Albuquerque, New Mexico

:This article is about the largest city of New Mexico. For other uses, see Albuquerque (disambiguation).

Climate & Geography

Albuquerque's Climate is usually sunny and dry with low amounts of humidity. The sun shines more than 280 days a year. Average winter daytime highs are in the upper 40's to low 50's while droping into the mid 20's overnight. The odd time the snow falls in Albuquerque (Lots of snow falls in the nearby Sandia Mountains) it normally melts in the morning. Summertime daytime highs are normally in the low to mid 90's while droping into the 60's overnight. Luckily it is a very dry heat (It is a desert). Albuquerque recieves very little rain, only 8.5 inches a year. All in all Albuquerque has one of the best climates in the United States.

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 469.5 km² (181.3 mi²). 467.9 km² (180.6 mi²) of it is land and 1.7 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.35% water.

Related Topics:
United States Census Bureau - Km² - Mi²

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Albuquerque is located at 35°6'39" North, 106°36'36" West (35.110703, -106.609991){{GR|1}}.

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Distances

• Dallas: 645 miles (1038 km) northwest from DAL
• Denver: 445 miles (716 km) south-southwest from DEN
• Phoenix, Arizona: 465 miles (748 km) east northeast from PHX
• Salt Lake City: 620 miles (998 km) southeast from SLC

Terrain

The Sandia Mountains which include Sandia Peak are situated to the East of the city. The Sandia Peak Tramway runs from the base of the mountain to the peak, and is the longest aerial tramway in the world.

Related Topics:
Sandia Peak - Sandia Peak Tramway - Aerial tramway

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"Sandia" comes from the Spanish for "watermelon". The name is a reference to the mountain's reddish color during sunsets.

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The Rio Grande (Spanish for "great river") flows North to South through the city and supports a riparian forest habitat called a "bosque."

Related Topics:
Rio Grande - Spanish - Riparian forest - Bosque

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Interestingly enough, Albuquerque has one of the highest altitudes of any major city in the United States. The elevation of the city ranges from 4900 feet (1490 m) above sea level near the Rio Grande (in the Valley) to 6500 feet (1980 m) in the Northeast Heights. At the airport, the elevation is 5352 feet (1631 m) above sea level.

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Quadrants

Albuquerque is geographically divided into four quadrants which are officially part of the mailing address. They are NE (northeast), NW (northwest), SE (southeast), and SW (southwest). The north-south dividing line is Central Avenue (the path that Route 66 took through the city) and the east-west dividing line is the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks. Although this is technically the division of the city, in casual conversation Albuquerqueans sometimes use the perpendicular interstates I-25 and I-40 to divide the city into quadrants.

Related Topics:
Quadrant - Route 66 - Burlington Northern Santa Fe

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Northeast quadrant

This is an area that has been experiencing a housing expansion since the late 1950's. It abuts the base of the Sandia Mountains and contains portions of the Sandia Heights neighborhoods, which are situated in or near the foothills and are significantly higher, in elevation and price range, than the rest of the city. Running from Central Ave. and the railroad tracks to the Sandia Peak Aerial Tram, this is the largest quadrant both geographically and by population. The University of New Mexico, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, the Uptown area which includes both Coronado and Winrock malls, Journal Center, Balloon Fiesta Park, and Albuquerque Academy are all located in this quadrant. Some of the most affluent regions of the city are located here, including the Las Lomas-Roma neighborhood, the Netherwood Park neighborhood, the Academy Hills neighborhood, and many neighborhoods in the far northeast corner streching beyond the actual city limits into Sandoval County.

Related Topics:
Sandia Peak Aerial Tram - University of New Mexico

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Northwest quadrant

This quadrant contains historic Albuquerque Old Town, as well as the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The area has a mixture of commercial, low-income, middle-income, and some of the most expensive homes in the city. Northwest Albuquerque includes the largest section of downtown, the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and the Bosque ("woodlands" Cottonwood forest), the Petroglyph National Monument, the Double Eagle II Airport, Martineztown, and Cottonwood Mall. Additionally, the "North Valley" area, which includes some small ranches and expensive residential homes along Rio Grande Boulevard and the Rio Grande (river), are located in this quadrant. The City of Albuquerque borders the villages of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque and Corrales in the northwest valley. The majority of the area on the west side of the Rio Grande (river) is known as the "West Mesa" and consists primarily of traditional residential subdivisions. Here the city proper borders with the City of Rio Rancho

Related Topics:
Bosque - Petroglyph National Monument - Double Eagle II Airport - Los Ranchos de Albuquerque - Corrales - City of Rio Rancho

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Southeast quadrant

Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories, the Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute main campus, the Albuquerque International Sunport, University Stadium, Isotopes Park, and "The Pit" (University Arena) are located in the Southeast (SE) quadrant.

Related Topics:
Kirtland Air Force Base - Sandia National Laboratories - Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute - Albuquerque International Sunport

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The trendy Nob Hill neighborhood, which straddles Central Ave. between Carlisle Blvd. and Girard Blvd., lies on the northern fringe of the Southeast quadrant. The expensive residential developments of Four Hills and Ridgecrest are also located in this quadrant. In sharp contrast to these upscale developments, however, some of the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods in the city are also located in Southeast Albuquerque. During the past twenty years, the SE area, mainly around Gibson Blvd. and Central Ave., has become the highest crime area in the city. These neighborhoods are sometimes referred to as the "war zone."

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Southwest quadrant

Traditionally consisting of agricultural and rural areas, the Southwest quadrant is often referred to as the "South Valley". Although the city limits of Albuquerque do not include all of the area, the South Valley is considered to extend all the way to the Isleta Indian Reservation. This includes the old communities of Kinney, Los Padillas, Mountainview, and Pajarito. The south end of downtown Albuquerque and the Bosque ("woodlands" cottonwood forest), the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the Rio Grande Zoo, and Tingley Beach are also located here.

Related Topics:
Isleta Indian Reservation - Bosque

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The southwest area is currently undergoing rapid and controversial development, including large retail stores and quickly-built subdivisions.

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