El Malpais National Monument

El Malpais National Monument and National Conservation Area
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Pahoehoe lava flow in the El Malpais National Monument
Location	Cibola County, New Mexico, USA
Nearest city	Grants, NM
Coordinates	34°52′38″N 108°03′03″W
Area	114,277 acres (462 km2)
Established	December 31, 1987
Visitors	143,515 (in 2004)
Governing body	National Park Service

El Malpais National Monument is a National Monument located in western New Mexico, in the Southwestern United States. The name El Malpais is from the Spanish term Malpaís, meaning badlands, due to the extremely barren and dramatic volcanic field that covers much of the park's area.

Geography

View of the El Malpais Lava Fields and sandstone bluff

The El Malpais is part of the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field, the second largest volcanic field in the Basin and Range Province. The rugged Pahoehoe lava flow filled a large basin rimmed by higher sandstone bluffs, now large wind and water rounded and lighter colored contrasting landforms that surround much of the darker malpais. The park has many inactive volcanoes, some potentially active volcanoes, and in the area geothermal activity.

Natural history

Some of the oldest Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga) trees on the planet, of the Pseudotsuga subspecies Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. glauca), are living in El Malpais Monument.

History

The El Malpais area was used for resources, settlement, and travel by Oasisamerica cultures, Native Americans, and Spanish colonial and pioneer exploration. Archaeological sites remain in the park.

In the 1940s the malpais lava field was one of the eight candidate sites considered by the Manhattan Project to test detonate the first atomic bomb, the Trinity nuclear test, which did occur to the south at White Sands Proving Ground.

Recreation

El Malpais National Monument: the Ventana Arch

There are many features and trails in the El Malpais National Monument.

Features

El Malpais has many lava tube caves previously open to explore (unguided), but as of 6 December 2010 are now closed to recreational use.^{[citation needed]} The La Ventana Arch is an easily accessible huge sandstone natural arch. A scenic overlook on the park's eastern high bluffs have panoramic views over the El Malpais lava field.

In the area known as "the Narrows" the cliffs rise up as a fortress, then around the bend have cracks and fissures formed by water that have calved off chunks that lie on the ground or propped against the walls. Further on the road opens to the more weathered ancient lava, that now can support small trees and shrubs.

A hiking trail leads from the Narrows picnic area leads to the rim of the mesa bluffs and another panoramic view. The Cerro Encierro is a hill with hiking and climbing routes that provide more spectacular views. Where the terrain is predominantly bedrock and large rock formations trails cannot be defined in the usual ways, so sequences of stone cairns are used to indicate the route.

Access

The El Malpais region is located south of Interstate I-40 and historic Route 66, southeast of Gallup, New Mexico.

The U.S. National Park Service protects and manages, and interprets El Malpais National Monument. They operate two Visitor Centers and a ranger station with natural history displays, literature, maps, and staff with helpful information.

The adjacent El Malpais National Conservation Area is protected and managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The Cibola National Forest conserves large natural areas, wildlife, and habitats in the surrounding region also.

References

Further reading

• Mabery, Marilyn (1987). The Volcanic Eruptions of El Malpais: A Guide to the Volcanic History and Formations of El Malpais National Monument. Ancient City Press. p. 83. ISBN 1-58096-007-3. 

External links

• National Park Service: Official El Malpais National Monument website
• BLM: El Malpais National Conservation Area website
• Offbeat New Mexico – El Malpais
• TopoQuest USGS Quad Map
• El Malpais National Monument travel guide from Wikitravel