Animas Valley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Animas Valley
View of Animas, NM looking west-southwest
Animas Valley Location in New Mexico
Length	85 mi (137 km)
Width	15 mi (24 km)
Geography
Country	United States
States	New Mexico, Sonora and Chihuahua (state)
Regions	New Mexico Bootheel and Chihuahuan Desert
County	Hidalgo County, NM
Cities	Animas, NM and Lordsburg, NM

The Animas Valley is a long, narrow valley in New Mexico, USA. It stretches about 85 miles from north to south. Part of it also reaches into Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico. This valley is found in the New Mexico Bootheel region, which is a unique part of the state.

Tall mountains form the eastern edge of the valley. These mountains are part of the Continental Divide of the Americas. East of these mountains is another long valley called the Playas Valley.

To the west of the Animas Valley are the Peloncillo Mountains. Beyond these mountains, in Arizona, are the San Simon and San Bernardino Valleys. These valleys are near the large Chiricahua Mountains. The whole area, with its mountains and valleys, is part of a special region called the Madrean Sky Islands. These "sky islands" are like green, cool spots in the middle of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts.

What is the Animas Valley like?

The Animas Valley runs straight from north to south. It is surrounded by mountain ranges. This valley is part of a larger area known as the Basin and Range Province in North America. This province has many valleys separated by mountains.

At the very southern end of the valley, near the border between the United States and Mexico, there was once an ancient lake called Lake Cloverdale. In the northern part of the valley, you'll find the Lordsburg Mesa. This mesa is a flat-topped hill located northwest of Lordsburg. The Gila River flows to the north of the valley, near towns like Virden and Red Rock.

Places in and around the Valley

Here are some important places found on the west and east sides of the Animas Valley:

See also

In Spanish: Valle de las Ánimas (Nuevo México) para niños