Geographic feature in Arizona, New Mexico, and Sonora
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
^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Guadalupe Canyon
^ Mays, Kenneth (June 4, 2014). "Picturing history: Guadalupe Canyon" . Deseret News. Retrieved November 6, 2020 .
^ Tefertiller, Casey (1997). Wyatt Earp: The Life Behind the Legend . New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-18967-7 . Retrieved November 6, 2020 .
^ Kapoor, Maya L.; Brocious, Ariana (October 30, 2020). "In Arizona, building a wall — and destroying a canyon" . High Country News . Retrieved October 31, 2020 .
^ a b "Important Bird Areas Guadalupe Canyon New Mexico" . National Audubon Society. September 12, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2020 .
^ 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 .
^ "Footage shows Further Border Destruction in Arizona Wilderness" . Defenders of Wildlife. September 28, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020 .
^ a b Kapoor, Maya L.; Brocious, Ariana (October 30, 2020). "In Arizona, building a wall — and destroying a canyon" . High Country News. Retrieved November 6, 2020 .
^ " 'Largest' mountaintop border-wall blast captured on video in Arizona wilderness" . FOX21 News Colorado . October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020 .
^ 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