… was authorized on this date in 1916. The monument is located in far northeastern New Mexico.
Mammoths, giant bison, and short-faced bears were witness to the first tremblings of the earth and firework-like explosions of molten rock thousands of feet into the air. Approximately 60,000 years ago, the rain of cooling cinders and four lava flows formed Capulin Volcano, a nearly perfectly-shaped cinder cone, rising more than 1000 feet above the surrounding landscape. Although long extinct, Capulin Volcano is dramatic evidence of the volcanic processes that shaped northeastern New Mexico. Today the pine forested volcano provide habitat for mule deer, wild turkey, and black bear.
I have been there and driven to the top. It is actually quite interesting but is basically in the middle of nowhere.
They had a visitor take a picture of two Rocky Mountain big horn sheep and staff spotted a third ram on the grounds this past weekend. It is the first time they have been seen there in 20+ years. They tried to tag the ram, but a bear chased it off. More info in the Raton newspaper.
Cheers, Mi3ke