| Bottomless Lakes State Park | |
|---|---|
 View of Lea Lake from the overlook above the lake | |
  Bottomless Lakes State Park Location in New Mexico | |
| Location | Chaves County, New Mexico, United States |
| Coordinates | 33°20′17″N104°20′04″W / 33.33806°N 104.33444°W /33.33806; -104.33444[1] |
| Area | 1,400 acres (570 ha) |
| Elevation | 3,617 ft (1,102 m)[1] |
| Established | 1933[1] |
| Administered by | New Mexico State Parks Division |
| Website | Official website |
Bottomless Lakes State Park is astate park inNew Mexico, located along thePecos River about 15 miles (24 km) southeast ofRoswell. Established in 1933, it was the first state park in New Mexico.[2] It takes its name from nine small, deep lakes located along the easternescarpment of the Pecos River valley.
The lakes are not fed by streams, and theevaporation rate in the hotdesert climate exceeds the rate at whichrainwater refills them. The lakes are fed byunderground water percolating through the rocks and into the lakes. The high evaporation rate producesbrackish water in the lakes.
Seven of the lakes are protected, although in recent years the lakes have been contaminated by trash that has been thrown into the lakes by careless visitors. The southernmost lake, Dimmitt Lake, is not a part of the state park and is owned by the Fin and Feather Club, a local hunting and fishing club.
Most of the nine lakes are almost completely surrounded by cliffs, with the notable exceptions being Lea Lake and Lazy Lagoon. Lea Lake has a large, sandy shoreline on the western side and tall cliffs on the eastern side. The cliffs around Lazy Lagoon have been eroded away by the Pecos River, and the lake sits in a formerchannel of the river.
| Lake | Maximum depth | Surface area | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazy Lagoon[3] | 90 feet (27 m) | 26.1 acres (10.6 ha) | Largest by area |
| Cottonwood Lake[3][4] | 27.5 feet (8.4 m) | 0.52 acres (0.21 ha) | |
| Mirror Lake (north)[3][4] | 32.8 feet (10.0 m) | 3 acres (1.2 ha) | |
| Mirror Lake (south)[3][4] | 43.3 feet (13.2 m) | 0.44 acres (0.18 ha) | |
| Devil's Inkwell[3][4] | 28.2 feet (8.6 m) | 0.36 acres (0.15 ha) | Smallest; dark algae color |
| Figure Eight Lake (north)[3] | 37 feet (11 m) | 1.46 acres (0.59 ha) | |
| Figure Eight Lake (south)[3] | 22 feet (6.7 m) | 0.76 acres (0.31 ha) | |
| Pasture Lake[3] | 18 feet (5.5 m) | 0.76 acres (0.31 ha) | Shallowest |
| Lost Lake[3] | — | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) | "less than 1 acre (0.40 ha)"[3] |
| Lea Lake[3][4] | 90 feet (27 m) | 15 acres (6.1 ha) | Only lake allowing swimming. Daily spring flow of about 2,500,000 US gallons (2,100,000 imp gal; 9,500 m3).[4] |
| Dimmitt Lake | — | 10 acres (4.0 ha) | Private lake made up of two basins covering about 10 acres (4.0 ha). |
Lazy Lagoon is the largest of the lakes, with a surface area of approximately 26.1 acres (10.6 ha). Although it is a single lake, it is made up of three separatesinkholes. The surface of the Lazy Lagoon is nearly level with the surrounding salt flats, which makes it look very shallow. The deepest of its three sinkholes is 90 feet (27 m) deep.[3][4]
Lea Lake is the only lake in which swimming is allowed. It has a beach and concession area that is popular in the summer. Devil's Inkwell is the smallest lake with a surface area of 0.36 acres (0.15 ha). Its name stems from the water's dark color, caused by the steep sides of thecenote andalgae growth within the lake. In pure geologic terms, Figure Eight Lake is two lakes separated by a thin strip of land. When the water is very high the strip of land is covered, and the two nearly circular lakes join and take the shape of a figure eight.Irrigation in the Pecos valley has lowered the water table, so the two lakes of Figure Eight lake rarely join to form a single lake anymore.
The Bottomless Lakes occur at the base of an escarpment formed by the gypsum-richSeven Rivers Formation. Ground water in the underlying San Andresartisian aquifer rises along faults at the escarpment and dissolves the gypsum thereby creating sinkholes orcenotes.[3]
Fourendangered species can be found in the park—thePecos pupfish, theRainwater killifish, thecricket frog, and theEastern Barking Frog. In the winter, Devil's Inkwell and Cottonwood Lake are both stocked withRainbow Trout. Additional species includeCougar,Gray fox,Coyote,Striped skunk,North American porcupine,Desert cottontail,Black-tailed jackrabbit,Bobcat,Mule deer,Badger,Raccoon,Rattlesnake,Teiidae, and occasionallyPronghorn. Bird species includeRoadrunner,Common raven,Chihuahuan raven, Swainson's hawk,Northern harrier,Great horned owl,American white pelican,Mallard,Mexican duck,Teal,Ash-throated flycatcher,Great blue heron,Black-crowned night heron,Plover,Sandhill crane, andWilson's phalarope.
