Animas Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Animas Mountains |
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Animas Peak |
| Elevation | 8,565 ft (2,611 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 30 mi (48 km) N-S |
| Width | 12 mi (19 km) |
| Geography | |
 Animas Mountains
Location in New Mexico
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| District | Hidalgo County, NM |
| Borders on | Animas Valley-W Playas Valley-E Pyramid Mountains-N Peloncillo Mountains-W |
The Animas Mountains are a small mountain range. They are found in the "Boot-Heel" area of southwestern New Mexico, in the United States. These mountains stretch about 30 miles (50 km) from north to south. They follow the Continental Divide, a line that separates rivers flowing to different oceans. The range is about 12 miles (20 km) wide at its widest point.
The highest spot in the Animas Mountains is the southern part of Animas Peak. It reaches 8,565 feet (2,611 meters) high. The Animas Mountains sit between two valleys. The Animas Valley is to the west, and the Playas Valley is to the east. Other nearby mountains include the Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County) and the Big Hatchet Mountains.
The Animas Mountains have two main parts. The southern part is higher and wider. It rises about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) above the valleys. This area is like a "sky island". It has thick forests of conifer trees at higher elevations. The northern part is longer and narrower. It is lower, reaching 7,310 feet (2,228 meters) at Gillespie Peak. This area has mostly grasslands and piñon-juniper trees and shrubs.
The Animas Mountains are close to several important natural areas. These include the Chihuahuan Desert, the Sonoran Desert, and the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains in Mexico. Because of these different influences, the southern part of the range has many kinds of plants and animals. You can find about 130 types of birds, 60 types of mammals, and 40 types of reptiles here.
History and Management
Most of the Animas Mountains are part of a large area called the Diamond A Ranch. This ranch used to be known as the Gray Ranch. Today, the Animas Foundation owns and manages it. The ranch is very big, covering 321,000 acres (1,299 square kilometers). That's more than one-third the size of the state of Rhode Island!
In 1990, a group called The Nature Conservancy bought the ranch. Later, in the mid-1990s, they sold it to the Animas Foundation. This foundation is a private group. It was started by a poet and rancher named Drummond Hadley. The Animas Foundation aims to practice "sustainable agriculture." This means farming and ranching in a way that protects the environment.
The Animas Foundation works with other groups in the area. One important group is the Malpai Borderlands Group. This group brings together local landowners, government agencies, universities, and environmental organizations. They all work together to manage the land. The Animas Foundation is very important to this group because it owns so much land in the area.
Because the ranch is privately owned, public access to the Animas Mountains is limited. There are not many chances for people to visit for fun activities. For example, the Continental Divide Trail had to be moved. It used to go through the mountains. Now, it starts in a different area called Crazy Cook in the Big Hatchet Mountains.
See also
In Spanish: Sierra de las Ánimas (Nuevo México) para niños
