Natural Resource Condition Assessments for Valles Caldera National Preserve

View across a green landscape with mountains in the background
Valle Grande in late afternoon light and shadows.

NPS Photo

About 1.2 million years ago, a volcanic eruption created a 13-mile-wide circular depression high in the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico. Today, the depression—or caldera—is dormant but still shows signs of volcanic life with hot springs and boiling fumaroles. The mix of large grassland meadows—or valles in Spanish—surrounded by forest-covered volcanic domes led to the name of Valles Caldera. Valles Caldera National Preserve, encompassing almost 90,000 acres, preserves the caldera along with an array of wildlife that call the caldera home.

Resources in the park:

Loading results...

    For other reports and natural resource datasets visit the NPS Data Store.

    Source: Data Store Collection 7765 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

    Last updated: September 25, 2024

    Tools

    • Site Index