Río Grande del Norte National Monument

Río Grande del Norte National Monument, 242,500 acres (98,140 hectares), N central N.Mex, on the Taos Plateau between the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mts.; est. 2013. The monument consists of an 800-ft-deep (240-m) gorge carved by the Río Grande River and the rugged plains, volcanic cones, and steep canyons surrounding it. Home to a variety of wildlife including elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, cougar, coyotes, and black bears, the monument has an average elevation of 7,000 ft (2,130 m), rising to 10,093 ft (3,076 m) at Ute Mtn. There are petroglyphs and prehistoric dwelling sites. It is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

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