Rio Grande Gorge Rio Grande Gorge, New Mexico (1987)
	The Rio Grande Gorge, not far from the Colorado border but within New Mexico, is a dramatic example of physical geography in action. The basaltic (extrusive volcanic) flows created a perilous stretch of country that until the 1950s saw relatively little use beyond grazing livestock in the canyon depths. However, in the 50s and 60s, proposals were floated to dam the river into the gorge to produce hydroelectricity. It came to nought, but not without a considerable fight.
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