Taylor Ranch in Albuquerque in Bernalillo County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Formation of Boca Negra Canyon - Cliff Base Trail

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 26, 2021

1. Formation of Boca Negra Canyon - Cliff Base Trail Marker

Inscription.

Boca Negra Canyon
Cliff Base Trail
Notice how the volcanic escarpment curves around the island-like field of native plants in the middle of Boca Negra Canyon. This is an example of what geologists call reverse or inverted topography. At the time of the volcanic eruptions there was a hill here. The lava flowed around the hill, cooled and hardened into solid basalt rock. Over thousands of years, natural erosion of the hill (probably due to flash flooding) carried its contents down slope towards the Rio Grande leaving the volcanic rock around the vanished hill.

Captions:
Lava flowed around existing hill.
Hardened volcanic rock around the eroded hill.

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

Location. 35° 9.722′ N, 106° 43.12′ W. Marker is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Bernalillo County. It is in Taylor Ranch. Marker is on Cliff Base Trail east of Atrisco Drive NW. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Albuquerque NM 87120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Petroglyph Orientation - Cliff Base Trail (here, next to this marker); Reasons for Petroglyphs - Cliff Base Trail (a few steps from this marker); Estimating Petroglyph Age - Cliff Base Trail (a few steps

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from this marker); Formation of Basalt - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Petroglyph National Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Petroglyph Meanings - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Petroglyph Placement - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Desert Varnish - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albuquerque.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 26, 2021

2. Formation of Boca Negra Canyon - Cliff Base Trail Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 170 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 30, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.