Rio Hondo (Southern New Mexico) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rio Hondo |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| Counties | Chaves, Lincoln |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Sierra Blanca, Capitan Mountains Lincoln County 1,615 m (5,299 ft) 33°22′54″N 105°16′17″W / 33.38167°N 105.27139°W |
| River mouth | Pecos River Chaves County 1,060 m (3,480 ft) 33°22′15″N 104°23′57″W / 33.37083°N 104.39917°W |
The Rio Hondo is a river in southern New Mexico. It is about 79-mile-long (127 km). The river starts where two other rivers, the Rio Bonito and Rio Ruidoso, meet near the town of Hondo, New Mexico.
The Rio Hondo flows east through the Hondo Valley. This valley is located in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca and Capitan Mountains. The river generally follows the path of U.S. Route 70 through towns like Picacho and Tinnie. Near Riverside, the river goes through a deep canyon before reaching the rolling hills west of Roswell.
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What is the Rio Hondo River?
The Rio Hondo is an important river system in New Mexico. Its name means "Deep River" in Spanish. It plays a key role in the local environment and for people living nearby.
Where Does the Rio Hondo Start and End?
The Rio Hondo begins where the Rio Bonito and Rio Ruidoso rivers join together. It flows eastward across the landscape. Eventually, the Rio Hondo flows into the Pecos River. This happens about 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream from where the Berrendo River joins it, near Bottomless Lakes State Park.
How Does the Rio Hondo Help Control Floods?
About 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Roswell, the Rio Hondo flows into a special reservoir. This reservoir is called the Two Rivers Dam. The Army Corps of Engineers built this dam to help control floods.
What is the Two Rivers Dam?
The Two Rivers Dam is usually dry. It only fills up with water during heavy rains or when snow melts in the spring. This helps prevent floods in areas downstream. Another stream, Rocky Arroyo, also flows into this reservoir.
The dam has two large earth walls that are 7,825 feet (2,385 m) long in total. These walls can hold a huge amount of water, up to 168,000 acre-feet (207,000,000 m3). The dam works like two separate lakes, one for the Rio Hondo and one for Rocky Arroyo. If there is a lot of water, they can merge into one big reservoir.
How Does the River Change as it Flows?
After passing through the Two Rivers Dam, the Rio Hondo starts to wind its way through the flat land of the Pecos River valley. Rocky Arroyo joins the Rio Hondo about 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the Roswell International Air Center. Then, the Hondo travels northeast through the city of Roswell.
What Happens to the Rio Hondo in Roswell?
In many places, especially in Roswell, the river's natural path has been changed. People have lined parts of the river with concrete or paving stones. In Roswell, a small stream called the Spring River flows into the Hondo. Just east of Roswell, another stream, the Berrendo River, also joins the Hondo.
Does the Rio Hondo Flow All Year?
The upper part of the Rio Hondo usually flows all year long. However, people use a lot of the river's water for irrigation (watering crops). Because of this, by the time the river reaches Roswell, it is often dry. It only has water after storms or when snow melts from the mountains in the spring.
