Mesilla Valley

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The Mesilla Valley as seen from Las Cruces' west mesa.
The Mesilla Valley as seen from Las Cruces' west mesa.
The Organ Mountains tower over the Mesilla Valley (Las Cruces, NM in the foreground).
The Organ Mountains tower over the Mesilla Valley (Las Cruces, NM in the foreground).

The Mesilla Valley is a geographic feature of Southern New Mexico and far West Texas. It was formed by repeated heavy spring floods of the Rio Grande river.

The fertile Mesilla Valley extends from about Hatch, New Mexico to the west side of El Paso, Texas. The valley is quite fertile, and is characterized by its few remaining bosques, or marshy wetlands, as well as its native cottonwood trees, and increasingly, by invasive tamarisk, which was introduced by anglo settlers in the late 1800s, and is known locally as "salt cedar."

Due to the fertile nature of the valley, agriculture is a very important activity in this area. Stahmann Farms owns the world's largest pecan orchard, located south of the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Cotton, chile, and corn are other important cash crops grown in the Mesilla Valley. The Mesilla Valley is also known for its wine-producing capabilities, which originated with the Spanish exploration into New Mexico.

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