Chapter 1: The Land pg. 3 - 17

Location and Size -NM is located in the SW part of the US -NM is bordered by: TX, OK, CO, UT, AZ -Measures 391 miles north to south and 352 miles east to west -121,666 square miles -Fifth largest state in the Union

WRITE THIS DOWN! New Mexico is part of the Southwest. New Mexico has boundaries in common with five other states. 1. Texas, 2. Oklahoma, 3. Colorado, 4. Arizona, & 5. Utah. The state’s total areal is 121, 666 square miles.

The Four Corners Utah (NW) Colorado (NE) Arizona (SW) New Mexico (SE)

Land Surface Four Provinces of NM Great Plains covers eastern 1/3 of the state Rocky Mountains runs through the North-central part of the state Colorado Plateau extends across the NW part of the state Basin and Range SW, central and south-central part of the state

WRITE THIS DOWN! Four distinct provinces make up New Mexico’s land surface. 1. plains 2. mountains 3. plateau 4. basin and range

WRITE THIS DOWN! The plains province is an extension of the Great Plains.

WRITE THIS DOWN! The mountains province runs through north-central New Mexico. The Mountains here are part of the Rocky Mountains.

WRITE THIS DOWN! The Plateau province is part of the Colorado Plateau.

WRITE THIS DOWN! The basin and range province is the largest. It extends across the southwestern, central, and south-central parts of the state.

Surface and Ground Water NM’s average rainfall is 15 inches per year NM receives ¾ of the rain between June and September Early NM’s traveled by foot rather than by boat because NM’s rivers weren’t navigable. NM’s 5 main rivers: Rio Grande Pecos Canadian San Juan Gila

WRITE THIS DOWN! In New Mexico water is the key factor which determines where MOST New Mexicans live. The fact is that New Mexico, a large state, has little water. New Mexico’s average precipitation rate is only 15 inches a year. New Mexico receives its rainfall between June and September. This is the growing season.

WRITE THIS DOWN! The most important of New Mexico’s rivers are the: 1. Rio Grande, 2. Pecos, 3.Canadian, 4. San Juan, and 5. Gila. Rivers bring water to people and allow people to live where it might otherwise be too dry.

WRITE THIS DOWN! Ground water is water under the ground that people pump to the surface. New Mexican’s get more than half their water for irrigation from ground water sources.

Continental Divide -runs through the western part of the state. -separates the directions in which rivers flow. -rivers east of the divide drain into the Atlantic Ocean. -rivers west of the divide drain into the Pacific Ocean.

Plant and Animal Life Higher elevations are colder than lower elevations. Altitude is important because plant life changes with both altitude and latitude. NM has 6 different life zones (p. 13) NM’s life zones become colder and wetter as they become higher in altitude. The flat land (plains, plateau, or basin) supports most of the state’s population. NM’s biggest shortcoming is its lack of water

WRITE THIS DOWN! New Mexico’s altitude affects plant and animal life. New Mexico’s altitude has affected ways of living. Higher elevations are colder than lower elevations.

Six life zones of NM Lower Sonoran- low, hot desert (rabbits, squirrels) Upper Sonoran- desert prairie or steppe (deer, coyotes) Transition- open woodlands (mountain lions, bears) Canadian- fir forest (elk, deer) Hudsonian- spruce forest timberline (mountain sheep) Arctic-Alpine- alpine meadows or tundra above timberline

WRITE THIS DOWN! Six life zones of NM 1. Lower Sonoran- low, hot desert 2. Upper Sonoran- desert prairie or steppe 3. Transition- open woodlands 4. Canadian- fir forest 5. Hudsonian- spruce forest timberline 6. Arctic-Alpine- alpine meadows or tundra above timberline

State Facts The state capital is Santa Fe. The highest peak in NM is Wheeler’s Peak. 13,161 feet high. The lowest elevation in NM is Red Bluff. 2,817 feet high.

State Facts New Mexico has two state songs, "O, Fair New Mexico" and "Asi es Nuevo Mejico." Statehood day: January 6, 1912 (47th State) State bird: roadrunner State tree: Pinon Pine State flower: Yucca State grass: Blue Grama

State Facts State fish: Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout State animal: Black Bear State insect: Tarantula Hawk Wasp State fossil: Coelophysis (“SEE-LA-FISIS” is the state’s only Triassic dinosaur) State vegetables: Chile and Frijoles (pinto beans). State cookie: Bizcochito State gem: Turquoise State Question: Red or Green? (pertains to chile) State Languages: English and Spanish

WRITE THIS DOWN! NM STATE SYMBOLS Motto: Crescit eundo, It Grows as it Goes Nickname: Land of Enchantment Slogan: "Everybody is Somebody in New Mexico" (1975) Question: "Red or Green?" Capital: Santa Fe English state song: O Fair New Mexico, Spanish state song: Spanish: Asi Es Nuevo México, Such is New Mexico Flower: Yucca flower Tree: Two-needle piñon pine

WRITE THIS DOWN! NM STATE SYMBOLS Grass: Blue grama Cookie: Bizcochito Vegetables: Chiles and frijoles (pinto beans) Animal: New Mexico black bear Bird: Chaparral bird (greater roadrunner) Fish: Rio Grande cutthroat trout Insect: Tarantula wasp Fossil: Coelophysis Gem: Turquoise

New Mexico’s Nickname is the Land of Enchantment