Maps of New Mexico

New Mexico, nicknamed "The Land of Enchantment," is a state located in the southwestern United States. It shares a northern border with Colorado, an eastern border with Oklahoma and Texas, a southern border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora, and a western border with Arizona.

New Mexico's capital, Santa Fe, is situated in the north-central region of the state, while its most populous city, Albuquerque, in central New Mexico, has a population of just over 560,000 residents.

Evidence suggests that indigenous groups have lived in New Mexico for over 2,500 years, with permanent settlements now known as pueblos dating back around 1,500 years. The Spanish began colonizing New Mexico in the 16th century. It later became a Mexican territory, gaining independence from Spain in 1821. The United States acquired the land in the Gadsden Purchase in 1853-1854. New Mexico officially became a state nearly six decades later, in 1912, making it the 47th US state.

Area

New Mexico has a total area of 121,590 square miles (314,917 square kilometers) making it the fifth largest state by area in the United States. It is roughly the same size as Italy and three times bigger than South Korea. Compared to other US states, it is twice the size of Illinois and four times the size of South Carolina.

Bodies of Water

New Mexico contains around 108,014 miles (173,832 kilometers) of rivers. Most of the state’s rivers empty into the Gulf of California or the Gulf of Mexico. Rio Grande is one of the most significant rivers in the state, starting in Northern Colorado, flowing through New Mexico and west of Albuquerque, before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Elephant Butte Lake, the state's largest lake, is a manmade reservoir spanning around 36,500 acres in south-central New Mexico.

Geographical Regions

New Mexico has both extremely flat land and rugged mountains. Parts are rich in forests and mountain streams, while other parts are dry and arid deserts. Four major physical regions compose the state’s landscapes: the Great Plains, the Colorado Plateau, the Rocky Mountains, and the Basin and Range region.

The Great Plains

Mexico’s eastern third consists of the Great Plains, stretching from a high plateau in the north through the southern Pecos River. Along the high plateau, rivers have carved deep canyons into the land. Sheep and cattle ranches, irrigated agriculture, and dry farming are common in this area. Along the state’s eastern edge, below the Canadian River, rocky formations and steep slopes form a section known as the “High Plains.”

The Colorado Plateau

In northwestern New Mexico, the Colorado Plateau consists of rugged, wide valleys, sharp cliffs, deep canyons, and mesas, with the Continental Divide running through this region. Streams to the west empty into the Pacific Ocean, while the eastern streams flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Rocky Mountains

New Mexico’s north-central region consists of several mountain ranges that belong to the Rocky Mountains. The Rio Grande River passes through this region, flowing north to south. The Sangre de Cristo mountain range is to the east of the Rio Grande, home to the highest point in the state, Wheeler Peak. Wheeler Peak’s elevation reaches 13,167 feet (4,013 meters).

The Basin and Range Region

The Basin and Range Region lies south of the Rocky Mountains, spanning approximately a third of the state from Santa Fe through New Mexico and extending west towards Arizona. Rugged mountain ranges, such as Sacramento, Guadalupe, Organ, Mogollon, and San Andres cover this area, divided by a collection of desert basins.

Counties Map

The State of New Mexico is divided into 33 counties. In alphabetical order, these counties are: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union, and Valencia.

New Mexico is divided into 33 counties. In alphabetical order, the counties are: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union, Valencia.

With an area of 314,900 sq. km, Mexico is the 5^th largest and the 36^th most populous state in the USA. Located at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in the northern Rio Grande valley is Santa Fe – the capital city of New Mexico. Due to its location at an elevation of 7,199ft above sea level, it has the highest elevation of a state capital in the US. Santa Fe is considered to be one of the greatest art cities in the world and also serves as the cultural capital of the Southwest region of the United States. It is also regarded as the country’s oldest state capital. Situated in the north-central part of the state is Albuquerque – the largest and the most populous city in New Mexico. The city is home to several government institutions, research facilities, and educational institutions. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which is held every year in the city is one of the world’s largest gathering of hot-air balloons.

Where is New Mexico?

The State of New Mexico is located in the southwestern region of the United States. The landlocked state is bordered by the states of Arizona in the west; by Colorado in the north; and by Oklahoma and Texas in the east. New Mexico also borders the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora in the south.

Regional Maps: Map of North America