Guadalupe Canyon

Guadalupe Canyon is a canyon and valley in the southern portion of the Peloncillo Mountains Hidalgo County, New Mexico, Cochise County, Arizona and Agua Prieta Municipality, of Sonora. The waters of Guadalupe Canyon are tributary to the San Bernardino River joining it at its mouth at 31°13′33″N 109°16′10″W / 31.22583°N 109.26944°W / 31.22583; -109.26944 just below Dieciocho de Augusto, Sonora. Its source is at 31°28′08″N 109°02′21″W / 31.46889°N 109.03917°W / 31.46889; -109.03917 at an elevation of 6,160 feet on the south slope of Guadalupe Mountain (6,444 feet). It crosses the border into Mexico at 31°19′57″N 109°05′19″W / 31.33250°N 109.08861°W / 31.33250; -109.08861 at an elevation of 4,173 feet / 1,272 meters.[1]

In 1864, the Mormon Battalion marched through Guadalupe Canyon.[2] In 1881 the Guadalupe Canyon Massacre took place.[3]

Habitat

Adult male Broad-billed Hummingbird

The canyon is a wildlife corridor and provides habitat for violet-crowned hummingbirds and aplomado falcons.[4] Other birds in the area are the broad-billed hummingbird, northern beardless tyrannulet, summer tanager, thick-billed kingbird, Elf Owl, black-tailed gnatcatcher, varied bunting, and wild turkey.[5] The black-chinned hummingbird, and Costa's hummingbird also nest in the canyon.[6]

Guadalupe canyon is also a wildlife corridor for Mexican gray wolves, and endangered jaguars, whose range bridges between the borders of both countries.[7] Black bears, mountain lions, ocelots, and white-nosed coati also use the canyon as a corridor and hunting ground. The canyon area is a federally designated critical habitat for endangered wild feline.[8]

Trees in the riparian habitat areas within the canyon include oak, Arizona sycamore, willow, and Freemont Cottonwood.[5]

Border barrier

In 2020, portions of the canyon's sides were dynamited to make way for the Trump wall, prompting heavy criticism. The 30-foot (9.1 m) tall barrier is constructed from metal bollard strips with 4-inch-wide openings. The gap is not large enough for mammals and certain reptiles, such as desert tortoises to pass through.[9][10][8]

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Guadalupe Canyon
  2. ↑ Mays, Kenneth (June 4, 2014). "Picturing history: Guadalupe Canyon". Deseret News. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  3. ↑ Tefertiller, Casey (1997). Wyatt Earp: The Life Behind the Legend. New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-18967-7. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kapoor, Maya L.; Brocious, Ariana (October 30, 2020). "In Arizona, building a wall — and destroying a canyon". High Country News. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Important Bird Areas Guadalupe Canyon New Mexico". National Audubon Society. September 12, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  6. ↑ Baltosser, William H. (1989). "Nectar Availability and Habitat Selection by Hummingbirds in Guadalupe Canyon" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin. 101 (4): 559–578. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Footage shows Further Border Destruction in Arizona Wilderness". Defenders of Wildlife. September 28, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Kapoor, Maya L.; Brocious, Ariana (October 30, 2020). "In Arizona, building a wall — and destroying a canyon". High Country News. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  9. ↑ "'Largest' mountaintop border-wall blast captured on video in Arizona wilderness". FOX21 News Colorado. October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  10. ↑ Miroff, Nick. "Trump administration in an all-out push to build border wall before election". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 24, 2020.

31°13′33″N 109°16′10″W / 31.22583°N 109.26944°W / 31.22583; -109.26944

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