Pecos River is a 926-mile-long Rio Pecos watercourse that carves through the Chihuahuan Desert from Bosque del Apache in south-central New Mexico to join the Rio Grande near El Paso.

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Geography

ContinentNorth America
RegionSouthwestern United StatesAmerican Southwest
SubregionGreat Basin
CountryUnited States
StateTexasNew Mexico
CountyReeves CountyChihuahua (nearby)
DistrictPermian Basin
TimezoneAmericaChicago
Latitude31.95
Longitude-103.5
Maps
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Pecos River flows from the eastern slopes of the Sacramento Mountains in south-central New Mexico and traces a northeast path before turning southeast and crossing into Texas. Source points near San Antonio Mountain and the roll of the Ruidoso valley give it beginning stages of higher flow; seasons and flow levels vary greatly with snowmelt and precipitation averages. As it descends into the Permian Basin and approaches Del Rio and Eagle Pass, the river's water volume diminishes; it historically supported ranching, irrigation and wildlife habitats along its riparian corridor. Today, man-made dams, water withdrawals and regional climate influence its year-round flow—making it a vital but variable resource for ecosystems and communities near Carlsbad, Fort Stockton_ and the US-Mexico border. Popular activities include fishing, canoeing, wildlife viewing and accessing regional parks; expect desert landscapes, canyon stretches and seasonal variations in water and flow.

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