Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Including "Valle Grande."
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico.
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October 8, 2011
October 8, 2011
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Eve DeLange At Valle Grande, At The Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. 
Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Cerro la Jara, An Approximately 250 ft High, Forested Rhyolite Lava Dome Within The Caldera On The Right. 
Valle Grande At The Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Google Map To Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera). Near Los Alamos, New Mexico.
View Larger Map
Click Here To See A Video Panaramic View Of
The Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. 36.3 MB.
Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera), National Preserve:
We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the images and information on this page. We share information with Wikipedia.
Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera), is a 12 mi wide volcanic caldera in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico. Within its caldera, Valle Grande is the largest valle (grass valley) and the only one with a paved road.
History:
Use of the Valles Caldera dates back to the prehistoric times with the discovery of spear points dated to 11,000 years old. Several Native American Tribes frequented the caldera, often seasonally for hunting and for obsidian used for spear and arrow points. Obsidian from the Caldera was traded by tribes across much of the Southwest. Eventually, Spanish and later Mexican settlers as well as the Navajo and other tribes came to the caldera seasonally for grazing with periodic clashes and raids. Later as the United States acquired New Mexico as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Caldera became the backdrop for the Indian wars with the U.S Army and the caldera began to be used for commercial purposes such as ranching and logging. During this period in 1876, the caldera became part of the Baca Ranch. The Bacas were a wealthy family given the land as compensation for the termination of a grant given to their family in Northeastern New Mexico. Since then, the land has been through a string of exchanges between private owners and business enterprises. In 2000, the Dunigan family sold the entire surface estate of 95,000 acres and seven-eighths of the geothermal mineral estate to the federal government.
Valles Caldera National Preserve:
On July 25, 2000, the Valles Caldera Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. Sections 698v-698v-10, created the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Santa Fe National Forest. The careful husbandry of the Baca Ranch by its private owners, including selective logging, limited grazing and hunting, and the use of prescribed fire, had preserved a mix of healthy range and timber land with significant biodiversity, including New Mexico's largest herd of elk, and served as a model for self-sustaining land development and use.
Valles Caldera is one of the smaller volcanoes in the supervolcano class. The circular topographic rim of the caldera measures 12 miles in diameter. The caldera and surrounding volcanic structures are the most thoroughly studied caldera complex in the United States. Research studies have concerned the fundamental processes of magmatism, hydrothermal systems, and ore deposition. Nearly 40 deep cores have been examined, resulting in extensive subsurface data.
The Valles Caldera is the younger of two calderas known at this location, having collapsed over and buried the Toledo Caldera, which in turn may have collapsed over yet older calderas. The associated Cerros del Rio volcanic field, which forms the eastern Pajarito Plateau and the Caja del Rio, is older than the Toledo Caldera. These two large calderas formed during eruptions 1.47 million and 1.15 million years ago. The Caldera and surrounding area continue to be shaped by ongoing volcanic activity. The El Cajete Pumice, Battleship Rock Ignimbrite, Banco Bonito Rhyolite, and the VC-1 Rhyolite were emplaced during the youngest eruption of Valles caldera, about 50,000�60,000 years ago. Seismic investigations show that a low-velocity zone lies beneath the caldera, and an active geothermal system with hot springs and fumaroles exists today.
The lower Bandelier tuff which can be seen along canyon walls west of the Valles Caldera, including San Diego Canyon, is related to the eruption and collapse of the Toledo Caldera. The upper Bandelier tuff is believed to have been deposited during eruption and collapse of the Valles Caldera. The now eroded and exposed orange-tan, light-colored Bandelier tuff from these events creates the stunning mesas of the Pajarito Plateau.
These calderas and associated volcanic structures lie within the Jemez Volcanic Field. This volcanic field lies above the intersection of the Rio Grande Rift, which runs north-south through New Mexico, and the Jemez Lineament, which extends from southeastern Arizona northeast to western Oklahoma. The volcanic activity here is related to the tectonic movements of this intersection.
