Jornada del Muerto
Jornada del Muerto is a historically significant desert basin and crossing route in central New Mexico, known for legendary ares and modern rail passes.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Southwest U.S. |
| Subregion | Western United States |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Bernalillo County |
| District | Jornada del Muerto basin |
| City | Jornada del Muerto |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 33 |
| Longitude | -106 |
| Maps |
7:15 PM LOCAL TIMEJornada del Muerto is a stark high-desert basin in south-central New Mexico, roughly 25 miles east of Albuquerque and west of El Paso, defined by its flat, arid expanses and historical significance as a survival corridor and transit route. From pre-Columbian mule trails to 19th-century wagon roads and the modern Union Pacific rail line, the basin has served as a critical crossing—hence its name, which means 'Journey of the Dead'—and a place of survival and challenge. Today, the landscape is marked by open plains, sparse shrubsteppe, and the route of major transportation corridors; it offers few formal visitor facilities but is intersected by highways and services towns like San Antonio and Lordsburg at its edges. Past and present, crossing the Jornada has meant confronting harsh conditions and vast skies—an experience echoed in legends and the landscapes that travelers pass through today.
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