Valles Caldera Infographic

VALL_S1.indd 1 Valles Caldera National Preserve National Park Service Valles Caldera New Mexico U.S. Department of the Interior with apowerfulpast a resilient land Discover © DANYPAQUIN Coyote the caldera. of manypeoplestouse They are theearliestknown caldera anduseitsobsidian. ago) first regularly visitthe Paleoindians (10,000years Connecting Cultures © PETERCURCIS American kestrel Vast, wild, andstunning. for generations to come. caldera’s nature, scenery, and cultural stories to restore these ecosystems and protect the Valles Caldera National Preserve isworking climate have also disturbed the land. building. Unnatural wildfires and changing overgrazing, aggressive logging, and road- This dynamic landscape isrecovering from enchantment. help make Valles Caldera volcanic aland of growth ponderosa pine, and diverse habitats Lush montane grasslands, scenic vistas, old- Landscape Majestic Majestic roots, seeds,andnuts. fowl, game,fish, berries, caldera’s plentifulwater- years ago)rely onthe gatherers (8,000–1,000 Archaic Periodhunter- CERRO DELMEDIO

elevations thatsuitagriculture. houses andpueblosinlower crops andbuildmasonry field- Jemez Mountains.Theygrow years ago)fi rst settlein the Ancestral Puebloans (800 volcanism began with studies here. The science large-scale of explosive far asKansas,Utah, and Wyoming. Helens’ in1980.Ejected ash fell as 300 times larger than Mount Saint Its eruption 1.25 million years ago was You are standing inasunken volcano. Scientists, researchers,andvisitorscontinuetocomeherelearnaboutgeology,volcanology, and ecology. CERROS DELABRIGO The Power of Mag A classicexampleofEarth’s explosiveforces,Valles Calderafeaturesinmanyscientific discoveries. HISTORY GROVE ERUPTION DID YOUKNOW?VALLES CALDERAHELPEDPROVETHETHEORY OFPLATE TECTONICS! Forged from fi re (1821–48). use intotheMexicanperiod HerdingHerding istheland’s istheland’s primary primary stock tothesegrasslands. bring sheepandotherlive- Spanish settlers(1500s) an intact volcanic caldera. one the of world’s best examples of the vacant chamber. Valles Caldera is emptied, and the land above sankinto rapidly, the huge magma chamber a vast magma amount erupted of A bowl-like depression formed when COLLAPSE in aspen trees. left carvings in the1900s CERROS SANTA ROSA shepherds Hispanic NPS CERRO LAJARA which researchers first identifi ed here. caldera resurgence phenomenon, Caldera isadefining example the of dome (Redondo Peak) surged. Valles floor to heave upward. A central the chamber and caused the caldera After the collapse, new magma filled RESURGENCE Anglo heritage(1900s) owners ofHispanicand Location No.1.Successive (1860), knownsinceasBaca the landtoprivateowners grants The USgovernment ma REDONDO PEAK exploration, andmore. logging, geothermalenergy system, cattleranching, grazing underthepartido use Valles Calderaforsheep culturallyculturally signifi significantcant obsidian obsidian sources. sources. CalderaCaldera was was one one North North of of America’sAmerica’s most most obsidianobsidian to to its its volcanic volcanic origin, origin, we we know know Valles Valles Mexico,Mexico, and and Mississippi. Mississippi. Since Since we we cantrace cantrace sitessites inNebraska, inNebraska, North North Dakota, Dakota, Texas,Texas, northern northern JemezJemez Mountains Mountains has has beenfound beenfound at at prehistoric prehistoric silicasilica magma magma that that rapidly rapidly cools. cools. Obsidian Obsidian from from the the often occurs with calderas and forms from high- heads, and spear points. Obsidian (volcanic glass) the caldera’s obsidian for making knives, arrow- points, medicines, and more. Past people prized ample natural resources to make tools, projectile For millennia people were drawn to the caldera for Crossroads Cultural Cultural NPS and theArchaic Period. be tracedtoValles Caldera These obsidianpointscan CERRO SANLUIS National ParkService(2014). the Valles CalderaTrust tothe preserve istransferred from (2000). Managementofthe Preserve isestablished Valles CalderaNational VALLE GRANDE © JAMESGATHIER and food. for medicine elderberry used red People have CERROS DELABRIGO present day. eras ofownershiptothe continued throughout these and culturalvalueshave connections tothisland American Indians’ habitathabitat diversity. diversity. helphelp reduce reduce forest forest fuels, fuels, recycle recycle nutrients, nutrients, and and increase increase Prescribed fires imitate healthy natural fires and can intensity fire canrestore these fire-adapted ecosystems. soil and created large debris flows. But returning low- vegetation; erosion from monsoons stripped away the preserve. Large areas lost all living trees and understory Wildfires in2011 and 2013 burned two-thirds the of fire suppression interfered with normal fire regimes. wildland fire. logging, overgrazing, of A century and Thriving forests and grasslands depend on cycles of Ecosystems rekindled rekindled NPS distinctive invertedtree line. lishing inthegrasslands,creating a soils prevent tree saplingsfrom estab- Freezing airanddenselake-sediment VIEW FROMTHEPRESERVE ENTRANCE © CORBYWILSON elevation ranges. plant communitiesthriveinvarying surrounding VallesCaldera,diverse erupted thencollapsed.Withinand filled thisbasinwhereavolcano (pronounced VAH-yes). Alakeonce grassland meadowscalledvalles Volcanic domesriseaboveexpansive VIEW FROMTHENORTH RIM CERRO SECO prescribed atthepreserve. burn variety ofways. wild naturalwondersina history, serene beauty, and to explore diversecultural Caldera NationalPreserve Today, youcanvisitValles Fire managersperforma MOUNTAIN SAN ANTONIO 3/14/18 7:59AM NPS