Most People Have No Idea These Underwater Cities In New Mexico Even Exist

The remains of not one, but two towns are submerged beneath the waters of Navajo Lake. This reservoir spans the New Mexico/Colorado border, although the majority of Navajo Lake is in the Land of Enchantment. This is New Mexico’s second biggest lake after Elephant Butte; both bodies of water were created through the construction of dams and now are some of the coolest hidden gems in New Mexico.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built Navajo Dam as part of the larger Colorado River Storage Project in Navajo Lake State Park. The dam is 400 feet tall and close to three quarters of a mile wide.

In order to create the reservoir, about 85 structures belonging to the towns of Los Arboles and Rosa disappeared under water going down in New Mexico history.

At least one ex-resident of the area claims to have been pressured to sell the land in order to facilitate this project.

The dam was built between 1958 and 1962. The water is used for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project, thermal power plants, and oil and gas fields in the area.

In 2003, during a severe drought, you could see the remains of Los Arboles as the water receded. Rosa is buried a little deeper. Rosa Road or NM-362, which skirts the edges of the lake, is the only indicator that Rosa ever existed.

Today, Navajo Lake is a popular recreation area. In addition to trout, salmon, and bass fishing, people come to this state park for boating, camping, hiking, and swimming. And let’s not forget scuba diving. Barring a drought, that’s now the only way to view the remains of Rosa and Los Arboles, some of the best hidden gems in New Mexico.

These aren’t our state’s only underwater towns, but it’s always equal parts sad and intriguing to learn that we have our own mini versions of Atlantis right here in New Mexico.