7 Wonders Of The World That Are Actually Right Here In New Mexico
There are so many wonders in New Mexico that it’s challenging to narrow down a list to seven entries. The original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were all made by humans. Since then, lists have emerged detailing the wonders of the modern world and natural world. So we’ve combined some our state’s most impressive manmade and natural marvels into New Mexico’s own 7 wonders of the world.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
White Sands is the planet’s largest gypsum dune field. It covers 275 square miles and is continually expanding. This surreal environment is particularly enchanting at sunset.
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As you wander through the remains of the buildings at Chaco Canyon, you can’t help but marvel at the scale and complexity of the architecture here. Construction of this UNESCO World Heritage Site began in the mid-800s.
Chaco is unusual because it was built according to a plan. When intact, the structures here consisted of hundreds of rooms, stacked several stories high. Right up until the 19th century, the buildings at Chaco held the record for being the largest in North America. For more info.
The longest aerial tramway in the country spans 2.7 miles. The ride up to Sandia Peak (which is at an altitude of 10,378 feet) lasts for 15 minutes – plenty of time to gaze at the expansive views stretching out far below. For more info.
The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is probably New Mexico’s least recognized wonder. These badlands contain rock formations that fill even the most jaded traveler with awe. For more info.
The Rio Grande Gorge is part of the recently established Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument. Parts of the gorge are 800 feet deep, and the best way to view this rift valley is from the middle of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. For more info.
Carlsbad Caverns is the second of New Mexico’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Most caves are formed by water erosion, but these caverns were created by sulfuric acid. Before the entry path and elevators were built, anyone wishing to explore this fantastical, underground landscape had to descend into the darkness in a bucket! For more info.
Volcanic eruptions were responsible for the hoodoos at Tent Rocks. You can hike between these giant formations, through a slot canyon and up to a mesa that affords mountain views in all directions. For more info.
What would you include on your version of this list? If we were allowed more than seven attractions, we’d add Taos Pueblo and perhaps Acoma Pueblo.
How many of these wonders have you seen firsthand? If you’d like to make natural wonders the theme of your next vacation, check out this natural wonders road trip, which links together most of the marvels described here, plus a few extra, into an easy to drive loop.
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