Animas Valley
Encyclopedia
The Animas Valley is a lengthy and narrow, north-south 85 mi (137 km) long, valley
located in western Hidalgo County, New Mexico
in the Bootheel Region
; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua, in the northwest of the Chihuahuan Desert
, the large desert region of the north-central Mexican Plateau
and the Rio Grande
valley and river system.
The Continental Divide of the Americas forms its eastern border in a series of mountain ranges. The parallel valley eastwards on the eastern side of the Continental Divide is the slightly shorter, but also long and narrow Playas Valley
.
Westwards of the narrow, lengthy Peloncillo Mountains
, are the two valleys in Arizona
of San Simon
and San Bernardino Valley
s, both east of the massif
of the Chiricahua Mountains
and associated mountain ranges, which anchor the eastern half of Cochise County
. Parts of this entire region with its mountain ridgelines, and mountaintop, and associated valleys are part of the sky island
region called the Madrean Sky Islands
of Arizona–New Mexico
, and Sonora
–Chihuahua, in the Sonoran
and Chihuahuan Deserts.
and Mexico
border lies the Pleistocene
aged Lake Cloverdale The extreme north has the Lordsburg Mesa located northwest of Lordsburg, and is on the northern perimeter of the Animas Valley, south of the west-flowing Gila River
and the towns of Virden
and Red Rock.
West
East
----
Cloverdale Ghost Town
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
located in western Hidalgo County, New Mexico
Hidalgo County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.3% White*0.6% Black*0.8% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.8% Two or more races*11.0% Other races*56.6% Hispanic or Latino...
in the Bootheel Region
New Mexico Bootheel
New Mexico's Bootheel comprises the southwestern corner of New Mexico. As part of the Gadsden Purchase it is bounded on the east by the Mexican state of Chihuahua along a line at extending south to latitude 31°20′0″N at...
; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua, in the northwest of the Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
, the large desert region of the north-central Mexican Plateau
Mexican Plateau
The Central Mexican Plateau, also known as the Mexican Altiplano or Altiplanicie Mexicana, is a large arid-to-semiarid plateau that occupies much of northern and central Mexico...
and the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
valley and river system.
The Continental Divide of the Americas forms its eastern border in a series of mountain ranges. The parallel valley eastwards on the eastern side of the Continental Divide is the slightly shorter, but also long and narrow Playas Valley
Playas Valley
The Playas Valley is a lengthy and narrow 60-mi long, valley located in Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua. Playas, NM is located in the northeast...
.
Westwards of the narrow, lengthy Peloncillo Mountains
Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County)
The Peloncillo Mountains of Hidalgo County, , is a major 35-mi long mountain range of southwest New Mexico's Hidalgo County, and also part of the New Mexico Bootheel region. The range continues to the northwest into Arizona as the Peloncillo Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona...
, are the two valleys in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
of San Simon
San Simon Valley
The San Simon Valley is a broad valley east of the Chiricahua Mountains, in the northeast corner of Cochise County, Arizona and southeastern Graham County, with a small portion near Antelope Pass in Hidalgo County of southwestern New Mexico. The valley trends generally north-south but in its...
and San Bernardino Valley
San Bernardino Valley (Arizona)
The San Bernardino Valley of Arizona is a northeast by southwest trending valley in extreme southeast Cochise County, Arizona.The north end of the valley merges into the northwest by southeast trending San Simon Valley; both merge in western Hidaldgo County, New Mexico...
s, both east of the massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
of the Chiricahua Mountains
Chiricahua Mountains
The Chiricahua Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Arizona which are part of the Basin and Range province of the southwest, and part of the Coronado National Forest...
and associated mountain ranges, which anchor the eastern half of Cochise County
Cochise County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*78.5% White*4.2% Black*1.2% Native American*1.9% Asian*0.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.0% Two or more races*9.6% Other races*32.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. Parts of this entire region with its mountain ridgelines, and mountaintop, and associated valleys are part of the sky island
Sky island
Sky islands are mountains that are isolated by surrounding lowlands of a dramatically different environment, a situation which, in combination with the altitudinal zonation of ecosystems, has significant implications for natural habitats. Endemism, vertical migration, and relict populations are...
region called the Madrean Sky Islands
Madrean sky islands
The Madrean Sky Islands are enclaves of Madrean pine-oak woodlands, found at higher elevations in a complex of small mountain ranges in southern and southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico. The sky islands are surrounded at lower elevations by the Sonoran and...
of Arizona–New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
–Chihuahua, in the Sonoran
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
and Chihuahuan Deserts.
