Llano Estacado, High Plains region in New Mexico and Texas, United States.
The Llano Estacado is a high plateau in New Mexico and Texas that covers 83,000 square kilometers (32,000 square miles). The surface rises gently from 900 meters (3,000 feet) in the east to over 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) in the west, forming one of the flattest landforms in North America.
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado crossed these plains in 1541 and wrote to the Spanish king about the seemingly endless expanse. Later, the area became home to cattle ranchers and cotton farmers who tapped the underground water supply for irrigation.
Early settlers called this high plateau "Llano Estacado," meaning staked plains in Spanish. Travelers today still see the flat horizon stretching in every direction, just as those who crossed it centuries ago.
Anyone crossing this region should carry plenty of water and prepare for strong winds that blow especially in spring. The best months to visit are late autumn and early spring when temperatures are milder.
Numerous shallow depressions scattered across the plateau collect rainwater and create small wetlands. These depressions provide habitat for waterfowl and amphibians in the middle of the dry surroundings.
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