Bottomless Lakes State Park
Encyclopedia
Bottomless Lakes State Park is a state park
of New Mexico
, USA, located along the Pecos River
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) southeast of Roswell
. Established in 1933, it was the first state park in New Mexico. It takes its name from nine small, deep lakes located along the eastern escarpment
of the Pecos River valley
. The escarpment is an ancient limestone
reef
, similar to the limestone mountains around Carlsbad Caverns, 80 miles (128.7 km) to the south. Caves formed within the limestone, and as the Pecos River eroded the escarpment, the caves eventually collapsed, leaving behind several deep, almost circular lakes known as cenotes.
Lazy Lagoon is the largest of the lakes, with a surface area of approximately 26 acres (105,218.4 m²). Although it is a single lake, it is actually made up of three separate sink holes. The surface of the Lazy Lagoon is nearly level with the surrounding salt flats, which makes it look very shallow. In actuality, the deepest of its three sink holes is 90 feet (27.4 m) deep.
Lea Lake is the only lake in which swimming is allowed, and it has a beach and concession area which is popular in the summer.
Devil's Inkwell is the smallest of the lakes, with a surface area of only 0.36 acres (1,456.9 m²). It gets its name from the dark color of the water which is caused by the steep sides of the cenote and algae growth within the lake.
Figure Eight Lake is actually two lakes separated by the thin strip of land. When the water is very high the strip of land is covered, and the two nearly circular lakes join and take the shape of a figure eight. Irrigation in the Pecos Valley has lowered the water table, so the two lakes of Figure Eight lake rarely join to form a single lake anymore.
Pasture Lake is the shallowest of the lakes, at only 18 feet (5.5 m) deep with a surface area of 0.76 acres (3,075.6 m²).
The lakes are not fed by streams, and the evaporation
rate of the lakes in the hot desert
climate exceeds the rate at which rainwater refills them. The lakes are fed by underground water percolating through the rocks and into the lakes. The high evaporation rate produces brackish water
in the lakes.
Seven of the lakes are protected, although in recent years the lakes have been contaminated by trash that has been thrown into the lakes by careless visitors. The ninth and southernmost lake, Dimmitt Lake, is not a part of the state park and is owned by the Fin and Feather Club, a local hunting and fishing club.
and the Rainwater Killifish
are both endangered species of fish, and the Cricket Frog
and the Eastern Barking Frog also live in the park.
In the winter, Devil's Inkwell and Cottonwood Lake are both stocked with Rainbow Trout
.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
of 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...
, USA, located along the Pecos River
Pecos River
The headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) southeast of Roswell
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
. Established in 1933, it was the first state park in New Mexico. It takes its name from nine small, deep lakes located along the eastern escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
of the Pecos River valley
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...
. The escarpment is an ancient limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
, similar to the limestone mountains around Carlsbad Caverns, 80 miles (128.7 km) to the south. Caves formed within the limestone, and as the Pecos River eroded the escarpment, the caves eventually collapsed, leaving behind several deep, almost circular lakes known as cenotes.
Lakes
Most of the nine lakes are almost completely surrounded by cliffs, with the notable exceptions being Lea Lake and Lazy Lagoon. Lea Lake has a large, sandy shoreline on the western side and tall cliffs on the eastern side. The cliffs around Lazy Lagoon have been completely eroded away by the Pecos River, and the lake sits in a former channel of the river.Lazy Lagoon is the largest of the lakes, with a surface area of approximately 26 acres (105,218.4 m²). Although it is a single lake, it is actually made up of three separate sink holes. The surface of the Lazy Lagoon is nearly level with the surrounding salt flats, which makes it look very shallow. In actuality, the deepest of its three sink holes is 90 feet (27.4 m) deep.
Lea Lake is the only lake in which swimming is allowed, and it has a beach and concession area which is popular in the summer.
Devil's Inkwell is the smallest of the lakes, with a surface area of only 0.36 acres (1,456.9 m²). It gets its name from the dark color of the water which is caused by the steep sides of the cenote and algae growth within the lake.
Figure Eight Lake is actually two lakes separated by the thin strip of land. When the water is very high the strip of land is covered, and the two nearly circular lakes join and take the shape of a figure eight. Irrigation in the Pecos Valley has lowered the water table, so the two lakes of Figure Eight lake rarely join to form a single lake anymore.
Pasture Lake is the shallowest of the lakes, at only 18 feet (5.5 m) deep with a surface area of 0.76 acres (3,075.6 m²).
| Lake | Depth | Surface area | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lea Lake | 90 feet (27.4 m) | — | Only lake allowing swimming |
| Lazy Lagoon | 90 feet (27.4 m) | 26 acres (105,218.4 m²) | Largest by area |
| Devil's Inkwell | 32 feet (9.8 m) | 0.36 acres (1,456.9 m²) | Smallest, dark algae color |
| Figure Eight Lake | 37 feet (11.3 m) | 2.2 acres (8,903.1 m²) | |
| Pasture Lake | 18 feet (5.5 m) | 0.76 acres (3,075.6 m²) | Shallowest |
| Lost Lake | — | — | |
| Cottonwood Lake | 30 feet (9.1 m) | 0.52 acres (2,104.4 m²) | |
| Mirror Lake | 50 feet (15.2 m) | 0.763.44 acre | |
| Dimmitt Lake | — | — | Private lake |
The lakes are not fed by streams, and the evaporation
Evaporation
Evaporation is a type of vaporization of a liquid that occurs only on the surface of a liquid. The other type of vaporization is boiling, which, instead, occurs on the entire mass of the liquid....
rate of the lakes in the hot desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
climate exceeds the rate at which rainwater refills them. The lakes are fed by underground water percolating through the rocks and into the lakes. The high evaporation rate produces brackish water
Brackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
in the lakes.
Seven of the lakes are protected, although in recent years the lakes have been contaminated by trash that has been thrown into the lakes by careless visitors. The ninth and southernmost lake, Dimmitt Lake, is not a part of the state park and is owned by the Fin and Feather Club, a local hunting and fishing club.
Wildlife
Four endangered species can be found in the park. The Pecos pupfishPecos pupfish
The Pecos pupfish is a species of Pupfish in the Cyprinodontidae family. It is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
and the Rainwater Killifish
Killifish
A killifish is any of various oviparous cyprinodontiform fish . Altogether, there are some 1270 different species of killifish, the biggest family being Rivulidae, containing more than 320 species...
are both endangered species of fish, and the Cricket Frog
Cricket frog
Cricket frogs, genus Acris, are small, North American frogs of the family Hylidae. They are more aquatic than other members of the family and are generally associated with permanent bodies of water with surface vegetation. The common and scientific names refer to their call, which resembles that...
and the Eastern Barking Frog also live in the park.
In the winter, Devil's Inkwell and Cottonwood Lake are both stocked with Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
.