As you’re traveling Route 66 through New Mexico, look for this unusual roadside historical marker celebrating an even more unusual phenomenon: the Continental Divide Marker in New Mexico.
New Mexico, a state renowned for its diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is home to one of nature’s more fascinating wonders—the Continental Divide. The Continental Divide is a natural topographic line that separates the watersheds of North America. In simple terms, it determines whether water flows towards the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic Ocean. Rain and snow that fall on one side of the divide will eventually make their way to either the Pacific Ocean, while precipitation on the other side will flow towards the Atlantic Ocean.
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Find a road marker in Continental Divide, New Mexico that marks the spot. The road sign, which was erected by the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, reads:
Continental Divide
Elevation-7,295 feet
Rainfall divides at this point. To the west it drains into the Pacific Ocean to the east into the Atlantic.
Across the way from the historical marker are some trading posts offering souvenirs and another, unofficial, sign.
Continental Divide Marker
Address: OLD ROUTE HWY 66 19, NM-122, Continental Divide, NM 87312
Cost: Free to See
Hours: Always Visible
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