New Mexico's Geological Wonders

New Mexico Geology

Few places on Earth equal New Mexico's diverse geological makeup, which ranges from low desert plains in the south to high Rocky Mountain ranges in the north, with a diverse display of terrain in between.

During the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, a prehistoric ocean that reached to the northeastern corner of the state covered most of New Mexico, creating an ideal environment for dinosaurs. After the ocean dried up in the Cenozoic Period, the Rocky Mountains pushed upward as the Earth's tectonic plates shifted.

From Ship Rock to the Valle Grande

Natural formations like Ship Rock, an eroded volcanic core sacred to the Navajos that rises more than 1,700 feet from the ground, and Valle Grande, in the Jémez Mountains, were formed in an ensuing volcanic period about a million years ago. Valle Grande, one of the world's largest calderas, was recently purchased as public land by Congress and boasts 176 miles of beautiful green pastures, wildflowers and grazing cattle. Material from the tremendous ancient Jémez eruptions blasted away as far north as Idaho and as far east as Kansas.

Farther south, Little Black Peak in the Valley of Fires National Recreation Area erupted about 1,000 years ago. What remains are more than 44 miles of domes, tubes and caves of thick and ropey pahoehoe lava flows, some of the best examples of this type in the continental United States.

Some of New Mexico's pristine mountain ranges and the Río Grande Rift Valley are also the result of spectacular seismic activity. The Sandia, Manzano and Sacramento mountain ranges align with fault lines, and parallel fault lines created the Río Grande Rift Valley.

Carlsbad Caverns in southeastern New Mexico features one of the largest cave systems in the world. Water circulating underground deposited salt, gypsum and limestone to form the intricate subterranean caves and fantastical formations that continue to enthrall both young and old alike. White Sands National Monument, the world's largest deposit of gypsum sand dunes near Alamogordo, covers 275 square miles and ideally represents New Mexico's perpetual geologic evolution.

Flora and Fauna

The diverse geology of the state provides terrain that is classified into six of the seven life zones identified on Earth. With such a variation in landscapes, the animal and plant species also represent a vast range like no other on the planet.

New Mexico's southern reaches comprise the Lower Sonoran Life Zone, normally below 4,500-foot elevations. These arid plains support cholla and prickly pear cactus, creosote and yucca, as well as cottonwood, olive and cedar trees. Pronghorn antelope and stealthy mountain lions roam the area along with herds of javelinas, or wild boars. Typical of the Southwest, rattlesnakes, scorpions, centipedes and tarantulas also frequent the ground.

Many major mountain ranges of the state represent the Upper Sonoran Life Zone, from 4,500-6,500 feet. While animal life, cacti and desert grasses typical of the Lower Sonoran can also survive in the Upper Sonoran Zone, yucca and creosote cannot. Piñon, oak and juniper trees are the dominant vegetation of the higher Sonoran region.

The Transition Zone constitutes most of north-central New Mexico at 6,500-8,500 feet. Here, Ponderosa pines, oak, juniper, spruce and Douglas firs dominate the terrain, while the cooler, wetter climate provides ideal conditions for more wildlife and abundant wildflowers. Black bear, elk, deer, mountain lions, quail and wild turkey are visible in remote areas. From late spring to early fall, the land blooms with columbine, pennyroyal and New Mexico groundsel.

The Canadian Life Zone represents less than two percent of the state's higher elevations, specifically the White, Mogollon, Jémez, San Juan and parts of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Deer and elk find suitable habitats in this zone and they migrate to lower elevations in the winter. Common trees include spruce, aspen and fir.

Wheeler Peak: High point of New Mexico

The loftier mountains, at an elevation of 9,500-12,000 feet, are in the Hudsonian Zone, where only the hardiest species survive, with heavy snowfall, rain and a short growing season. Bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goats, marmots, small rodents and birds live among the bristlecone pine, blue spruce and sub-Alpine firs.

On peaks above 12,000 feet, like Wheeler (the state's highest at 13,161 feet) and others in the Santa Fe and Enchanted Circle (Taos, Red River, Questa) areas, the Alpine Zone is home to pikas and marmots. This region accommodates few trees, except perhaps a few wind-twisted pines and wildflowers that bloom during a brief summer.