SPACEPHOTOS

Jemez Mountains, New Mexico, USA April 1998 Located in north central New Mexico about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Albuquerque is the Jemez Mountains. These mountains are a major volcanic landform and are the result of numerous volcanic eruptions that occurred in relatively recent geologic time (approximately 1 million years ago). Also known as Jemez Cladera and the Valles Caldera, this area is distinctive because of its circlet of lava domes located towards the northern rim. The Rio Chama and Abiquiu Reservoir border the mountains to the north and the Jemez River is visible along the southern flank of the mountains. Both of these rivers flow into the Rio Grande that follows the Rio Grande Rift that is visible in this image as the linear feature that parallels the bottom of the picture (along the east side of the mountains). The Nacimiento Fault is a prominent feature located along the western side of the Nacimiento Mountains (west of Jemez Mountains). A few puffy-looking cumulus clouds are visible. Most of the lighter-colored (highly reflective) areas show snow cover on the higher elevations of the mountains and in many of the shaded valleys