Playas Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Playas Lake |
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 Playas Lake
Location in New Mexico
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| Location | Hidalgo County, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 31°52′27″N 108°35′08″W / 31.87417°N 108.58556°W |
| Type | dry lake |
| Surface elevation | 4,278 feet (1,304 m) |
Playas Lake is a special kind of lake in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States. It's known as a dry lake or a playa. This means it's usually dry and flat, like a big, empty basin.
Contents
What is a Dry Lake?
A dry lake, or playa, is a flat area that sometimes fills with water after heavy rain. The water doesn't stay long because it either sinks into the ground or evaporates. This leaves behind a smooth, often cracked surface of dried mud or salt.
Location and Features
Playas Lake is located at an elevation of about 4,278 feet (1,304 meters) above sea level. It's a long, narrow dry lake that stretches from the north-northwest to the south-southeast. It sits in the Playas Valley, with the Animas Mountains to its west and the Little Hatchet Mountains to its east.
A Look Back in Time
Playas Lake has an interesting history, especially for travelers long ago.
Cooke's Wagon Road
From November 1846 into the early 1850s, a famous route called Cooke's Wagon Road crossed Playas Lake. This road was important for pioneers and soldiers traveling across the American Southwest. It helped people move supplies and settle new areas. The road went from the northeast across the lake to Whitmire Spring.
Whitmire Spring and Ranch
Later, starting in the early 1880s, Whitmire Spring became the location of the Whitmire Ranch. This ranch was an important stop along the old wagon road, providing a place for people and animals to rest and find water.
