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President To Designate Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument

ToddJay

President Obama will designate a historic landscape in northern New Mexico as a national monument Monday. The designation will help draw in more visitors while also protecting the land.

The Rio Grande del Norte is an impressive expanse of more than 200,000 acres in northern New Mexico. The landscape, originally inhabited by Native Americans and Spanish settlers, is loved for its natural beauty. It includes a massive gorge below the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. There is abundant wildlife and archeological sites. Supporters say visitors to the newly created national monument will generate more than 200 jobs and boost the regional economy.