El Malpais National Monument
El Malpais National Monument is a National Monument located in western New Mexico, in the Southwestern United States. The name El Malpais is from the Spanish term Malpaís, meaning badlands, due to the extremely barren and dramatic volcanic field that covers much of the park's area.
| El Malpais National Monument and National Conservation Area | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
Pahoehoe lava flow in El Malpais National Monument | |
| Location | Cibola County, New Mexico, USA |
| Nearest city | Grants, NM |
| Coordinates | 34°52′38″N 108°03′03″W |
| Area | 114,276 acres (462.46 km2) |
| Established | December 31, 1987 |
| Visitors | 105,356 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | El Malpais National Monument |
It is on the Trails of the Ancients Byway, one of the designated New Mexico Scenic Byways. There are many geologic features, including lava tubes and ice caves. There is also abundant wildlife to be encountered year round. Native Americans have used the area for centuries, and it became a National Monument in 1987.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.