2013 Map of Bottomless Lakes

About this map

The Pecos River valley defines this Chaves County landscape, where groundwater seepage has created a string of distinctive cenotes. The Bottomless Lakes area features a chain of sinkhole water bodies including Lea Lake, Cottonwood Lake, and the small Inkwell Lake. The topography illustrates the sharp contrast between the river's flood plain to the west and the rising desert bluffs to the east. Several local cattle operations and homesteads, such as Ervin Ranch and Atkinson Ranch, dot the plains, connected by a network of ranch roads including Marie RD and Juliet RD. The presence of the Hagerman Canal and Comanche Draw highlights the vital role of water management in this arid region, where the sinkholes provided rare permanent water sources for travelers and livestock alike.