Area: 46,753 acres; 750 feet from surface to floor of caverns.
Visitors: 469,303 in 2000.
Location: 23 miles southwest of Carlsbad, N.M., and 150 miles east of El Paso, Texas, on U.S. Highway 62/180.
Flora and fauna: Chihuahuan Desert plants on top include torrey yucca, prickly pear cactus, ocotillo, lechuguilla, agave and prairie grasses. From spring through fall, more than 500,000 Mexican free-tail bats live in a remote cave. The desert teems with a variety of rodents, plus mule deer, coyotes and raccoons. Occasional sightings of mountain lion and bobcat. Also home to 331 species of birds, including turkey vultures, ladder-backed woodpecker and black-chinned hummingbird.
Entrance fee: None, but user fees from $6 to $20 are charged for guided and unguided cave tours.
–Robert Cross
