El
Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area was established
in 1987 and is a relative newcomer to the National Park System.
This monument preserves 114,277 acres of which 109,260 acres are
federal and 5,017 acres are private. El Malpais means "the
badlands" but contrary to its name this unique area holds
many surprises, many of which researchers are now unraveling.
Volcanic features such as lava flows, cinder cones, pressure
ridges and complex lava tube systems dominate the landscape.
Closer inspection reveals unique ecosystems with complex
relationships. Sandstone bluffs and mesas border the eastern
side, providing access to vast wilderness.
For more than
10,000 years people have interacted with the El Malpais
landscape. Historic and archeological sites provide reminders of
past times. More than mere artifacts, these cultural resources
are kept alive by the spiritual and physical presence of
contemporary Indian groups, including the Puebloan peoples of
Acoma, Laguna,and Zuni, and the Ramah Navajo. These tribes
continue their ancestral uses of El Malpais including gathering
herbs and medicines, paying respect, and renewing ties.
El Malpais is
managed by a joint effort between the National Park Service and
the Bureau of Land Management. For information about El Malpais
National Conservation Area contact:Bureau of Land Management
P.O. Box 846 Grants, NM 87020-0846 (505) 287-7911
El
Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area was established
in 1987 and is a relative newcomer to the National Park System.
This monument preserves 114,277 acres of which 109,260 acres are
federal and 5,017 acres are private. El Malpais means "the
badlands" but contrary to its name this unique area holds
many surprises, many of which researchers are now unraveling.
Volcanic features such as lava flows, cinder cones, pressure
ridges and complex lava tube systems dominate the landscape.
Closer inspection reveals unique ecosystems with complex
relationships. Sandstone bluffs and mesas border the eastern
side, providing access to vast wilderness.
