Why a Natural Area?

Why a Natural Area?. . , Established in 2006 through an act of Congress, the purpose of the Rio Grande Natural Area is to “conserve, restore and protect the natural, historic, cultural, scientific, scenic, wildlife and recreational resources” of the lower Rio Grande in Colorado. , Peregrine falcons hunt from above and are the fastest birds on Earth. They are capable of reaching speeds over 200 miles per hour when diving for prey. , The Piñon Hills area has a remnant population of tarantulas. The females are brilliantly colored, and the males are mostly brown. Tarantulas have established dens in this area and can live for more than 20 years. , Built in 1892, the Lobatos Bridge changed the face of transportation in the San Luis Valley. It crosses at County Road G and is still used today. , The area provides critical habitat and is a primary travel corridor for wildlife, including endangered and threatened species. Cultural features and artifacts tell of thousands of years of human occupation along the Rio Grande. Visitors are encouraged to care for these precious resources while enjoying the scenic beauty, wildlife viewing, and exceptional educational and recreational opportunities of the area. , River otters are carnivores, made for swimming with a sleek body, webbed feet and dense fur. Look carefully and you may be fortunate enough to witness their frisky antics. , Ancestral Puebloans first mined turquoise in this area over 1,000 years ago. This turquoise has been found as far away as Chaco Canyon and even in ancient sites in Mexico. The mine was rediscovered by I.P. King in the early 1890s. “King's Manassa Turquoise” has long been a favorite with jewelry crafters throughout the southwest.