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10 Unusual Things I Learned About Carlsbad, New Mexico
Interesting Fun Facts
Carlsbad, New Mexico is mainly known today for the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but when studying historical information about the area, several interesting facts rose to the surface and begged to be shared with the public.
1. The Pecos River in Carlsbad is the only river ever to cross itself. Once listed in Ripley’s Believe It or Not, the Pecos River Flume became famous. As farmers and early settlers created irrigation canals from the upper part of the river down to their properties, the water they were diverting from the Pecos River north of Carlsbad, eventually crossed itself further south in Carlsbad. The ruins of the original flume still stand and sometimes the river still crosses itself. (1,2)
2. Carlsbad, New Mexico is the first place Potash was discovered in North America. Today potash is mostly used as an agricultural fertilizer, but it is also used in making soap and water softener. It is a vital ingredient in ice and snow melt products. It used to be used in makeup and gun powder. When it was first discovered in Carlsbad it lit a boom in the city, and today is negatively affecting the water quality in the city. The waste from mining the ore leeches into the groundwater. (3,4)
