Fra Cristobal Range

The Fra Cristobal Range, (Fra Cristóbal Range) is a 17 mi (27 km) long, mountain range in central-north Sierra County, New Mexico. Its northern extreme above Fra Cristoblal Mountain extends into Socorro County. The range borders the eastern shore of Elephant Butte Reservoir on the Rio Grande, and the range lies towards the southwest of the Jornada del Muerto, the desert region east of the river.[1]

Fra Cristobal Range
Fra Cristobal Range is located in New Mexico
Fra Cristobal Range
Fra Cristobal Range in New Mexico
Highest point
Elevation6,834 ft (2,083 m)
Coordinates33°24′20″N 107°06′25″W
Dimensions
Length17 mi (27 km) N-S
Width6 mi (9.7 km)
Geography
CountryUnited States
StateNew Mexico
RegionsJornada del Muerto and Rio Grande Valley
CountySierra and Socorro
SettlementCrocker
Range coordinates33°19′24″N 107°05′30″W
Borders onElephant Butte Reservoir, Rio Grande, Jornada del Muerto, Elephant Butte, Elephant Butte Dam, Truth or Consequences and Engle
Topo mapCrocker, Engle, Lava USGS quads

Description

The Fra Cristobal Range is an arid, moderate elevation, north–south trending mountain range, about 17 mi long and narrow, only about 7 mi at its widest. Crater Hill, 5,087 feet (1,551 m) lies west of the central ridgeline, and north of Black Bluffs, Red Cliff at the Reservoir.[1]

The high peak in the northern end of the range, which gives the range its name, is Fra Cristobal Mountain, 5,932 feet (1,808 m), is at the north perimeter of the range. It is located at 33°28′12″N 107°05′55″W[2] The mountain is said to have resembled the profile of a priest, Fray Cristóbal de Salazar, a cousin of Juan de Oñate, with the first colonizing expedition in 1598.[3]: 157, note 21 

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fra Cristobal Range
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fra Cristobal Mountain
  3. George D. Torok, From the Pass to the Pueblos, Sunstone Press, Santa Fe, Dec 1, 2011

Range Highpoint

Fra Cristobal Range


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