Red Lake (McKinley County, New Mexico)
Encyclopedia
Red Lake is a lake
located next to Navajo, NM
, in the Red Valley in McKinley County, New Mexico
and Apache County, Arizona
. The lake has a surface elevation of 7150 ft (2,179.3 m). Navajo, NM lies on the southeast corner of the lake.
to Navajo, NM
and then northeast to Crystal, NM
.
Red Lake is located on the eastern border of the long north-south Defiance Plateau, where Canyon de Chelly comprises its north, and the Chuska Mountains
border to the northeast. Only the western fourth of the lake is in Arizona, and Red Lake is on the southwest foothills of the Chuska's with the beginning of Black Creek (Apache County) and other creeks and washes as inflows to the lake. From Red Lake, Black Creek flows due south on the central and southeast border of the Defiance Plateau. The north-south stretch of Black Creek, in Arizona, parallels the western border of New Mexico.
Black Creek then turns southwest to meet the Puerco River
, just southeast of Houck, Arizona
, southwest of Allentown, Arizona, both on Interstate 40 in Arizona
. The interstate follows the north side of the Puerco River in this stretch.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
located next to Navajo, NM
Navajo, New Mexico
Navajo is a census-designated place in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,097 at the 2000 census. Navajo is the most Navajo town in the United States, with 95.04% of residents having full or partial Navajo ancestry....
, in the Red Valley in McKinley County, New Mexico
McKinley County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*15.2% White*0.5% Black*75.5% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*4.6% Other races*13.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and Apache County, Arizona
Apache County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*23.3% White*0.2% Black*72.9% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. The lake has a surface elevation of 7150 ft (2,179.3 m). Navajo, NM lies on the southeast corner of the lake.
Description
Red Lake is a small lake, only 3 miles (5 km) long, and only half as wide. It is mostly north-south and is bordered on the east by Reservation Route 12, a north stretch from Window Rock, AZWindow Rock, Arizona
Window Rock is the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation, the largest territory of a sovereign Native American nation in North America. Window Rock contains the Navajo Nation Council, the Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park, as well as the Navajo Nation World War II Memorial...
to Navajo, NM
Navajo, New Mexico
Navajo is a census-designated place in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,097 at the 2000 census. Navajo is the most Navajo town in the United States, with 95.04% of residents having full or partial Navajo ancestry....
and then northeast to Crystal, NM
Crystal, New Mexico
Crystal is a census-designated place in McKinley and San Juan counties in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The population was 347 at the 2000 census....
.
Red Lake is located on the eastern border of the long north-south Defiance Plateau, where Canyon de Chelly comprises its north, and the Chuska Mountains
Chuska mountains
The Chuska Mountains are an elongate range on the Colorado Plateau and within the Navajo Nation. The range is about 80 by 15 km , and it trends north-northwest and is crossed by the state line between Arizona and New Mexico. The highlands are a dissected plateau, with an average elevation of...
border to the northeast. Only the western fourth of the lake is in Arizona, and Red Lake is on the southwest foothills of the Chuska's with the beginning of Black Creek (Apache County) and other creeks and washes as inflows to the lake. From Red Lake, Black Creek flows due south on the central and southeast border of the Defiance Plateau. The north-south stretch of Black Creek, in Arizona, parallels the western border of New Mexico.
Black Creek then turns southwest to meet the Puerco River
Puerco River
The Puerco River in northwestern New Mexico and northeastern Arizona flows through arid terrain including the Painted Desert. The main tributary of the Little Colorado River, it drains an area of about and is long. The river's average discharge is very low, less than in normal years, because its...
, just southeast of Houck, Arizona
Houck, Arizona
Houck is a census-designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,087 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Houck is located at ....
, southwest of Allentown, Arizona, both on Interstate 40 in Arizona
Interstate 40 in Arizona
Interstate 40 is an east–west Interstate Highway that has a section in the U.S. state of Arizona connecting sections in California to New Mexico. It enters Arizona from the west at a crossing of the Colorado River southwest of Kingman...
. The interstate follows the north side of the Puerco River in this stretch.