Plains of San Agustin

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Location of the San Agustin Plains within New Mexico

The Plains of San Agustin [1] (sometimes listed as the Plains of San Augustin) are found in the southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico in the San Agustin Basin, south of U.S. Highway 60. They are located in Catron and Socorro Counties, about 50 miles (80 km) west of the town of Socorro and about 25 miles north of Reserve. The plains extend roughly northeast-southwest, with a length of about 55 miles (88 km) and a width varying between 5-15 miles (8-24 km). The basin is bounded on the south by the Luera Mountains and Pelona Mountain (outliers of the Black Range); on the west by the Tularosa Mountains; on the north by the Mangas, Crosby, Datil, and Gallinas Mountains; and on the east by the San Mateo Mountains. The Continental Divide lies close to much of the southern and western boundaries of the Plains.[2]

[edit] Geology

Geologically, the Plains of San Agustin lie within the Datil-Mogollon Volcanic Field, just south of the southeast edge of the Colorado Plateau, and west of the Rio Grande Rift Valley. The basin is a downdropped block which subsided between parallel faults. The flat floor of the Plains was created by a Pleistocene lake.[3]

Ecologically, the Plains lie near the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert (though the ranges surrounding the Gila River headwaters intervene), which is dominated by shrublands.

[edit] Landmarks

Very Large Array, on the Plains of San Agustin
Very Large Array, on the Plains of San Agustin

The Plains are probably best known as the site of the Very Large Array, a radio astronomy observatory. The plains were chosen for the observatory because of their isolated location away from large population centers, and the partial shielding effect of the surrounding mountain ranges. The edges of the plains have sites of archaeological interest such as a prehistoric rockshelter known as Bat Cave.

Other sites in the area include a ghost town called Old Horse Springs and the Ake Site, a prehistoric occupation site.

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Plains of San Agustin
  2. ^ New Mexico Atlas and Gazetteer, Second Edition, DeLorme Mapping, 2000.
  3. ^ Halka Chronic, Roadside Geology of New Mexico, Mountain Press Publishing, Missoula, 1987, ISBN 0-87842-209-9.
v • d • e
Topics of Catron County, New Mexico
Natural features

Aspen Mountain • Mogollon Mountains • San Francisco River • Whitewater Baldy • Middle Fork Hot Springs • Jordan Hot Springs • Plains of San Agustin • Turkey Creek Hot Springs • Red Hill volcanic field
Protected areas

Catwalk National Recreation Trail • Gila National Forest • Gila Wilderness • Whitewater Canyon National Forest Recreation Area
National Register of Historic
Places listings

Bearwallow Park • Bearwallow Mountain Lookout Cabins and Shed • Black Mountain • Black Mountain Lookout Cabin • Ake Site • El Caso Lake • El Caso Lookout Complex • Bat Cave • Mangas Mountain Lookout Complex • Mogollon Historic District • Socorro Mines Mining Company Mill, Fannie Hill • Mogollon Baldy Lookout Cabin • Red Hill • Mogollon Pueblo • Zuni Salt Lake and Sanctuary
History:
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