The Seven Wonders of New Mexico (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: land, radio, parking)

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Good thread idea from a poster in the WA thread. What do you consider the seven wonders of New Mexico? Identify Seven of the most famous, intriguing, and superlative sites located in the Land of Enchantment.

I included these pole choices though you all can add some ideas as well.

Acoma Pueblo
Bandalier National Monument
Blue Hole
Capulin Volcano
Chaco Canyon
Carlsbad Caverns
El Mapais
Gila Cliff Dwellings
Ghost Ranch
Jemez
Ojo Caliente
Organ Mountains
Pecos National Historic Site
Rio Grande Gorge
Ruidoso/Sierra Blanca
Sandia Mountains
Santa Fe Plaza
Santurio de Chimayo
Sangre de Cristos
Shiprock
Taos Pueblo
Tent Rocks
Turquoise Trail
Valles Caldera
White Sands

Explain your choices and tell us about your experiences with them and what makes them special and unique to New Mexico.

[Sarahsez]

I went with
Carlsbad Caverns
White Sands
Tent Rocks
El Malpais
Rio Grande Gorge
Shiprock
Organ Mountains

I would also add City of Rocks to this list.

I chose them because they are all geographically unique and beautiful. If you see a picture of them on tv or in a magazine, you know immediately what you are viewing. With the exception of the Carlsbad Caverns, which is underground, you feel like a small dot in a big open world.

[joqua]

Just to add a few major oversights in the list:

Elephant Butte reservoir (largest body of water)
Historic Lincoln State Monument
Cloudcroft/Sunspot
Salinas Pueblos Nat. Monument
Very Large Array site
Old Mesilla plaza
Three Rivers Petroglyphs Nat. Mon.
Bosque del Apache Nat. Wildlife Refuge

[GregW]

Mongollon and White Oaks ghost towns
the Very Large Array Radio Telescope
the mineral collection at NMT in Socorro
The view of the White Sands from the Sunspot Telescope parking lot on top of the ridge.
the Santa Rita Mine for an example if enhanced erosion
any two line road anywhere in the state. Dirt roads are even more interesting
The view from the TRAM.

[TexasGabe]

In no particular order:

Seven Natural Wonders of New Mexico:
Carlsbad Caverns/Lechugilla Cave
White Sands
El Malpais Lava Flow
Blue Hole
Shiprock
Valles Caldera
Rio Grande Gorge

Seven Man-Made Wonders of New Mexico:
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
Very Large Array
Trinity Site
Spaceport America
Acoma/Sky City
Chaco Canyon
Three Rivers Petroglyphs

[that412]

Interesting thread premise!

I tried to go with the things that I feel are most outstandingly unique in their capturing of New Mexico's landscape and culture. The first six came somewhat easily:

* Santa Fe Plaza
* White Sands
* Carlsbad Caverns
* Acoma Pueblo
* Shiprock
* Valles Caldera

I would have picked the Very Large Array, but given its absence from the poll, in the end I went with Sierra Blanca as the 7th choice.

[Poncho_NM]

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque. Petroglyph National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Originally Posted by joqua

Just to add a few major oversights in the list:
Elephant Butte reservoir (largest body of water)

Mehh...it's a dammed up river with very low water levels and not anything extraordinary that makes it an iconic New Mexico landmark (IE out of state visitors likely wouldn't be that impressed compared with so many other places in the state). I really didn't like the place to be honest. Abiquiu Lake is nicer. I think the biggest one I missed is the Very Large Array site and Old Mesilla.

My favorite New Mexico icons in ranking order.....

1-White Sands!!!!!
2-Ghost Ranch
3-Santa Fe Plaza
4-Taos Pueblo
5-Ojo Caliente
6-Organ Mountains
7-Rio Grande Gorge

Did I mention I absolutely LOVE White Sands?

[Champ le monstre du lac]

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[jiminnm]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque. Petroglyph National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

Rich, have you visited the Three Rivers Petroglyphs site north of Tularosa? I think that the petroglyphs there are more stunning than the ones in the monument.