Rincon (meadow)

For other uses, see Rincon.
Small meadow, called a rincón by the photographer

A rincón is a grass meadow. The term is in wide use in English in the southwest United States, where it refers specifically to a sloping (usually steep) meadow on the south facing upper slopes of a forested mountain. These characteristic high meadows are formed by the repeated freezing and thawing of snow accumulations on south facing slopes, creating a habitat not conducive to forest. They are further maintained by a high frequency of low-intensity wildfire. A notable example of a wildfire begun in a rincon, with catastrophic consequences, was the 2000[1] Cerro Grande Fire[2][3] in New Mexico, United States.

  1. ^ "Despite sparking New Mexico's biggest-ever fire, experts say 'planned burns' are still best way to curb wildfires". businessinsider.com. June 6, 2022.
  2. ^ "US Senate Passes Spending Bill with NM Wildfire Relief". sfreporter.com. September 29, 2022.
  3. ^ "Echoes of the Cerro Grande wildfire 22 years later". Las Cruces Sun News. May 18, 2022.