Organ Mountains near Las Cruces, NM

Las Cruces, New Mexico, is located in the valley of the Rio Grande River and sits astride Interstate 25 and U.S. 70. One of its key features are the Organ Mountains to the east of the city. The Organ Mountains are so-called because from a distance they resemble the pipes of a huge organ.

Located in a desert, the mountains rise from the valley floor in an environment with only low-growing shrubs. The effect is a different perspective from any other mountains we've seen on this trip. 

These mountains are located on the western edge of White Sands Missile Range. While cattle graze the lower slopes, further into the mountains one can find ibyx and oryx. These two species brought from Africa where they were threatened with extinction have thrived here and are now considered game animals in New Mexico. 

The pictures of the mountains were photographed looking east.  The windmill was photographed from the same spot looking west toward Las Cruces and the Rio Grande valley.