| The name Carlsbad emphasizes the water flowing from Carlsbad Mineral Springs. With only 15.5 inches of rain per year, a 3,100-foot elevation, and 350 days of sunshine, Carlsbad, New Mexico has areas of both fertile valley and desert.Flowing through the center of town and flanking the river's banks is a 4.5-mile Riverwalk. Visitors enjoy fishing, boating, and water skiing. The George Washington also supplies a paddlewheel boat for a 40-minute ride on the river. There are 28 parks plus swimming pools, lakes, golf courses, tennis courts, library, museums, and art galleries for all visitors to Carlsbad.Just off U. S. Highway 285 is Living Desert State Park, and a little farther north are Brantley Lake, Sitting Bull Falls and the Guadalupe Mountains. The city's fame is associated with Carlsbad Caverns, located just south of Carlsbad. In addition to the cave formations, visitors often come to see the nightly flight of the bats from the cave mouth. |
