Leasburg Dam State Park
Encyclopedia
Leasburg Dam State Park is a state park
of New Mexico
, USA, located on the Rio Grande
. It provides opportunities for camping, hiking, picnicking, swimming, and wildlife viewing. Nearby is the historic Fort Seldon
State Monument, and 15 miles (24.1 km) to the south is the city of Las Cruces
.
The dam at Leasburg was completed in 1908. Its purpose is not to hold back the flow of the river, but instead to divert it into a system of canal
s for use by nearby farms.
Known for its rich history, early settlers used the area as a passage to Jornada del Muerto
, the nearby site of a 19th century army outpost is a reminder of a time not too long ago. Leasburg Dam State Park offers year-round camping, picnicking, and birdwatching
. From about mid-March to mid-October the park is also a venue for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking in the Rio Grande. The dam channels water from the Rio Grande for irrigation in the Mesilla Valley
. Nearby a museum and a number of trails are located near Fort Seldon State Monument.
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 on 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...
. It provides opportunities for camping, hiking, picnicking, swimming, and wildlife viewing. Nearby is the historic Fort Seldon
Fort Seldon
Fort Selden was a US Cavalry fort named in honor of Henry R. Selden, and located in Doña Ana County, 12 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The fort was in operation from 1865 through 1891, and through its years it garrisoned numerous units of the famed Buffalo Soldiers. General Douglas...
State Monument, and 15 miles (24.1 km) to the south is the city of Las Cruces
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
.
The dam at Leasburg was completed in 1908. Its purpose is not to hold back the flow of the river, but instead to divert it into a system of canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s for use by nearby farms.
Known for its rich history, early settlers used the area as a passage to Jornada del Muerto
Jornada del Muerto
The Jornada del Muerto in the U.S. state of New Mexico was the name given by the Spanish conquistadors to the Jornada del Muerto Desert basin, and the particularly dry stretch of a route through it.The trail lead northward from central Spanish colonial New Spain, present-day Mexico, to the farthest...
, the nearby site of a 19th century army outpost is a reminder of a time not too long ago. Leasburg Dam State Park offers year-round camping, picnicking, and birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
. From about mid-March to mid-October the park is also a venue for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking in the Rio Grande. The dam channels water from the Rio Grande for irrigation in the Mesilla Valley
Mesilla Valley
The Mesilla Valley is a geographic feature of Southern New Mexico and far West Texas. It was formed by repeated heavy spring floods of the Rio Grande.The fertile Mesilla Valley extends from about Hatch, New Mexico to the west side of El Paso, Texas...
. Nearby a museum and a number of trails are located near Fort Seldon State Monument.