Malpai Borderlands

Malpai Borderlands is a region, or areal feature, along the

Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora

The lowest elevations in this area are about 3,700 feet in the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge area. Highest elevation is roughly 8,500 feet above mean sea level (AMSL). Mountain ranges generally run north-south. Terrain is described as including desert shrub, Tobosa grassland,

geomorphic provinces include Madrean and Chihuahuan deserts

.

The name "Malpai", relates to a type of "

eolian) processes, and is called Malapai

.

Variant names

The Borderlands are sometimes referred to by the name of a larger region encompassing Malpai Borderlands: Southwest Borderlands. The name is sometimes misspelled Maipai Borderlands. Some references describe it as being inside the Chihuahuan Desert.

Unofficial extents of the region

Papers on the region describe geographic features that partly define it.

The United States portion of this region probably includes portions of Grant County, New Mexico, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, and Cochise County, Arizona. Major geographic features of the area include portions of the San Simon, San Bernardino, Animas, and Playas valleys as well as rivers of the same name. Except for Arizona's San Simon Valley and San Simon River, the areas mentioned appear to be entirely south of present-day Interstate 10. Government reservations in this region include all of Coronado National Forest (US Forest Service) east of US191 and San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, (US Fish and Wildlife Service).

In the

Nogales are mentioned. In the state of Chihuahua, the area of Janos

is mentioned.

Variant descriptions

A fire history report on the region suggests some definitions may include areas as far west as the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona.

Area under scientific study

A wide array of individuals and organizations are eyeing competing demands on these lands. The

New Mexico Department of Fish and Game, University of Arizona, and Coronado National Forest

have been active in studying the future of the area.

References

Sources

"Toward Integrated Research, Land Management, and Ecosystem Protection in the Malpai Borderlands: Conference Summary," Rocky Mountain Research Station Report P-10, US Forest Service, July 1999.
US Geological Survey web page on region