Carlsbad, Desert town in southeastern New Mexico, United States.
This settlement lies at 1,004 meters (3,293 feet) elevation and spreads with wide roads, shops and residential areas across a desert landscape. It extends along the Pecos River and is surrounded by low hills and flat scrubland.
The settlement was founded in 1888 under the name Eddy, later renamed after the Bohemian spa town Karlsbad because of local mineral springs. The discovery of the nearby caverns in 1898 brought fame and tourism to the region.
Locals and visitors use the Pecos River for fishing while the riverside walkway invites evening strolls. Many surrounding ranches continue to shape the town's character through cattle raising and open range traditions.
The airport offers air connections while U.S. Routes 62/180 and 285 pass through downtown. Visitors should carry water and use sun protection as desert conditions can be hot and dry throughout much of the year.
The nearby nuclear waste repository sits 655 meters (2,150 feet) deep in salt layers that formed 250 million years ago. This geological feature makes the site one of the few places worldwide where radioactive waste can be stored long term.
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