Recreation:
A number of recreational and/or historical uses take place in the Valles Caldera. Many of these uses involve trails. Valles Caldera has many miles of ranch roads and livestock and game trails. These include a network of trails currently designated for horse riding. Historically, Valles Caldera was a location for equestrian endurance races. After establishment of VCNP the first race in the caldera was held in 2009. The largest grass valley, Valle Grande, is a venue for ski orienteering. Activities are open to the public, though some require reservations. Customer service and concierge services are provided by the Public Lands Interpretive Association.
Wildlife & Livestock:
Throughout the caldera the grass valleys appear groomed: there are few saplings and mature trees lack lower branches. This is due to heavy browsing by elk and cattle. Although the grass appears abundant, it is a limited resource. Its growing season is short, it feeds thousands of cattle in the summer and more thousands of elk all year, and during most of the year its nutritional value is low.
Link To Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera), National Preserve Home Page
You Will Leave deLange.org
How To Get There:
Valles Caldera is near Los Alamos.
Los Alamos is located in Northern New Mexico about 35 miles (about 40 minutes drive) northwest of Santa Fe, and an hour and 40 minutes drive from Albuquerque.
You could easily include a visit to Los Alamos in your visit to Valles Caldera. We spent the night at the Holiday Inn in Los Alamos.
If you are planning to visit. And if you are coming from outside of New Mexico, you could fly into nearest major airport to Los Alamos, New Mexico; which is Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF / KSAF). This airport is in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is about 22 miles from the center of Los Alamos, NM, and then you can rent a car.
There are many hotels and motels in both areas and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you.
We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations; through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is also easy to use!
We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car.
We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.
L-R View, Valle Grande
At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. L-R View, Valle Grande
At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. 
L-R View, Valle Grande
At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. L-R View, Valle Grande
At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. 
East Fork Jemez River Area
At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. East Fork Jemez River Area
At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. 
East Fork Jemez River
At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. East Fork Jemez River
At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Volcanoes or Volcanoes In New Mexico. No Obligation!
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
Send E-Mail to: George DeLange: [email protected]
Back To New Mexico & Colorado Tours Page
Back To DeLange Home Page
Link To Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera), National Preserve Home Page
You Will Leave deLange.org
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| Eve DeLange At Valle Grande, At The Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. |
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| Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. Cerro la Jara, An Approximately 250 ft High, Forested Rhyolite Lava Dome Within The Caldera On The Right. |
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| Valle Grande At The Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. |
Google Map To Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera). Near Los Alamos, New Mexico.
View Larger Map
The Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve.
Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. 36.3 MB.
Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera), National Preserve:
We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the images and information on this page. We share information with Wikipedia.
Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera), is a 12 mi wide volcanic caldera in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico. Within its caldera, Valle Grande is the largest valle (grass valley) and the only one with a paved road.
History: Use of the Valles Caldera dates back to the prehistoric times with the discovery of spear points dated to 11,000 years old. Several Native American Tribes frequented the caldera, often seasonally for hunting and for obsidian used for spear and arrow points. Obsidian from the Caldera was traded by tribes across much of the Southwest. Eventually, Spanish and later Mexican settlers as well as the Navajo and other tribes came to the caldera seasonally for grazing with periodic clashes and raids. Later as the United States acquired New Mexico as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Caldera became the backdrop for the Indian wars with the U.S Army and the caldera began to be used for commercial purposes such as ranching and logging. During this period in 1876, the caldera became part of the Baca Ranch. The Bacas were a wealthy family given the land as compensation for the termination of a grant given to their family in Northeastern New Mexico. Since then, the land has been through a string of exchanges between private owners and business enterprises. In 2000, the Dunigan family sold the entire surface estate of 95,000 acres and seven-eighths of the geothermal mineral estate to the federal government. Valles Caldera National Preserve: On July 25, 2000, the Valles Caldera Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. Sections 698v-698v-10, created the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Santa Fe National Forest. The careful husbandry of the