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Capulin Volcano National Monument :-
Capulin Volcano National Monument is a well-preserved, relatively
young (58,000 to 62,000 years old), symmetrical cinder cone. It rises steeply
from the surrounding grassland plains to an elevation of 8,182 feet above
sea level. The irregular rim of the crater is about a mile in circumference
and the crater about 400 feet deep. Capulin Volcano is one of the outstanding
landmarks located in the northeast corner of New Mexico, where the rolling
grasslands meet the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Capulin
Volcano's highest point provides unobstructed, panoramic views of the volcanic
field, distant snow-capped mountains, and portions of four states (New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado). Capulin Volcano also offers visitors excellent
opportunities for observing and understanding volcanic formation. The large
volcanic field surrounding the monument contains at least 100 recognizable
volcanoes, and aids visitors in gaining insights into 10 million years of
the geological history of Northern New Mexico.
MONUMENT HISTORY
On January 16, 1891, Capulin Mountain was "…Withdrawn
from settlement, entry or other disposition under any of the public land
laws, until such time as Congress may see fit to take action touching the
same or until otherwise ordered by competent authority.
On August 9, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson set Capulin aside
as a national Monument by Presidential Proclamation No. 1340, to preserve
"…a striking example of resent extinct volcanoes …"
which "…is of great scientific and especially geologic interest.
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