West Mesa facts for kids
The West Mesa is a large area of high land located west of the Rio Grande river in New Mexico. It stretches from south of Albuquerque up to Bernalillo.
The eastern edge of the West Mesa has a steep cliff called an escarpment, which borders the flat area around the Rio Grande. This mesa is also the easternmost part of the Colorado Plateau in this region. To the west, the mesa ends near the Rio Puerco river, about 20 miles west of Albuquerque. A big part of the West Mesa is inside Petroglyph National Monument. Major roads like Interstate 40 and Historic Route 66 cross through it. A road called Atrisco Vista (also known as NM 347) runs north and south, connecting I-40 to Double Eagle II Airport.
Many new homes are being built on the lower parts of the West Mesa as Albuquerque grows westward. Further west, you can find communities like Pajarito and Lost Horizon, which have mobile homes.
Important Places on the West Mesa
The West Mesa is home to several important facilities. The Bernalillo County Correctional Facility and the Sandia Motor Speedway are located here, south of Interstate 40. The National Weather Service also has a special radar site on the West Mesa, near Double Eagle II Airport, which helps forecast the weather.
Neighborhoods and Schools
Many new neighborhoods are being built on the West Mesa. Some of these include:
- Anderson Heights
- Eagle Ranch
- Ladera West
- Montecito Estates
- Paradise Hills
- Ventana Ranch
- Volcano Cliffs
- West Gate
There are also four high schools in the area where students attend classes:
- Atrisco Heritage High School
- Cibola High School
- Volcano Vista High School
- West Mesa High School
Other Features of the West Mesa
Besides homes and schools, the West Mesa has other interesting places:
- Double Eagle II Airport – an active airport.
- West Mesa Airport – an airport that is no longer used.
- Nine Mile Hill – a well-known landmark.
- Lost Horizon – a community that was once part of the West Mesa Air Force Station.
- Petroglyph National Monument – a special place with ancient rock carvings.
- Shooting Range Park – a public place for target practice, run by the City of Albuquerque.
- Bernalillo County Correctional Facility – a county jail.
- Sandia Motor Speedway – a place for car races.
