Nacimiento Mountains
| Nacimiento Mountains | ||
|---|---|---|
| Highest peak | San Pedro Peaks ( 3224 m ) | |
| location | New Mexico (USA) | |
|
||
| Coordinates | 36 ° 7 ′ N , 106 ° 49 ′ W | |
The Nacimiento Mountains (also Sierra Nacimiento or Nacimiento Mountains ) is a mountain range in New Mexico , USA . It is west of the Jemez Mountains near Cuba . The highest point of the mountain range is the San Pedro Peaks , the height of which is 3224 meters.
Although Nacimiento is comparatively low in altitude, it is geologically interesting because it forms the western border of the Rio Grande Rift . This is a large rift zone through which the Rio Grande flows. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains , which lie east of the Rio Grande Rift, are significantly higher and more weathered than the Nacimiento Mountains, which consist of long, gentle rifts that do not protrude above the tree line at any point . The Jemez Mountains lie between the Nacimientos and Sangre de Cristos and are often mistaken for part of the rift structure. In fact, they are of volcanic origin.
A large part of the mountain is in the area of the San Pedro Park and is under nature protection . The area is criss-crossed by many hiking trails and is a popular destination for trekkers . The rainfall in this region is stronger than in many other mountain areas of New Mexico, as it upwind is no higher mountain ranges immediately. Therefore, the trails near the mountains are soft and humid most of the year. San Gregorio , a quarry pond in the southern part of the nature reserve, is a popular place with anglers .