Baca Ranch by its private owners, including selective logging, limited grazing and hunting, and the use of prescribed fire, had preserved a mix of healthy range and timber land with significant biodiversity, including New Mexico's largest herd of elk, and served as a model for self-sustaining land development and use. Valles Caldera is one of the smaller volcanoes in the supervolcano class. The circular topographic rim of the caldera measures 12 miles in diameter. The caldera and surrounding volcanic structures are the most thoroughly studied caldera complex in the United States. Research studies have concerned the fundamental processes of magmatism, hydrothermal systems, and ore deposition. Nearly 40 deep cores have been examined, resulting in extensive subsurface data. The Valles Caldera is the younger of two calderas known at this location, having collapsed over and buried the Toledo Caldera, which in turn may have collapsed over yet older calderas. The associated Cerros del Rio volcanic field, which forms the eastern Pajarito Plateau and the Caja del Rio, is older than the Toledo Caldera. These two large calderas formed during eruptions 1.47 million and 1.15 million years ago. The Caldera and surrounding area continue to be shaped by ongoing volcanic activity. The El Cajete Pumice, Battleship Rock Ignimbrite, Banco Bonito Rhyolite, and the VC-1 Rhyolite were emplaced during the youngest eruption of Valles caldera, about 50,000�60,000 years ago. Seismic investigations show that a low-velocity zone lies beneath the caldera, and an active geothermal system with hot springs and fumaroles exists today. The lower Bandelier tuff which can be seen along canyon walls west of the Valles Caldera, including San Diego Canyon, is related to the eruption and collapse of the Toledo Caldera. The upper Bandelier tuff is believed to have been deposited during eruption and collapse of the Valles Caldera. The now eroded and exposed orange-tan, light-colored Bandelier tuff from these events creates the stunning mesas of the Pajarito Plateau. These calderas and associated volcanic structures lie within the Jemez Volcanic Field. This volcanic field lies above the intersection of the Rio Grande Rift, which runs north-south through New Mexico, and the Jemez Lineament, which extends from southeastern Arizona northeast to western Oklahoma. The volcanic activity here is related to the tectonic movements of this intersection. Recreation: A number of recreational and/or historical uses take place in the Valles Caldera. Many of these uses involve trails. Valles Caldera has many miles of ranch roads and livestock and game trails. These include a network of trails currently designated for horse riding. Historically, Valles Caldera was a location for equestrian endurance races. After establishment of VCNP the first race in the caldera was held in 2009. The largest grass valley, Valle Grande, is a venue for ski orienteering. Activities are open to the public, though some require reservations. Customer service and concierge services are provided by the Public Lands Interpretive Association. Wildlife & Livestock: Throughout the caldera the grass valleys appear groomed: there are few saplings and mature trees lack lower branches. This is due to heavy browsing by elk and cattle. Although the grass appears abundant, it is a limited resource. Its growing season is short, it feeds thousands of cattle in the summer and more thousands of elk all year, and during most of the year its nutritional value is low.
Link To Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera), National Preserve Home Page
How To Get There:
Valles Caldera is near Los Alamos. Los Alamos is located in Northern New Mexico about 35 miles (about 40 minutes drive) northwest of Santa Fe, and an hour and 40 minutes drive from Albuquerque.
You could easily include a visit to Los Alamos in your visit to Valles Caldera. We spent the night at the Holiday Inn in Los Alamos.
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If you are planning to visit. And if you are coming from outside of New Mexico, you could fly into nearest major airport to Los Alamos, New Mexico; which is Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF / KSAF). This airport is in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is about 22 miles from the center of Los Alamos, NM, and then you can rent a car. There are many hotels and motels in both areas and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you. We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations; through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is also easy to use! We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.
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| L-R View, Valle Grande At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. | L-R View, Valle Grande At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. |
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| L-R View, Valle Grande At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. | L-R View, Valle Grande At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. |
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| East Fork Jemez River Area At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. | East Fork Jemez River Area At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. |
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| East Fork Jemez River At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. | East Fork Jemez River At Valles Caldera or Jemez Caldera, National Preserve. Near Los Alamos, New Mexico. |
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Volcanoes or Volcanoes In New Mexico. No Obligation!
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
| Back To New Mexico & Colorado Tours Page
|
| Back To DeLange Home Page
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| Link To Valles Caldera (or Jemez Caldera), National Preserve Home Page You Will Leave deLange.org
|