Black Range facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Range |
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| Devil's Mountains | |
Location of the Black Range within New Mexico
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,098 m (10,164 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | New Mexico |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Igneous mountain range |
The Black Range is a mountain range in southwest New Mexico, in the United States. It is also known as the Devil's Mountains or Sierra Diablo. This mountain range is made of igneous rock, which means it formed from cooled magma or lava.
The Black Range stretches about 55 miles (88 km) from north to south. It can be up to 18 miles (29 km) wide. The highest point in the range is McKnight Mountain. Most of the Black Range is located within the Gila National Forest. The Mimbres River begins here, fed by snowmelt and rain. The Mimbres Mountains, which are the southern part of the range, are usually considered part of the Black Range.
Contents
Getting to the Black Range
You can mostly reach the Black Range using New Mexico State Road 152. This road goes across the mountains. It connects the small town of Kingston in the east with San Lorenzo in the west.
State Road 152 crosses the range at Emory Pass, which is 8,228 feet (2,508 meters) high. There is a hiking trail at Emory Pass. This trail runs along the central ridge of the mountains. You can also find several campgrounds along State Road 152. Some of these campgrounds have their own hiking trails. Outside of the areas near State Road 152, most of the Black Range is wild and difficult to explore.
Aldo Leopold Wilderness Area
A large protected area called the Aldo Leopold Wilderness is located along the top of the Black Range. It covers over 202,000 acres (81,747 hectares). This wilderness area is north of State Road 152. It is a place where nature is kept wild and untouched by human development.
History of the Black Range
The southern part of the Black Range, also known as the Mimbres Mountains, was once home to the Mimbres people. Their culture was strongest around 1000 CE. It ended around 1150 CE. Their most famous settlement is the Gila Cliff Dwellings. These are ancient homes built into cliffs.
Mining for Silver
People discovered Silver in the Black Range in the late 1870s. The first discovery was in 1876 at Lake Valley. Then, in 1879, a prospector named Harry Pye found silver at Chloride. This led to a "silver rush," where many people came to find their fortune. Silver and gold mines were very active in the Black Range until the end of the 1800s.
Early Conflicts
The Black Range was also a place where some of the first fights of Victorio's War happened. This was a conflict involving Native American groups and the U.S. Army.
See also
- In Spanish: Sierra del Diablo para niños
