New Mexico

New Mexico (Spanish: Nuevo México) is one of the two southwestern states of the USA. Over its relatively long history it has also been occupied by Native American populations, part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, a province of the Republic of Mexico, and a U.S. territory. New Mexico has the highest percentage of people of Hispanic ancestry of any state, some recent immigrants and others descendants of Spanish colonists. The state also has a large Indian population. As a result, the demographics and culture of the state are unique for their strong Spanish, Mexican, and American Indian cultural influences. Both English and Spanish are officially recognized languages{{ref|Note-1}} in the state.

Geography

See: List of New Mexico counties

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The eastern border of New Mexico lies along 103 °W with Oklahoma, and 3 miles (5 km) west of 103 °W with Texas. Texas also lies south of most of New Mexico, although the southwestern boot-heel borders the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. The western border with Arizona runs along 109 °W. The 37 °N parallel forms the northern boundary with Colorado. The states of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah come together at the Four Corners in the northwestern corner of New Mexico.

Related Topics:
Oklahoma - Chihuahua - Sonora - Arizona - Colorado - Utah - Four Corners

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The landscape ranges from wide, rose-colored deserts to broken mesas to high, snow-capped peaks. Despite New Mexico's arid image, heavily forested mountain wildernesses cover a significant portion of the state. Part of the Rocky Mountains, the broken, north-south oriented Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) range flanks both sides of the Rio Grande from the rugged, pastoral north through the center of the state. Government lands include the Cibola National Forest, headquartered in Albuquerque, and the Santa Fe National Forest, headquartered in Santa Fe.

Related Topics:
Forest - Rocky Mountains - Sangre de Cristo - Rio Grande - Cibola National Forest - Santa Fe National Forest - Santa Fe

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cacti, yuccas, creosote bush, sagebrush, and desert grasses cover the broad, semiarid plains that cover the southern portion of the state.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Federal government protects millions of acres of beautiful New Mexico as national forests and monuments. The natural attractions of New Mexico include Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the Aztec Ruins National Monument. Thousands of tourists annually visit the White Sands National Monument, Bandelier, Capulin Volcano National Monument, El Morro.

Related Topics:
Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Aztec Ruins National Monument - White Sands National Monument - Capulin Volcano National Monument

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The rich history of New Mexico also attracts visitors to such places as Fort Union, Gila Cliff Dwellings, and Salinas Pueblo Missions national monuments and Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Visitors also frequent the surviving native pueblos of New Mexico. Tourists visiting these sites bring significant monies to the state.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other areas of geographical and scenic interest include Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument and the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The Gila Wilderness lies in the southwest of the state.

Related Topics:
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument - Valles Caldera National Preserve - Gila Wilderness

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:See also: Delaware Basin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Interstate freeways & US highways