 | - NEW MEXICO ["The Land of Enchantment"] located in the Southwestern region of the
North American continent, is one of the 50 States that form The United States of America [USA]. New Mexico joined the Union on January 6
1912 as the 47th State:
- Highest Point: Wheeler
Peak, northeast of Taos: 13,161 feet (4,011 meters).
- State Capital: Santa Fe.
- State Flag: red Zia Sun symbol on a yellow field [see logo at left].
- State
Motto: Crescit Eundo [Latin: It Grows As It Goes].
- State Bird:
Roadrunner (Geococcyx Californianus).
- State Flower: Yucca (Yucca Glauca).
- State Tree: Piñon Pine (Pinus Edulis).
- ALBUQUERQUE ["Duke City"] located in Bernalillo County in the Central New Mexico region
on the banks of Rio Grande River Southwest of Santa Fe, is the largest New Mexico city with over 505,000 population.
Albuquerque was founded in 1706 and named after New Spain's viceroy, the Duke of Alburquerque.
- Sandia Crest: highest point on Sandia Mountains at 10,678 feet
(3,254 meters) above sea level.
- Sandia Peak Tramway: located at the
base of Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, 10,378 feet (3,163 meters) above sea level, is the world's longest aerial cable tramway
[2.7 miles (4.3 kilometers), 18 minutes ride]. Offers majestic views of Albuquerque, Rio Grande Valley, Domingo Baca Canyon,
Sandia Mountains and indigenous fauna: deer, coyotes, black bears, raccoons, bobcats, eagles and hawks. Tickets $15.
- Sandia Mountains [Spanish: Sandia = Red Melon]: named after the unique view they
display at sunset:
- Visit Sandia Peak Ski Area during winter ski season.
- Visit Sandia Mountains
during summer season for cool hiking trails.
- Albuquerque Museum of Art
and History: located Downtown, 1 block from Old Town Plaza, features 400 years of Albuquerque history through permanent
displays and special exhibitions, Southwestern art, Gem Theatre, outdoor sculpture garden. General admission $4.
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF): the world's largest ballooning competition
and show with over 1,000 helium and hot air powered balloons. Takes place every year in October. General admission $5 per
event.
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science: located Downtown,
1 block from Old Town Plaza, contains natural science exhibits, life-size dinosaurs, a journey to the interior of a volcano,
DynaMax Theatre (admission $6), LodeStar Planetarium (admission $6), Virtual Voyages (admission $5). General museum admission
$5.
- Old Town Plaza: located Downtown, features Old Albuquerque Spanish
heritage, surrounded by restaurants, the 1793 San Felipe de Neri Roman Catholic Church and tourist shops selling Native
American crafts and jewelry.
- Albuquerque Biological Park:
- Rio Grande Zoo: exclusive oasis for over 1,000 exotic and native
animal species of every shape and size: seals, polar bears, wolves, elephants, siamangs, cheetahs etc. General admission
$7.
- Albuquerque Botanic Garden: expanses of desert plants, medicinal
herbs and colorful species native to the European Iberian peninsula, Africa and China, greenhouses and exhibits. General
admission $7.
- Albuquerque Aquarium: 285,000 gallons (1,079,000 liters)
shark tank, jellyfish, seahorses and other saltwater species native to the Gulf of Mexico. General admission $7.
- National Atomic Museum: located north of Old Town Plaza, is a tribute to the Atomic
Age, from Madame Marie Curie to the Manhattan Project to develop the Atomic Bomb. General admission $5.
- National Museum of Nuclear Science and History: will open spring 2009.
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park: located in the Chihuahuan Desert in Guadalupe Mountains,
300 miles (483 kilometers) south of Albuquerque, is one of our planet's great wonders. Contains 83 separate caves, including
USA deepest [1,597 feet (487 meters)] and third longest limestone cave. The Park is home to more than 800 plant species,
including several threatened and endangered ones: agaves, yuccas, cacti, sotols, ocotillos and more than 330 bird species,
including USA northernmost and largest colony of cave swallows and the circling turkey vultures. Carlsbad Cavern is one of
the world's largest underground natural chambers containing miles of gigantic caves, various rock formations and the famous
Bat Caves. A complete guided tour takes 4-5 hours. General admission $5.
- The Very Large
Array (VLA) radio telescope: located near Socorro, 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) south of Albuquerque. Admission free.
- SANTA FE: located 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) northeast of Albuquerque, is the
oldest State Capital city in the USA, founded in 1607. Contains the oldest church in the USA dating back to 1610 (San Miguel
Roman Catholic Chapel) and the oldest house in the USA, also from 1610 (Casa Vielo, adobe style), art galleries, exhibitions,
museums.
- New Mexico Touristic
Maps.
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