Gila National Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gila National Forest |
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Gila National Forest along New Mexico Route 180
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 Gila National Forest
Location in the United States
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| Location | New Mexico, United States |
| Nearest city | Silver City, NM |
| Area | 2,710,659 acres (10,969.65 km2) |
| Established | July 21, 1905 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Gila National Forest |
The Gila National Forest is a huge protected area in New Mexico, in the southwestern United States. It was created in 1905. This amazing forest covers about 2.7 million acres (over 10,900 square kilometers) of public land. This makes it the sixth largest National Forest in the main part of the United States.
The Gila National Forest also helps manage another 614,202 acres of the Apache National Forest in New Mexico. This means the Gila National Forest looks after a total of 3.3 million acres! A special part of the forest, called the Gila Wilderness, was set aside in 1924. It was the very first wilderness area officially protected by the U.S. government. The Aldo Leopold Wilderness and the Blue Range Wilderness are also found here.
The forest is located in several counties in southwestern New Mexico. Its main office is in Silver City, New Mexico. You can also find local ranger offices in towns like Glenwood and Truth or Consequences. The famous Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is also inside the forest.
The land in the Gila National Forest is very diverse. It has rugged mountains, deep canyons, flat-topped mesas, and even areas that look like deserts. Because the land is so wild and tough to get through, much of it remains untouched by people. There are also several natural hot springs in the forest, like Middle Fork Hot Springs.
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Amazing Animals of the Gila Forest
The Gila National Forest is home to many unique animals. Some of them are even named after the Gila region! These include the Gila monster (a type of lizard), the Gila trout (a fish), and the Gila woodpecker.
Other cool animals you might find here are:
- Black bears
- Bald eagle
- Cougars (also known as mountain lions)
- Spotted owl
- Elk
- White-tailed deer
- Osprey (a type of fish-eating bird)
- Peregrine falcon (a very fast bird)
- Bobcat
- Collared peccary (a pig-like animal)
- Timber wolf
- Gray fox
- White-nosed coati (a relative of the raccoon)
- Pronghorn (a fast antelope-like animal)
- Mule deer
- Bighorn sheep
- Wild turkey
Protecting the Gila Forest
The U.S. Forest Service works hard to protect the Gila National Forest. This includes looking after the plants and animals that live there. They make sure the forest stays healthy for everyone, including future generations. Sometimes, they have to make decisions about how to manage the land to keep it safe and thriving.
A Look at Gila's Past
The Gila River Forest Reserve was first created on March 2, 1899. It was later renamed the Gila Forest Reserve in 1905. The next year, it became part of the U.S. Forest Service. On March 4, 1907, it officially became a National Forest. Over the years, other forest areas were added to it, making it even bigger.
Fun Things to Do in the Gila Forest
The Gila National Forest offers many ways to enjoy nature. One special place is the Cosmic Campground. This 3.5-acre area is perfect for star-gazing. In 2016, it became the first and only International Dark Sky Sanctuary in North America. This means it's one of the best places in the world to see the night sky without light pollution!
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Images for kids
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A beaver dam spans a section of the Middle Fork of the Gila River
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Overlooking Jordan Hot Springs in the Gila National Forest
See also
In Spanish: Bosque nacional Gila para niños
