Engle Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Engle Lake |
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 Engle Lake
Location in New Mexico
Engle Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sierra County, New Mexico, United States |
| Coordinates | 33°10′46″N 107°02′37″W / 33.17944°N 107.04361°W |
| Surface elevation | 1,437 m (4,715 ft) |
Engle Lake is a special kind of lake in New Mexico. It's called a "seasonal" lake because it doesn't always have water. The lake is found in Sierra County.
Long ago, the Spanish called it Laguna del Muerto. This means "Lake of the Deadman." Engle Lake sits in a low area called the Jornada Del Muerto basin. It is about 4,715 feet (1,437 m) (1,437 meters) above sea level.
History of Engle Lake
Engle Lake, then known as Laguna del Muerto, was a very important spot long ago. It was a key "paraje" along the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. A paraje was a stopping place where travelers could rest.
The Camino Real de Tierra Adentro was a major road. It connected Mexico City all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. This road was used for hundreds of years by explorers and traders.
Laguna del Muerto offered something vital: water. Even when the lake's surface water dried up, the ground beneath still held moisture. This allowed grass to grow, which was food for animals.
When the lake was completely dry, people had to find water elsewhere. The closest water source was a spring called Ojo del Muerto. This spring was about six miles west of the lake. It was located in Cañon del Muerto, within the southern Fra Cristobal Range.
