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Southwestern Cities: Animas, Anthony, Aragon, Arenas Valley, Arrey, Bayard, Berino, Bingham, Buckhorn, Caballo, Central, Chamberino, Chaparral, Cliff, Columbus, Datil, Deming, Derry, Dona Ana, Elephant Butte, Fairacres, Fort Bayard, Garfield, Gila, Glenwood, Hachita, Hanover, Hatch, Hillsboro, Hurley, La Joya, La Mesa, Las Cruces, Lemitar, Lordsburg, Luna, Magdalena, Mesilla, Mesilla Park, Mesquite, Mimbres, Monticello, Mule Creek, Organ, Pinos Altos, Playas, Polvadera, Quemado, Radium Springs, Redrock, Reserve, Rincon, Roadfolks, Rodeo, Salem, San Acacia, San Antonio, San Lorenzo, San Miguel, Santa Clara, Santa Teresa, Silver City, Socorro, Sunland Park, Truth Or Consequences, Tyrone, Vado, White Sands Missile Range, Williamsburg, Winston
Elephant Butte
Elephant Butte Reservoir, created by a dam constructed in 1916 across the Rio Grande, is 40 miles long with more than 200 miles of shoreline. Although constructed to provide for irrigation and flood control, the lake is New Mexico's premier water recreation facility. A wide variety of water sports are available at the lake, with fishing being one of the most popular as the lake is stocked with bass, walleye, catfish, crappie, white/black bass and stripers. The mild climate of the area makes this 40,000-acre park a popular year-round destination, with crowds swelling into the thousands over the Memorial Day weekend.
More than 100 million years ago, the area was part of a vast shallow ocean. Once the sea receded, the area was the favorite hunting ground of the Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur. Evidence of the Rex, the largest land-dwelling predator of all time, and other species of dinosaur have been discovered in area rock formations.
Elephant Butte
Elephant Butte, NM 87935
www.elephantbuttecoc.com
New Mexico Magazine's Elephant Butte Links