Lake Palomas

Lake Palomas
Location of lake in Northern Mexico
Location of lake in Northern Mexico
Lake Palomas
Coordinates31°13′N 106°59′W / 31.22°N 106.99°W / 31.22; -106.99
TypeFormer lake
Primary inflowsRío Casas Grandes, Río del Carmen, Mimbres River or Río Santa María
Catchment area60,000 square kilometres (23,000 sq mi)
Max. length130 miles (210 km)
Max. width40 miles (64 km)
Surface area3,500 square miles (9,100 km2)
In this aerial photograph of the Guzmán Sink (northwestern) portion of the Lake Palomas area, looking over Columbus, New Mexico (foreground), Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua, is in the center, with its near edge defining the international border. The small terminal lake in the upper left is known as Laguna Palomas, and dry white playas are visible beyond it.

Lake Palomas is a former lake in New Mexico, United States, and Chihuahua, Mexico. This lake was relatively large and reached a size of about 9,100 square kilometres (3,500 sq mi) during its highstands. Preceded by Lake Cabeza de Vaca, it formed during the Pleistocene and continued into the Holocene, when several different lake phases occurred. Presently its basin is a major source of airborne dust in the region.