The Mescalero Ridge forms the western edge of the great
Llano Estacado, a vast
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...
or tableland in the southwestern
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
in
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
and
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
. It is the western equivalent of the
Caprock Escarpment, which defines the eastern edge of the
Llano Estacado.
Mescalero Sands
Extending north-south along the western edge of the Mescalero Ridge lies a vast sand sheet called the Mescalero Sands, named after the
Mescalero Apaches who once hunted in these sandhills. In 1928,
Nelson Horatio Darton of the
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...
observed: “On the east side of the
Pecos Valley in southern
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
there are very extensive
sand hills formed of deposits known as the ‘Mescalero Sands,’ which are doubtless of
Quaternary age ...”
In places, these sands climb up and over the Mescalero Ridge and spread out over portions of the
Llano Estacado.
See also
*
Eastern New Mexico
*
West Texas
West Texas is a loosely defined region in the U.S. state of Texas, generally encompassing the arid and semiarid lands west of a line drawn between the cities of Wichita Falls, Abilene, and Del Rio.
No consensus exists on the boundary betwee ...
*
Pecos River
*
Caprock Escarpment
*
Llano Estacado
References
External links
High Plains Historical Foundation*
*
Landforms of Chaves County, New Mexico
Landforms of Eddy County, New Mexico
Landforms of New Mexico
Geology of New Mexico
Landforms of Texas
Geology of Texas
Landforms of Lea County, New Mexico
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