New Mexico isn’t just “The Land of Enchantment,” it’s also “The Land of Volcanoes!” While our volcanoes don’t quite look the way most people imagine when they think of volcanoes…

(Like this. Sorry, you won’t find spewing lava and magma in New Mexico!)
Walter Lim/Flickr
...the state is teeming with ancient and extinct volcanoes that have become recognizable mountains on the landscape.
docbadger1/Flickr
One particularly interesting area is the Valles Caldera National Preserve, located just outside Los Alamos in the northern portion of the state. This preserve is home to one of the country’s only supervolcanoes!
Jayjay P/Flickr
Yes, you read that right: a supervolcano in New Mexico. Measuring 12 miles across, it isn’t quite as massive as the one at Yellowstone (which is 45 miles wide) but it’s still an impressive sight!
Thomas Shahan/Flickr

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Valles Caldera is part of the Jemez Volcanic Field and is relatively young. The caldera’s formation began around 1.2 million years ago and it last erupted roughly 50,000 years ago.
Thomas Shahan/Flickr
As with most calderas, the one at this national preserve doesn’t have the iconic cone shape that most people associate with volcanoes. This is because calderas collapse over time as magma escapes and it takes on a valley shape.
Charles Kiyanda/Flickr
This picturesque area has plenty of areas for hiking, wildlife watching, and even some interesting history. For example, a number of Western movies were filmed here and you’ll still find some of the old sets in the preserve.
Larry Lamsa/Flickr
Are you ready to explore this gorgeous place?
Larry Lamsa/Flickr

Valles Caldera National Preserve is located just outside Los Alamos via State Highway 4. You can find more details about visiting the preserve by checking out the National Park Service website.

Want to check out another interesting volcano here in New Mexico? Read more in New Mexico’s Land Of Fire And Ice Is A Marvel You Have To See To See To Believe.

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Featured Addresses
Valles Caldera National Preserve, 39201 NM-4, Jemez Springs, NM 87025, USA