Dozens of new aerial photos of the Valles Caldera have been added to our “Views from the Sky” page. Initially, this page simply featured photos taken from a single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft on a low-altitude private flyover of the Valles Caldera on August, 28, 2001, during the first full summer of ownership of the Baca Ranch by the American People.
We have just added another section to that page, entitled “High-Altitude Views From the Sky.” This section features photos from three separate commercial airline flights from Albuquerque to Denver, a flight that offers stunning views of the Jemez Mountains. If you have the opportunity to take this flight, be sure to ask for a window seat on the left-hand side of the aircraft for the closest views of the Valles Caldera (or a seat on the right for the flight south from Denver to Albuquerque).
Below are some samples of some of our new photos. Incidentally, if you have any of your own views from the sky, photos from space, 360° panoramas, or other photos you’d like us to post on VallesCaldera.com, email us here.
Click any of the photos below to enjoy a full-size view.
In this spectacular winter shot of the Valles Caldera from the southwest, the Valle Grande is visible, overlooked by Garita Peak (the North Rim), Cerro Pedernal (to the upper-right, world-famous from the paintings of Georgia O’Keefe), and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (background).
This is a high-altitude view of the oldest of the Caldera’s ring fracture domes, in order of eruption. From the left: Cerro del Medio, Cerro Abrigo, Cerro Santa Rosa (Cerro de Trasquilar is barely visible to the right), Cerro San Luis, and Cerro Seco.
This is a view of virtually the entire Valles Caldera from the east. At left is the Valle Grande; to its right is Valle Toledo; above that is the Valle San Antonio.
Redondo Peak, the Valles Caldera’s resurgent dome, towers over the Jemez Mountains in this view from the southeast.
We have also added dozens of low-altitude Views from the Sky. Above is a view from atop the North Rim of the Caldera, looking south. The dome in the middle of the photo is Cerro Santa Rosa. To its left is Cerro Abrigo. The valley on the left is Valle Toledo, with Valle San Antonio on the right.