Description
The Animas Valley is linear, north-south trending, surrounded by mountain ranges, and is part of the Basin and Range Province of the southwest. At the southern extremity of the valley straddling the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border lies the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
aged Lake Cloverdale The extreme north has the Lordsburg Mesa located northwest of Lordsburg, and is on the northern perimeter of the Animas Valley, south of the west-flowing Gila River
Gila River
The Gila River is a tributary of the Colorado River, 650 miles long, in the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona.-Description:...
and the towns of Virden
Virden, New Mexico
Virden is a village in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 143 at the 2000 census. The nearby community of Summit, essentially belongs to Virden, and is included in the population...
and Red Rock.
West
- Lordsburg Mesa
- Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County)Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County)The Peloncillo Mountains of Hidalgo County, , is a major 35-mi long mountain range of southwest New Mexico's Hidalgo County, and also part of the New Mexico Bootheel region. The range continues to the northwest into Arizona as the Peloncillo Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona...
- Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County)Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County)The Peloncillo Mountains of Hidalgo County, , is a major 35-mi long mountain range of southwest New Mexico's Hidalgo County, and also part of the New Mexico Bootheel region. The range continues to the northwest into Arizona as the Peloncillo Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona...
-(south)- Cotton City, NM-(valley center)
- Animas, New MexicoAnimas, New MexicoAnimas is an unincorporated community in west central Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States, in the southwestern corner of the state. It lies at the intersection of State Roads 9 and 338 south of the city of Lordsburg, the county seat of Hidalgo County. Its elevation is 4,406 feet , and...
-(valley center) - Cloverdale, NM-Ghost Town
- Guadalupe Mountains (Hidalgo County)Guadalupe Mountains (Hidalgo County)The Guadalupe Mountains of Hidalgo County are a 13 mi long, sub– range in southwest Hidalgo County, New Mexico, adjacent the southeast border of Arizona's Cochise County. A small portion of the range is in Cochise County, namely the outlet of Guadalupe Canyon, famous for the Guadalupe...
- Southwest
East
- Lordsburg, New MexicoLordsburg, New Mexico-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,379 people, 1,220 households, and 854 families residing in the city. The population density was 403.1 people per square mile . There were 1,414 housing units at an average density of 168.7 per square mile...
- Pyramid MountainsPyramid MountainsThe Pyramid Mountains are a 30 mi long, mountain range in central-east Hidalgo County, New Mexico. The city of Lordsburg is at its northern border, where the range causes Interstate 10 to traverse northeast, then southeast around the range....
- Pyramid MountainsPyramid MountainsThe Pyramid Mountains are a 30 mi long, mountain range in central-east Hidalgo County, New Mexico. The city of Lordsburg is at its northern border, where the range causes Interstate 10 to traverse northeast, then southeast around the range....
-(south)-Cont. Div.- Cotton City, NM-(valley center)
- Animas, New MexicoAnimas, New MexicoAnimas is an unincorporated community in west central Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States, in the southwestern corner of the state. It lies at the intersection of State Roads 9 and 338 south of the city of Lordsburg, the county seat of Hidalgo County. Its elevation is 4,406 feet , and...
-(valley center)- Antelope, New Mexico-(site)
- Animas MountainsAnimas MountainsThe Animas Mountains are a small mountain range in Hidalgo County, within the "Boot-Heel" region of far southwestern New Mexico, in the United States. They extend north-south for about 30 miles along the Continental Divide, from near the town of Animas to a few miles north of the border with...
-Cont. Div. - San Luis Mountains (New Mexico)-Cont. Div.
- –
External links
Animas Valley- Animas Valley Watershed, US EPA
- Shaded Relief Map, The Chiricahua and Peloncillo Mountains Region -- Playas ValleyPlayas ValleyThe Playas Valley is a lengthy and narrow 60-mi long, valley located in Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua. Playas, NM is located in the northeast...
, Animas Valley, southeast ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, & New Mexico BootheelNew Mexico BootheelNew Mexico's Bootheel comprises the southwestern corner of New Mexico. As part of the Gadsden Purchase it is bounded on the east by the Mexican state of Chihuahua along a line at extending south to latitude 31°20′0″N at...
region
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Cloverdale Ghost Town