Luera Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Luera Mountains are a 15 mi (24 km) long, mountain range
in southeast Catron County
, New Mexico
, USA
and in the central-southeast of the Plains of San Agustin. The range abuts the northwest end of the north-south extensive Black Range
where the Continental Divide of the Americas traverses the Black Range's ridgeline.
The Continental Divide traverses the southern foothills of the Luera Mountains from west-to-east then turns south into the Black Range. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is further south of the water divide
in the Luera's, then meets the Continental Divide in the Black Range.
traversing the north side of the plains. To the southeast of the Luera Mountains between the northwest perimeter of the Black Range
, New Mexico State Road 163 crosses the Continental Divide and the National Scenic Trail. Road 163 connects from to the east, New Mexico State Road 52 and the adjacent Cibola National Forest
to Forest Road 30 at the southwest, connecting the Gila Wilderness
and Apache Creek, NM
, while paralleling the Continental Divide, (which traverses around the west and partial northwest of the Plains of San Agustin).
Connected to the west and southwest of the Luera Mountains, is a similar sized mountain range, unnamed. Both are in the center-west of the Plains of San Agustin. The Plains trend northeasterly north of the two ranges; higher elevations of the Plains of San Agustin lie south, and southwest of the two ranges where the Continental Divide of the Americas goes from the west to meet the Black Range, where the Continental Divde then turns due south.
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Luera Mountains
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in southeast Catron County
Catron County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.8% White*0.4% Black*2.7% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*3.7% Other races*19.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, 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
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
and in the central-southeast of the Plains of San Agustin. The range abuts the northwest end of the north-south extensive Black Range
Black Range
The Black Range is an igneous mountain range running north-south in Sierra and Grant counties in west-central New Mexico, in the southwestern United States. Its central ridge forms the western and eastern borders, respectively, of the two counties through much of their contact...
where the Continental Divide of the Americas traverses the Black Range's ridgeline.
The Continental Divide traverses the southern foothills of the Luera Mountains from west-to-east then turns south into the Black Range. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is further south of the water divide
Water divide
A drainage divide, water divide, divide or watershed is the line separating neighbouring drainage basins...
in the Luera's, then meets the Continental Divide in the Black Range.
Description
The Luera Mountains are an approximately 15 mi circular range, with Luera Peak in the center north; a small ridgeline goes southeast from the peak with an adjacent creek and canyon. The Luera Mountains are mostly surrounded by the Plains of San Agustin. The linear main-trending line of the plains lies to the west, northwest and northeast, with State Road 12New Mexico State Road 12
New Mexico State Road 12 is a primarily west–east state road in western New Mexico. The road is long and runs from U.S. Route 180 west of Reserve to U.S. Route 60 in Datil. State Road 12 is located entirely within Catron County. The road's original alignment ran south from its western...
traversing the north side of the plains. To the southeast of the Luera Mountains between the northwest perimeter of the Black Range
Black Range
The Black Range is an igneous mountain range running north-south in Sierra and Grant counties in west-central New Mexico, in the southwestern United States. Its central ridge forms the western and eastern borders, respectively, of the two counties through much of their contact...
, New Mexico State Road 163 crosses the Continental Divide and the National Scenic Trail. Road 163 connects from to the east, New Mexico State Road 52 and the adjacent Cibola National Forest
Cibola National Forest
The Cibola National Forest is a United States National Forest in western and central New Mexico, USA. The forest also manages four National Grasslands that stretch from northeastern New Mexico eastward into the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. It is administered by the United States Forest...
to Forest Road 30 at the southwest, connecting the Gila Wilderness
Gila Wilderness
Gila Wilderness was designated the world's first wilderness area on June 3, 1924. Along with Aldo Leopold Wilderness and Blue Range Wilderness, the wilderness is part of New Mexico's Gila National Forest. The wilderness is approximately from north to south and east to west...
and Apache Creek, NM
Apache Creek, New Mexico
Apache Creek is an unincorporated community in eastern Catron County, New Mexico, United States. Located three miles northeast of Cruzville, it is located at the convergence of Apache Creek and the Tularosa River. The Apache Creek Pueblo, also called the Apache Creek Ruin, is near the town...
, while paralleling the Continental Divide, (which traverses around the west and partial northwest of the Plains of San Agustin).
Connected to the west and southwest of the Luera Mountains, is a similar sized mountain range, unnamed. Both are in the center-west of the Plains of San Agustin. The Plains trend northeasterly north of the two ranges; higher elevations of the Plains of San Agustin lie south, and southwest of the two ranges where the Continental Divide of the Americas goes from the west to meet the Black Range, where the Continental Divde then turns due south.
Luera Peak
There is no well-delineated ridgeline in the Luera Mountains. The water divide, the continental divide is in the southern foothills of the range. Luera Peak, in the center-north, 9420 feet (2,871 m), is located at 33.826449°N 107.877548°W.Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas traverses around the northwest and west mountain perimeter, and central-southern section of the Plains of San Agustin. The scenic trail lies adjacent to the Divide, or follows the Continental Divide.External links
Luera Peak----
Luera Mountains