El Morro
El Morro is a sandstone promontory in New Mexico featuring a historic water catchment basin and inscriptions from Spanish explorers, native peoples, and travelers.
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Geography
| Address | El Morro National Monument, NM, USAState Highway 53 |
|---|---|
| Continent | North America |
| Region | Southwestern United States |
| Subregion | Chihuahuan Desert |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Cibola County |
| District | Mesa Verde |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 35.0833 |
| Longitude | -107.65 |
| Maps |
7:15 PM LOCAL TIMEEl Morro (Spanish for the headland) is a dramatic sandstone bluff rising over 6,900 feet (2,100 m) above sea level in northwestern New Mexico. Its crowning feature is a large water catchment basin and a gently carved platform where native peoples, Spanish explorers, and westward travelers have left inscriptions and petroglyphs etched into the sandstone over centuries. The site has served as a critical water source and landmark along trade routes, and today visitors come to walk the loop trail, read historic graffiti, and enjoy vista views across the desert landscape. Key features include the inscription panel protected near the visitor center, the Miration_ y Urrutia‐Vélez vehicles, and the ruins of 19th-century dwellings. The monument is a significant cultural archive and a gateway to the natural and historic stories of the Southwest.
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