CHACO NATIONAL CULTURE HISTORICAL PARK

This park, spread over the arid Colorado plateau at an altitude of more than 1,500 m, is the American site that concentrates the greatest number of vestiges of the pre-Columbian Puebloan civilization.

It is located in a remote and desolate canyon between Albuquerque and Farmington, the very evocative Chaco Canyon. The remains of the Pueblos are well preserved and constitute probably one of the most interesting archaeological sites in the United States. In fact, the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are many ruins of buildings made of large sandstone blocks, built between the ^tenth and ^twelfth centuries by the Anasazi, known as the "people of the pueblos". This people had very advanced agricultural techniques for the time, as well as knowledge in astronomy, as testified by the petroglyphs of Fajada Butte. The valley was probably abandoned by its inhabitants around 1150 due to a drought. The park has several sites. The main ones are Pueblo Bonito, Nuevo Alto and Kin Klesto.

The natural site, arid and full of incongruous geological forms, is spectacular. The flora includes different species of giant cacti.

Many trails are proposed. Guided tours are organized, sometimes essential on badly indicated places. To realize the dimensions of the site, we recommend you to make the hike leading you to the pueblo alto: it will indeed allow you to have a view on the other elements below.