Near Jemez Springs in Sandoval County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Valle Grande

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 25, 2014

1. Valle Grande Marker

Inscription. About one million years ago, the magnificent valley before you was formed by collapse, after a series of tremendous volcanic eruptions ejected a volume of material more than 500 times greater than the May 1980 eruptions of Mt. St. Helens. This event climaxed more than 13 million years of volcanism in the Jemez Mountains. Minor volumes of magma, leaking to the surface as recently as 50,000 years ago, formed the dome-like hills between you and the skyline to the north, which is the opposite wall of the enormous Valles Caldera. The heat from young volcanism makes this area attractive for geothermal energy.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. (Marker Number 20.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.

Location. 35° 51.101′ N, 106° 27.319′ W. Marker is near Jemez Springs, New Mexico, in Sandoval County. Marker is on State Highway 4, 8.1 miles west of West Jemez Road (State Highway 501), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located 2.3 miles east of the entrance to Valles Caldera National Preserve. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jemez Springs NM 87025, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Ice House Memorial (approx.

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8.8 miles away); Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (approx. 8.8 miles away); Los Alamos National Laboratory Today (approx. 8.8 miles away); Peggy Pond Church (approx. 8.8 miles away); Manhattan Project Era (approx. 8.8 miles away); Fuller Lodge (approx. 8.9 miles away); William Mackwood Hopper (approx. 8.9 miles away); Harold H. Brook (approx. 8.9 miles away).

More about this marker. Although the next nearest marker is showing as being about 9 miles away, it is actually 14 miles away by road due to the curves climbing and descending Cerro Grande Mountain.

Also see . . . Valles Caldera Wikipedia Entry. “The previous private owners of Baca Ranch had preserved a pristine piece of land with a mix range of timber and significant biodiversity. At the time of the [creation of the Valles Caldera National preserve in 2000], the ranch was home to 40 miles (64 km) of pristine trout streams, 66,118 acres (26,757 ha) of conifer forest, 17 endangered plant and animal species and 25,000 acres (10,000 ha) of grassland grazed by 8,000 elk, New Mexico’s largest herd. The ranch is encircled

Valle Grande and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 25, 2014

2. Valle Grande and Marker

by federal lands, including the Santa Fe National Forest, the Jemez National Recreation Area and the Bandelier National Monument.” (Submitted on April 25, 2014.)

Valle Grande image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 25, 2014

3. Valle Grande

Valles Caldera Panorama image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard Denney, March 18, 2009

4. Valles Caldera Panorama

High resolution. Click to expand.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2018. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 638 times since then and 25 times this year. Last updated on July 5, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 25, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on May 12, 2014, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.