I Love New Mexico

Guest Blog by: John Adams

New Mexico is the fifth largest state of America. The state’s landscapes and cultures have no bounds, which makes it one-of-a-kind. The state has a lot to offer to vacationers and sightseers, providing a wide range of outdoor recreational activities. The local people, food, and climate are truly amazing, which are three more reasons the place is referred to as ‘The Land of Enchantment’. If New Mexico doesn’t sound intriguing enough yet, here are 20 interesting facts that shall allow you to see this extraordinary territory in a new light: 

1. It is a known fact that New Mexico is sparsely populated, but you might not realize that the resident livestock outnumbers human beings. With less than 20 people per square mile, cows are the official majority. 
2. The first ever atomic bomb was dropped in New Mexico, at the desert sands of Jornada del Muerto on 16 July, 1945. A few weeks later, another bomb of the same kind exploded in Nagasaki, Japan.
3. During the 20^th century wars of America, more uranium was produced in Grants, New Mexico, than anywhere else, earning it the title of ‘Uranium Capital of the World’. 
4. Although New Mexico is among the earliest of inhabited territories, it was not accepted as an American state until 1912, making it one of the youngest states (47^th). In contrast, Santa Fe (capital of New Mexico) is the oldest capital of the U.S. 
5. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world. It is held every October and is hands down an exquisite sight. 
6. New Mexico is a state of fine and abundant wine, thus it’s no surprise that it ranks #1 in everything related to alcohol. Unfortunately, this also makes it the state with the highest number of DUI/DWI crimes per year. 
7. More than a thousand UFO sightings are reported in the state every year. Therefore, if you have an affinity towards aliens and other stranger things, you’ll fit right in.  
8. Dancing while wearing a Sombrero is illegal in New Mexico, so avoid it unless you want to end up in Mexican jail. 
9. New Mexico has more PhDs per capita than any other states of the U.S, which establishes it as the breeding ground for smart blokes. 
10. Microsoft originated from a small garage in Albuquerque, where Bill Gates and his friend wrote their first software.  
11. Clyde Tombaugh, the guy who discovered the planet Pluto is a New Mexican. 
12. Albuquerque also gave us the eccentric and fabulous Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) from the much-loved American sitcom ‘How I met your Mother’. 
13. More chile peppers are grown in New Mexico than any other state; no wonder the locals love their spice. 
14. About 75% of roads in New Mexico are unpaved, mainly because they are too wide and seldom used. 
15. New Mexico has the best heritage in the America, given the largest number of UNESCO world Heritage Sites. 
16. While in Santa Fe, which resides at an elevation above 7000 ft., you can literally look down upon Denver. 
17. New Mexico is home to the biggest taco ever made, which is an impressive achievement indeed. 
18. The governor’s palace in Santa Fe is the oldest government building in the U.S. 
19. Founder of Amazon and one of the richest people in the world, Jeff Bezos, was born in Albuquerque. 
20. New Mexico has more than 16 million acres of forestland, which equals the entire size of West Virginia. 

Author Bio

John Adams loves to travel and experience the different cultures of the world. He regularly blogs about his personal experiences and encourages readers to go on adventures. He has contributed on various online platforms focusing on tourism and lifestyle. When he is not travelling, his writing is focused on physiological traumas and personal healing.