Pecos River

Geology: Blue Hole, Carlsbad Cavern, Chuska Mountains, Manzanos Mountains, Mimbres, Rio Grande Gorge, Rio Grande, Rio Puerco, Sacramentos Mountains, Sangre de Christo Mountains, San Mateo Mountains, Shiprock, Pecos River, Valles Caldera National Preserve, White Sands, Zuni Mountains

Pecos River

The Pecos River or Rio Pecos, as it is known in New Mexico, rises near Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States, and flows for 926 miles (1,490 km) through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it empties into the Rio Grande near Del Rio. The river drains approximately 38,300 square miles (99,197 km²) of land.

The river is dammed at Avalon and McMillan to help irrigate about 25,000 acres (101 km²) as part of the Carlsbad reclamation project (established in 1906). Texas has also dammed the river at the Red Bluff Dam in the western part of that state to form the Red Bluff Reservoir. The portion of the reservoir that extends into New Mexico forms the lowest point in that state. New Mexico and Texas disputed water rights to the river until the federal government settled the dispute in 1949.

The river played a large role in the exploration of Texas by the Spaniards.

In the latter half of the 19th century, "West of the Pecos" was a reference to the rugged frontiers of the Wild West.