Archuleta Mesa

Archuleta Mesa,^[1] known informally as Alien Mountain,^[2] is a mountain summit situated within the San Juan Mountain Range on the Colorado-New Mexico border.^[3][2] It has been the subject of an alien conspiracy theory, and has gained national attention as a result.^[4][5][6]

Archuleta Mesa
Archuleta Mesa Colorado
Highest point
Elevation	9,229 ft (2,813 m)
Coordinates	37.0235°N 106.9630°W / 37.0235; -106.9630
Geography
Parent range	San Juan Mountains

Location

The mesa is located in the southern portions of the San Juan Mountain Range, located in southwestern Colorado. It is bounded to the east by Edith, Colorado and Felix Spring to the east. The mountain ridge runs from north-to-south. To the west of the mountain is the Montezuma Mesa, which is bounded by the San Juan River, where the range gets its name.^[7] Dulce, New Mexico is located on the mesa.^[8][9]

History

1996 wildfire

In mid-1996, a large wildfire burned within the mesa boundary, scarring large amounts of vegetation on the mesa.^[10]

Wildlife

Several species of tree are present on the slopes and top of the mesa, including Pinus ponderosa and Abies concolor. Fungi, including Armillaria ostoyae and Heterobasidion annosum, have also been documented on the mesa.^[11]

See also

• List of mountains in Colorado