jjTlHKlUQ LAKE 
(Soathe&stern oorner of Jic&rilla Indian heserration, Jiio Arriba County*) 
SKg iivjcicn. 
In thi» lake we have the atar waterfowl breedlhg ground of all Hew ilexl 
00* The loice Ilea in a troa^ almost on the crest of the Continental Divide* 
A range of mountains along the oast* dip westward gradually* hut abrupt on the 
east* This ridge runs parallel to the Continental Divide* north and south for 
perhaps twenty— five miles* cut at intervals by outlets and canyons* At one of 
these outlets* to the north end of the trough* is hock Lake* about seven miles 
of it* and at the next gap lies Dtinking Lake* 1 presume this is the largest 
natural body of water in the dtate, covering, I Judge when up to the spillway* 
fcntT sections* The main body of water lies to the northwest* connected by ohan— 
nel to the rest of the lake* that threads in lakes and channels through the 
oliffs and hills to the south and southeast* forming two islands that are hilla 
tbemselvos. 
The lake has an elevation of about 7*000 feet* and a depth* 1 am told* 
of 9 feet. It is said the lake is pezmanent* though at tisas during dry seasons 
it gets low. Included with it is a smaller lake that lies east of the main por- 
tion of the big lake about 400 yards* This lake is now about ^ of a mile long* 
with an average breadth of about 100 yards* althou^ at times, when full* it 
oovers much more country* (Clear Lake). 
In the oanyon* of the overflow* one-half and a mile* are two mors lakes 
that are of considerable sise when filled with the overflow of the main lake* 
Owing to the great amoimt of shore line— perhaps 1£ miles* and the abundanoe of 
rank watergrass* this lake is peculiarly adapted to the breeding of water and 
marsh birds. The is filled with moss; in most places it floats thickly 
over the surface* This and the tula grass along the shoies* is of great aid to 
nesting birds* by holding the water steady during Ahrong winds* 
