San Juan Mountains

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The San Juan Mountains (English San Juan Mountains ) is a rugged mountain range of the Rocky Mountains. It extends from the northern part of the U.S. state of New Mexico to more than 250 km long arc to the southwest corner of Colorado. The mountains are volcanic in origin and rich in minerals (see also La Garita - Caldera ).

The southern end of the San Juan Mountains is located in the New Mexican Rio Arriba County at Abiquiu Reservoir, a small water tank of the Rio Chama - about 80 km before the state boundary to Colorado and about 130 km north of the city of Albuquerque. The Rio Chama it separates the south from San Pedro Mountains, while to the east of the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) and the San Luis Valley form the border of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Located in New Mexico part of the mountain is a densely wooded and the Carson National Forest declared ridge, which rarely reaches more than 3,000 meters above sea level. The highest mountains are all located in Colorado; at the top of Uncompahgre Peak ( 4,361 m), Mount Wilson ( 4,342 m) and Mount Sneffels ( 4,312 m). In approximately 50 km here a bit lined up but on the other, and rarely fall below 4,200 meters.

The center of the San Juan Mountains - explains mainly to the San Juan National Forest - offers a very diverse appearance. It mainly consists of a densely forested mountain region with many small rivers and lakes, campers, hikers and water sports enthusiasts alike attracts. In many places in the eastern part, north west of the San Luis Valley, the San Juan chain presented in their valleys, however, as desert-like mountains.