VallesCaldera.com – The independent news source about the Valles Caldera

Welcome to the completely new VallesCaldera.com, which has served as the unofficial home of the Valles Caldera since February of 2000 – in the last months of the Baca Ranch era.

We hope you will take some time to explore and enjoy the new features of VallesCaldera.com:

360° PANORAMAS – Spectacular high-resolution 360° virtual-reality panoramic photos from throughout the Valles Caldera – many from locations to which the public has rarely, if ever, been granted access during the past 149 years

VIEWS FROM THE SKY – Dazzling photos of the Caldera from low-flying, single-engine aircraft

PHOTOS FROM SPACE – Hundreds of satellite photos of the Caldera, in every season, from every angle

IN THE MOVIES – Thorough compilation of all movies filmed on the Valles Caldera, plus movie posters, details about the movies and where on the Caldera they were filmed, plus links to purchase the movies online

BOOKS – Comprehensive database of books and other publications about the Valles Caldera and Jemez Mountains, with cover images and links for online purchase

MAPS – Vast collection of downloadable maps of the Valles Caldera

FAQ – A detailed, wide-ranging, and useful information-packed Frequently Asked Question section about the Caldera — its history, geology, archeology, and the National Preserve

VISITOR’S GUIDE – Extensive visitor guide for visitors to the Jemez Mountains, including the low-down on recreation activities on the Preserve and in the Santa Fe National Forest, camping options, local lodging and dining choices, and other local attractions

GEOLOGY – Continually-updated collection of information regarding the geology of the Valles Caldera

ARCHEOLOGY – Collection of articles on the archeology and cultural history of the Caldera

IN THE NEWS – Database of continuing media coverage of the Caldera

CONTACTS – Contact information for local newspapers, New Mexico’s Congressional delegation, the Valles Caldera Trustees, Preserve management, and other stakeholders

SUBSCRIPTIONS – RSS (Real Simple Syndication) subscription available to keep on top of the latest updates on Vallescaldera.com

CONDITIONS (on sidebar) – Links to weather reports, forecasts, and fire conditions on the Caldera

ORGANIZATIONS (on sidebar) – Links to the various stakeholders of the Valles Caldera and land management agencies in the Jemez Mountains

We welcome your questions and comments about newly redesigned and rebuilt VallesCaldera.com.  Please email us with feedback.

New Mexico House of Representatives Bill 11, introduced into the 2009 Legislative Session in January by Rep. Jeanette Wallace (R-Los Alamos/Sandoval/Santa Fe), which would have allowed up to 20 of the 80 annual elk licenses from the Valles Caldera National Preserve to be sold or auctioned at higher than usual prices, has been defeated.  See the report by the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.

On March 8, 2009, the Santa Fe New Mexican published “Valles Caldera: A Turning Point,” an informative examination of the Valles Caldera National Preserve, its challenges, and its future. Accompanying the article are two separate sidebar pieces — one consists of an itemized breakdown of the revenue the Caldera has generated over the last several years, and the other is a timeline documenting activities on the Caldera for the last 1.2 million years. Read these pieces below:

Valles Caldera: A Turning Point – Halfway through its congressional timeline, some think the Valles Caldera experiment has failed, while others see progress.

Valles Caldera National Preserve Activities and Revenue.

The Making of a Preserve.