Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Blanca Peak
Highest point
Peak	Blanca Peak (East of Alamosa, Colorado)
Elevation	14,351 ft (4,374 m)
Coordinates	37°34′39″N 105°29′08″W / 37.57750°N 105.48556°W / 37.57750; -105.48556Coordinates: 37°34′39″N 105°29′08″W / 37.57750°N 105.48556°W / 37.57750; -105.48556
Dimensions
Length	242 mi (389 km) north-south
Width	120 mi (190 km) east-west
Area	17,193 sq mi (44,530 km2)
Naming
Etymology	Sangre de Cristo (Spanish: Blood of Christ)
Geography
Country	United States
States	Colorado and New Mexico
Parent range	Rocky Mountains

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Spanish for "Blood of Christ") are the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains. They are located in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico in the United States. The mountains run from Poncha Pass in South-Central Colorado, trending southeast and south, ending at Glorieta Pass, southeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The mountains contain a number of fourteen thousand foot peaks in the Colorado portion, as well as all the peaks in New Mexico which are over thirteen thousand feet.

The name of the mountains may refer to the occasional reddish hues observed during sunrise and sunset, and when alpenglow occurs, especially when the mountains are covered with snow. Although the particular origin of the name is unclear, it has been in use since the early 19th century. Before that time the terms "La Sierra Nevada", "La Sierra Madre", "La Sierra", and "The Snowies" (used by English speakers) were used. According to tradition, "sangre de Cristo" were the last words of a Catholic priest who was killed by Indians. Sometimes the archaic Spanish spelling "Christo" is used.

Much of the mountains are within various National Forests: the Rio Grande and San Isabel in Colorado, and the Carson and Santa Fe in New Mexico. These publicly accessible areas are popular for hunting, camping, hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, climbing, and cross-country and downhill skiing.

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