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Travelers on the flat expanse surrounding New Mexico Hwy. 409 may be surprised to come upon Bottomless Lakes State Park, outside of Roswell. The flatness suddenly gives way to a terrain of steep precipices and deep aqua lakes.
This unique chain of seven lakes was formed from sinkholes, great subterranean caverns of salt and gypsum that collapsed and filled with water. The mineral-rich water provides a unique environment for algae and other plants covering the bottom. These give the waters a greenish-blue hue and create an illusion of great depth.
Established in 1933, this 1,400-acre state park was one of New Mexico's first. A stone pavilion along the Lea Lake Beach was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
The diversity of lake ecology in the area is remarkable, from the alkaline mud flats around Lazy Lagoon (a treacherous area not recommended to visitors) to the clear, spring-fed depths of Lea Lake, where most recreational activity takes place.
A one and a half-mile trail crosses the salt flats, which are covered with mesquite saltbush, snakeweed, creosote and salt grasses. Common wildlife includes jackrabbits, mule deer, raccoons, roadrunners, snakes and lizards.
Campsites, some with full hookups, are available at the park's southern reaches. A swimming beach is maintained during the summer at Lea Lake.
The clear, 90-foot depths of that lake have made it popular with scuba divers. Four lakes are stocked with rainbow trout during the winter months.
Pedal boats and paddle boards are available to rent at a nominal fee during the summer months.
Outdoor Activities |
The seven lakes found in Bottomless Lakes State Park are actually sinkholes, bordered by high red bluffs.
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