Historical Marker

Salt Lakes and Laguna del Perro

Side 1

The Pedernal Hills form the eastern edge of Spanish New Mexico’s 17th-century “Salinas Jurisdiction.” Pueblo Indians used salt from these salinas in trade with Plains Indians. This salt was also prized by the Spaniards because of its use in silver processing for the rich Chihuahuan mines farther south in Mexico.

Side 2

Numerous salt ponds and lakes, of which Laguna del Pero is the largest, occur in lowest part of Estancia Basin, closed depression between Manzano Mountains to west and low Pedernal Hills to east. Even Paleoindians mined salt. Basin was filled by 150-foot-deep lake in late Pleistocene time. Elevation 6,110 feet.