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MEXICO [English: "The Land of Enchantment" = Spanish: "La Tierra Encantada"] located in the south-western region of the North American continent, is one of the 50 States that form The United States
of America [U. S. A.]. New Mexico joined the Union on January 6 1912 as the 47th State.
New Mexico symbols:Highest Point: Wheeler Peak part of Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains, north-east of Taos: 13,161 feet (4,011 meters). - ALBUQUERQUE ["Duke City"] located in Bernalillo County in the Central New
Mexico region on the banks of Rio Grande River south-west 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, Francisco Fernández de La Cueva, 8th 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 adjacent to Albuquerque, 10,378 feet (3,163 meters) above sea level, is world's longest (double reversible) passenger aerial
cable tramway [2.7 miles (4.3 kilometers), 18 minutes ride] and world's third longest single span, stretching from the north-east edge of Albuquerque to the crestline of Sandia Mountains. 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 $18 USD.
- Sandia Mountains
[Spanish: "Sandia" = English: "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 (AMAH): located Downtown 1 block away 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 USD.
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF): takes place every year in October for 9
consecutive days in the Balloon Fiesta Park located north-east at Balloon Fiesta Parkway. This is world's largest ballooning festival, competition and
exhibition with maximum 750 (official imposed limit) helium and hot air powered balloons and up to 100,000 spectators at any given event, daily competitions, shows, special events, balloon rides. General admission $5 USD per
event.
- Albuquerque International Balloon Museum (AIBM): located north-east inside Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park on Balloon Museum Drive, contains many original balloons, various
historic crafts, replicas and memorabilia telling the history of ballooning, from the first Montgolfier Brothers manned hot air balloon (Montgolfiere) ascent in 1783,
Paris, France, to the use of modern balloons in military, science, aerospace research and leisure. General museum admission $4 USD.
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
(NMMNHS): located Downtown 1 block away from Old Town Plaza, contains natural science exhibits, life-size dinosaurs, a journey to the interior of a volcano, DynaMax Theatre (admission $6 USD), LodeStar Planetarium (admission $6 USD),
Virtual Voyages (admission $5 USD). General museum admission $5 USD.
- Albuquerque Old Town Plaza: located Downtown, features Old Albuquerque Spanish heritage, surrounded by restaurants, the
1793 built San Felipe de Neri Roman Catholic Church, the oldest surviving building within Albuquerque City limits, and tourist shops selling Native American crafts
and jewelry.
- Albuquerque Biological Park:
- Albuquerque 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 USD.
- Albuquerque Rio Grande Botanic Garden: expanses
of desert plants, medicinal herbs and colorful species native to the European Iberian peninsula, Africa and China, gardens, greenhouses, conservatories, exhibits and a farm. General admission $7 USD.
- 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 USD.
- Albuquerque Tingley Beach: consists of 3 fishing lakes, a model boating pond and a
train station, and is home of world's largest trout. Activities: fishing, swimming, boat sailing, pedal boats, bicycle routes, exploring local wildlife, wetland ecosystem and nearby bosque, outdoors photography. Admission
free.
- National Museum of Nuclear Science & History (NMNSH) (formerly known as National Atomic Museum): located south on Eubank Blvd near freeway Interstate 40 (I40), was founded
in 1969 as nation's only congressionally chartered museum in its field. It is a tribute to the Atomic Age, from early research in nuclear development by Marie Curie, to the World War II Manhattan Project to develop the Atomic Bomb, all the way through today's peaceful uses of nuclear technology. General admission $8 USD.
- SANTA FE: located 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) north-east of Albuquerque, is the oldest State Capital city in the U.S.A.,
founded in 1607. Inhabits the oldest church structure in the U.S.A. dating back to 1610 (San Miguel Roman Catholic Chapel) and one of the oldest houses in the U.S.A. built by Europeans from ~ 1646 (Casa Vielo, adobe
style), art galleries, exhibitions, museums.
- New Mexico Attractions:
- 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 U.S.A. deepest [1,597 feet (487 meters)] and world's 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 U.S.A. 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 USD.
- The
Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope complex: located on the Plains of San Augustin near Socorro, 50 miles (81 kilometers) south of Albuquerque, VLA is one of world's
premier astronomical radio observatories, consisting of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration. Each antenna is 82 feet (25 meters) in diameter. Data from all antennas is combined electronically to give the resolution of an
antenna 22 miles (36 kilometers) across, with the sensitivity of a dish 422 feet (130 meters) in diameter. Admission free.
- White Sands National Monument: located in the Tularosa Basin on
Highway 70 (US70) 160 miles (257 kilometers) south of Albuquerque. One of world's great natural wonders, the glistening White Sands of New Mexico consists of
great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand that have engulfed 275 square miles (712 km2) of desert and created world's largest gypsum dune field, preserved along with the plants and animals that have successfully adapted to
this constantly changing environment. General admission $3 USD.
- Bandelier National Monument: located near Los Alamos 65 miles
(105 kilometers) north of Albuquerque. Bandelier National Monument spans over 51 square miles (132 km2) preserving the Frijoles Canyon ancient ruins:
ancestral pueblo homes, ceremonial structures (kivas), cave dwellings, paintings, petroglyphs, pottery, tools, excavated archaeological sites and primitive trails. Local wildlife: deer, squirrels, black bears, mountain lions, elks,
bats, wild turkeys, vultures, ravens, hummingbirds, rattlesnakes, tarantulas, lizards. General admission $6 USD per person, $12 USD per vehicle.
- New Mexico Touristic Maps.
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