Basin and Range County

Historical marker location:

I-10, Deming vicinity, New Mexico

( west of Deming Rest Area)

Basin and Range province of southwest New Mexico is of broad alluvial plains from which isolated fault block mountains rise like islands in a sandy sea. Indigenous peoples have used both the basin and range in their seasonal cycle. The Victorio Mountains to the south yield zinc, silver, gold, copper, lead, and tungsten.

The state's landscape is diverse and includes deserts, mountains, and forests. It is home to several national parks and monuments, including Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the White Sands National Monument.