Agua Fria National Monument
| Agua Fria National Monument | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Phoenix, AZ |
| Area | 71,100 acres (288 km²) |
| Established | January 11, 2000 |
| Governing body | U.S. Bureau of Land Management |
Agua Fria National Monument is located in the U.S. state of Arizona, approximately 40 miles (64 km) north of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Created by Presidential proclamation on January 11, 2000, the 71,100 acre (288 km²) monument is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management already managed the lands, however under monument status, the level of protection and preservation of resources within the new monument have been enhanced. Over 450 distinct Native American structures have been identified in the monument, some of large pueblos containing more than 100 rooms each. The enhanced protection status also provides greater habitat protection for the numerous plant and animal communities.
Petroglyphs are scattered across the numerous puebloan ruins, which were built between 1250 and 1450 A.D. when several thousand Native Americans inhabited the region. The petroglyphs depict animals, geometic figures and abstract symbols and are found by the thousands. Numerous ruins of agricultural terraces and irrigation devices indicate that farming was widespred during this period. Other historical entities that are found include 19th century mining features and Basque sheep camps.
Situated between 2,150 and 4,600 feet (655 and 1,402 m) in elevation, the monument is a blend of desert and semi-desert ecosystems. Reptiles and amphibians including the Leopard frog, the Garter snake, the Desert tortoise, can be seen in the monument. Mammals such as the Pronghorn, Mule deer, White-tail deer and Javelina are relatively common. The Wapiti (Elk), black bears and Mountain lions are also found in the monument, but are much less common. Four species of native fish, including the Longfin dace, the Gila mountain sucker, the Gila chub, and the Speckled dace, exist in the Agua Fria River and its tributaries.
External links
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management text of the Presidential Proclamation that established Agua Fria National Monument
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management webpage for Agua Fria National Monument
- Agua Fria National Monument description
- National Landscape Conservation Website Link
- Friends of the Agua Fria National Monument "Friends" advocacy and service group that works in collaboration with the BLM
- Photographic virtual tour of Agua Fria National Monument