Pajarito Plateau

plateau, New Mexico, United States

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July 1, 2026

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The Pajarito Plateau is a geological formation in north-central New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Jemez Mountains and is located west-northwest of Santa Fe. The plateau has an elevation of 7,300 feet (2,225 meters).12

Historically, the Pajarito Plateau was home to Ancestral Pueblo people, who built villages and ceremonial chambers, with notable ruins found in Bandelier National Monument.12

In the 20th century, the plateau's isolation led to the establishment of Los Alamos, a key site for the Manhattan Project during World War II, where the first atomic bomb was developed. The area continues to be significant for scientific research at Los Alamos National Laboratory.2

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Los Alamos
It lies on the Pajarito Plateau (elevation 7,300 feet [2,225 metres]) of the Jemez Mountains, 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Santa Fe. The site was named Los Alamos (Spanish: “the cottonwoods”) by Ashley Pond, founder of the Los Alamos Ranch School for Boys (1918–43).
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It lies on the Pajarito Plateau (elevation 7,300 feet [2,225 metres]) of the Jemez Mountains, 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Santa Fe. The site was named Los Alamos (Spanish: “the cottonwoods”) by Ashley Pond, founder of the Los Alamos Ranch School for Boys (1918–43).
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