Understand
This region can be thought of as bounded by:
On the north, the Colorado state line;
On the east, the Oklahoma and Texas state lines;
On the south, Interstate 40, following the historic route of the famous Route 66;
On the west, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and their foothills.
This is one of the "empty" corners of New Mexico, with low population density and comparatively few attractions. Culturally, it has many affinities to the "panhandle" regions of Oklahoma and Texas. Geographically, it forms the western edge of the Great Plains and gradually rises to meet the Sangre de Cristos, with a band of ancient and, in a few areas, more recent volcanoes running southwest to northeast toward the state's northeastern corner to provide a little scenic variety.
