in
this state that are part of the National Parks Service. These can be
accessed through the
interactive map 
A surprisingly large number of entertainers come from New
Mexico. See the "Famous
people of New Mexico".
You can just imagine the possible activities
this fantastic state has to offer. Choose the activity of
you choice and follow the links to find a guide service or suppliers.
For a great variety of maps see the University
of Texas Library.
|
|
![[Top button]](../../../../images/Buttons-bullets/go_top_btn.gif){kind=small}
Go to top