City of Rocks State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids City of Rocks State Park |
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City of Rocks State Park
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 City of Rocks State Park
Location in New Mexico
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| Location | Grant, New Mexico, United States |
| Area | 1,230 acres (5.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,250 ft (1,600 m) |
| Established | 1953 |
| Governing body | New Mexico State Parks Division |
City of Rocks State Park is a special place in New Mexico, USA. It's famous for its amazing rock formations that look like a city made of giant stone buildings. Some of these rocks are as tall as 40 feet (12 m), which is like a four-story building! People love to visit this state park to explore the unique landscape and enjoy nature.
Contents
How the Rocks Were Formed
The amazing rocks you see at City of Rocks State Park started forming a very long time ago. About 34.9 million years ago, a huge volcanic eruption happened. This eruption came from a giant bowl-shaped hole in the ground called a caldera. This caldera was located near Hillsboro Peak.
The eruption was incredibly powerful, one of the biggest ever! It created a type of rock called tuff. This tuff rock covered a huge area, about 314 square miles (810 km2). Over millions of years, wind and water slowly wore away (eroded) the tuff. This erosion carved out the unique shapes of the rocks you see today.
A Look Back in Time: History
Long before the park was created, the Mimbreno Indians lived in this area. They were here from about 750 AD to 1250 AD. We know this because people have found things they left behind. These include pottery, arrowheads, and other tools.
You can also find "Indian wells" in the rocks. These are cone-shaped holes where rainwater would collect. They were a clever way for the Mimbreno people to get water.
City of Rocks State Park officially became a park on March 20, 1953. The state of New Mexico decided to lease 640 acres (2.6 km2) of land to create this special place for everyone to enjoy.
Fun Things to Do and See
City of Rocks State Park offers many cool activities for visitors:
- Walking and Hiking: Explore the trails that wind through the unique rock formations.
- Camping: You can stay overnight and sleep under the stars.
- Rock Climbing: For those who like adventure, some areas are great for climbing.
- Picnicking: Enjoy a meal outdoors with amazing views.
- Wildlife Viewing: Look for desert animals and birds.
- Dark Night-Sky Viewing: The park has very dark skies, perfect for stargazing. There's even a 14-inch (36 cm) telescope you can use to see planets and stars up close!
The park also has a visitor center. Here, you can find displays, books, maps, and lots of information about the park. There's even a desert botanical garden where you can see plants that grow in this dry environment.
Park Facilities
The park is open all year round, so you can visit any time! Nearby towns include Silver City and Deming.
If you're camping, the park has places with electricity and water hookups. There are also restrooms and hot showers available. Each year, about 50,000 people come to enjoy City of Rocks State Park!
Images for kids
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Ocotillo in the City of Rocks State Park's desert botanical garden
