Leasburg Dam State Park is a
state park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...
of
New Mexico, United States, located on the
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico.
The length of the Rio G ...
. It provides opportunities for camping, hiking, picnicking, swimming, and wildlife viewing. Nearby is the historic
Fort Seldon State Monument, and to the south is the city of
Las Cruces.
The dam at Leasburg was completed in 1908. Its purpose is not to hold back the flow of the river, but instead to divert it into a system of
canals for use by nearby farms.
Known for its rich history, early settlers used the area as a passage to
Jornada del Muerto
The name Jornada del Muerto translates from Spanish as "Single Day's Journey of the Dead Man" or even "Route of the Dead Man, though the modern literal translation is closer to "The Working Day of the Dead". It was the name given by the Spanish ...
, the nearby site of a 19th-century army outpost is a reminder of a time not too long ago. Leasburg Dam State Park offers year-round camping, picnicking, and
birdwatching. From about mid-March to mid-October the park is also a venue for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking in the Rio Grande. The dam channels water from the Rio Grande for irrigation in the
Mesilla Valley. Nearby a museum and a number of trails are located near Fort Seldon State Monument.
References
External links
Leasburg Dam State Park
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State parks of New Mexico
Parks in Doña Ana County, New Mexico
Protected areas established in 1971
Rio Grande