Once Upon A Time
Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico
New Mexico has its own (downsized) version of Yellowstone National Park. Valles Caldera is a 14-mile wide volcanic caldera with sweeping valleys, roaming wild elk herds, bald eagles, and rustic ruins from historic ranches, as seen here at the Horse Barn (dating to late 19th Century). Like Yellowstone, the Preserve has hot springs, fumaroles and volcanic domes (though there are no famous geysers such as those at Yellowstone). Spruce, Douglas-fir and Ponderosa pine populate the higher ground that surrounds the sweeping grassland valleys of the park. The elk keep trees from growing in the lowlands as they graze in large herds.
The weather did not cooperate with my photography the two days that I was in northern New Mexico, and such as seen here, every location was under a dense overcast. While this eliminated any chance I had of photographing the eagles in their nests, it did lend a certain heavy and interesting atmosphere for these historic locations.
*Press L or left click on the photo for best viewing.
Link to ~My best photos~
*** All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. ***
Once Upon A Time
Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico
New Mexico has its own (downsized) version of Yellowstone National Park. Valles Caldera is a 14-mile wide volcanic caldera with sweeping valleys, roaming wild elk herds, bald eagles, and rustic ruins from historic ranches, as seen here at the Horse Barn (dating to late 19th Century). Like Yellowstone, the Preserve has hot springs, fumaroles and volcanic domes (though there are no famous geysers such as those at Yellowstone). Spruce, Douglas-fir and Ponderosa pine populate the higher ground that surrounds the sweeping grassland valleys of the park. The elk keep trees from growing in the lowlands as they graze in large herds.
The weather did not cooperate with my photography the two days that I was in northern New Mexico, and such as seen here, every location was under a dense overcast. While this eliminated any chance I had of photographing the eagles in their nests, it did lend a certain heavy and interesting atmosphere for these historic locations.
*Press L or left click on the photo for best viewing.
Link to ~My best photos~
*** All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. ***