City of Rocks State Park is a state park in New Mexico, consisting of large sculptured rock formations in the shape of pinnacles or boulders rising as high as 40 feet (12 m).
City of Rocks State Park
City of Rocks State Park
Location of City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico
The bedrock forming City of Rocks was created 34.9 million years ago by a volcanic eruption. Then over millions of years, erosion sculpted the rock formations seen today.[1] The eruption was from the Emory Caldera, centered near Hillsboro Peak at the southern end of the Black Range. The eruption was estimated to be a VEI 8 eruption,[2] and it emplaced the Kneeling Nun Tuff, a tuff bed covering an area of 314-square-mile (810 km2), which makes up the bedrock of the park.[3]
HistoryEdit
Looking N/NW towards the main entrance to City of Rocks State Park at sunset
The Mimbreno Indians settled in the area from 750 to 1250 AD. Pottery, arrowheads, and other artifacts show evidence of prehistoric Indians in the area. Indian wells, or conical holes, are found in the rocks where water would be allowed to collect.
Chapter 110 of the 1953 Laws of New Mexico created City of Rocks State Park on March 20, 1953. This legislation provided for the lease of 640 acres (2.6 km2) of land from the Commissioner of Public Lands, New Mexico State Land Office for the purpose of a State Park and recreation area.[4]
FeaturesEdit
Ocotillo in the City of Rocks State Park's desert botanical garden
City of Rocks State Park provides opportunities for walks, hiking, camping, rock climbing, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and dark night-sky viewing (including a 14-inch (36 cm) telescope). Other features of the park include hiking trails, picnic areas and a desert botanical garden. The visitor center includes a large display area, books, maps, and information.
FacilitiesEdit
The park is open all year. Nearby are the communities of Silver City and Deming. Facilities include electrical and water hookups for camping, with restrooms and hot showers. At least 50,000 people visit the park annually.
^Breining, Greg (2007). "Most-Super Volcanoes". Super Volcano: The Ticking Time Bomb Beneath Yellowstone National Park. St. Paul, MN: Voyageur Press. p. 256 pg. ISBN978-0-7603-2925-2.
^McLemore, V.T. "City of Rocks State Park". New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. New Mexico Tech. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
^"City of Rock State Park Management Plan" (PDF). New Mexico, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to City of Rocks State Park.
City of Rocks State Park
August 28, 2023
city, rocks, state, park, other, places, with, same, name, city, rocks, national, reserve, state, park, mexico, consisting, large, sculptured, rock, formations, shape, pinnacles, boulders, rising, high, feet, location, mexicolocationgrant, mexico, united, stat. For other places with the same name see City of Rocks National Reserve City of Rocks State Park is a state park in New Mexico consisting of large sculptured rock formations in the shape of pinnacles or boulders rising as high as 40 feet 12 m City of Rocks State ParkCity of Rocks State ParkLocation of City of Rocks State Park in New MexicoLocationGrant New Mexico United StatesCoordinates32 35 24 N 107 58 33 W 32 59000 N 107 97583 W 32 59000 107 97583Area1 230 acres 5 0 km2 Elevation5 250 ft 1 600 m Established1953Governing bodyNew Mexico State Parks Division Contents 1 Geology 2 History 3 Features 3 1 Facilities 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksGeology EditThe bedrock forming City of Rocks was created 34 9 million years ago by a volcanic eruption Then over millions of years erosion sculpted the rock formations seen today 1 The eruption was from the Emory Caldera centered near Hillsboro Peak at the southern end of the Black Range The eruption was estimated to be a VEI 8 eruption 2 and it emplaced the Kneeling Nun Tuff a tuff bed covering an area of 314 square mile 810 km2 which makes up the bedrock of the park 3 History Edit Looking N NW towards the main entrance to City of Rocks State Park at sunsetThe Mimbreno Indians settled in the area from 750 to 1250 AD Pottery arrowheads and other artifacts show evidence of prehistoric Indians in the area Indian wells or conical holes are found in the rocks where water would be allowed to collect Chapter 110 of the 1953 Laws of New Mexico created City of Rocks State Park on March 20 1953 This legislation provided for the lease of 640 acres 2 6 km2 of land from the Commissioner of Public Lands New Mexico State Land Office for the purpose of a State Park and recreation area 4 Features Edit Ocotillo in the City of Rocks State Park s desert botanical gardenCity of Rocks State Park provides opportunities for walks hiking camping rock climbing picnicking wildlife viewing and dark night sky viewing including a 14 inch 36 cm telescope Other features of the park include hiking trails picnic areas and a desert botanical garden The visitor center includes a large display area books maps and information Facilities Edit The park is open all year Nearby are the communities of Silver City and Deming Facilities include electrical and water hookups for camping with restrooms and hot showers At least 50 000 people visit the park annually See also EditFaywood Hot SpringsReferences Edit Gila Wilderness Site Breining Greg 2007 Most Super Volcanoes Super Volcano The Ticking Time Bomb Beneath Yellowstone National Park St Paul MN Voyageur Press p 256 pg ISBN 978 0 7603 2925 2 McLemore V T City of Rocks State Park New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources New Mexico Tech Retrieved November 18 2020 City of Rock State Park Management Plan PDF New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department Retrieved September 24 2010 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to City of Rocks State Park City of Rocks State Park Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title City of Rocks State Park amp oldid 1168172422, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
