Bottomless Lakes State Park, established in 1936, was one of the first
of the New Mexico state parks. It is surprising to find this treasure of
great natural beauty in an area so dominated by aridity. There are six
small lakes in the park, of which Lea Lake is the largest with about 15
acres of surface area. The water of the lakes is crystal clear and
varies in depth from 45 feet in the shallow lakes to about 100 feet in
the deeper ones. They were created as “sink holes” when water dissolved
large areas of underground gypsum, resulting in cave-ins. The lakes now
offer extensive recreational facilities for the people of New Mexico and
for tourists passing through or visiting the area. Camping, swimming,
and boating are available. Pecos “diamonds,” small quartz crystals, can
be found in the neighboring hills.