Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Hermit's Peak seen from Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
LocationSan Miguel County, New Mexico, USA
Nearest cityLas Vegas, NM
Coordinates35°30′30″N 105°10′02″W / 35.50833°N 105.16722°W / 35.50833; -105.16722
Area8,672 acres (35.09 km2)
Established1965
Governing bodyU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
WebsiteLas Vegas National Wildlife Refuge

With the Rocky Mountains to the west, the Great Plains to the east, and the Chihuahuan Desert to the south, Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge encompasses a diversity of habitats. Located along the Central Flyway, the Refuge provides an important resting, feeding, and wintering area for migrating geese, ducks, and cranes.

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge rests on a plateau in the foothills with the Rocky Mountains just beyond. River canyon walls drop below the refuge on three sides. Las Vegas (Spanish for "the meadows") preserves both wildlife habitats and a slice of New Mexico's rich cultural history.