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Free Traveling Guides » States » New Mexico » Greater New Mexico Chaco Culture National Historic Park
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, situated in northwestern New Mexico, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that hosts the most extraordinary and the densest concentration of pueblos in the American Southwest. This United States National Historic park sits in an inaccessible canyon, between Farmington and Albuquerque, and is cut by the famous Chaco Wash. It preserves the most attractive cultural and historic area of America, which contains one of the most impressive collections of ancient remains north of New Mexico. The Park can be accessed via CR 7900 and 7925, along US 550 near Nageezi.
The Chaco Canyon National Historical Park was established on December 19, 1980. This culturally rich Park contains over 2400 archeological sites, only a few of which have been excavated. At present, the Park is managed and monitored by the National Park Service. The spectacular Chaco Canyon is surrounded by the San Juan Mountains to the north, the Chuska Mountains to the west, and the San Pedro Mountains to the east. The principle flora in the Canyon includes sagebrush, cactus, juniper, and dry scrub forests of pinon. The common animal and bird species found in this area include coyote, antelope, fox, bobcats, badgers, owls, ravens, lizards, sparrows, finches, humming birds, and warblers.
The two most impressive features of the Park are the complexes called the “Great Houses” that depict the Chacoan architectural and worship styles and the ceremonial structures called the “Kivas” that share unique architectural features. The Chacoan Complexes are built along a 9-mile (14.4 km) stretch of canyon floor. Moreover, the walls of these structures are aligned either cardinally or with the 18.6 year cycle of minimum and maximum moonrise and moonset. As many as 14 renowned Great Houses exist within the Park boundaries.
The major Chacoan complexes in the Park include Nuevo Alto, Pueblo Bonito, and Kin Kletso, at elevations of over 6200 ft (1900 m). Pueblo Bonito, a four storey high structure with at least 650 rooms, is the largest Great House in the Park and is situated in the central portion of the Canyon. Other major attractions in the Park include the Casa Rinconada, the Chetro Ketl, Pueblo Alto, Casa Chiquita, Pueblo de Arroyo, and Penasco Blanco. Kin Kletso, also called the ‘Yellow House’, is a medium-sized complex, situated ½ mile (0.8 km) west of Pueblo Bonito. The other smaller Great Houses in the Park are Hungo Pavi, Tsin Kletzin, Una Vida, and Wijiji. The Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a great place to visit if you really interested in knowing the history of the American Southwest.
- Mailing Address: PO Box 220,
Nageezi, NM 87037-0220
- Telephone: (505) 786-7014
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