Río Grande Rift (2)

Historical marker location:

I-40, Albuquerque, New Mexico

( Northwest of Intersection of I-25 on West I-40)

Albuquerque is situated at the juncture of two major blocks in the earth's crust. One block, the Sandia Mountains, is tilted upward toward the east along the Sandia fault. West of the fault, the Rio Grande Rift has dropped downward forming a great trough which has subsided 26,000 feet from the rim of the mountains.

The state has a rich tradition of cowboy culture and rodeo, with many annual events celebrating this heritage. One of the most famous is the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which features hundreds of hot air balloons and draws thousands of visitors each year.