Near Roswell in Chaves County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Bottomless Lakes State Park

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 28, 2014

1. Bottomless Lakes State Park Marker

Inscription. When 19th Century cowboys attempted to measure these lakes by tying lariats together, they found no bottom and declared the lakes “bottomless.” Today we know these sinkholes, formed by collapsed salt and gypsum deposits, are 17 to 90 feet in depth. The park was established in 1933 as New Mexico's first state park.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1933.

Location. 33° 23.971′ N, 104° 20.795′ W. Marker is near Roswell, New Mexico, in Chaves County. It is on U.S. 380 at milepost 165, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Roswell NM 88201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Southwest

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Louise Massey Mabie (1902-1983) (within shouting distance of this marker); Goodnight-Loving Trail (approx. 2.1 miles away); Roswell (approx. 7.7 miles away); a different marker also named Roswell (approx. 9.9 miles away); Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett (approx. 10.1 miles away); Chaves County Court House (approx. 10.1 miles away); Justice in the Wild West

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(approx. 10.1 miles away); Chaves County Gulf War Monument (approx. 10.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Roswell.

<i>Back of </i> Bottomless Lakes State Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 28, 2014

2. Back of Bottomless Lakes State Park Marker

Points of Interest
New Mexico's Historic Markers typically have a map on the back side showing the location of other OSHM's. This is an excellent source of information when exploring for other Historical Markers and locations.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 28, 2014

3. Bottomless Lakes State Park Marker

Louise Massey Mabie Marker is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,430 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 5, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.