Editing Socorro County, New Mexico (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|6649|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|6647|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.1|sqmi}} (0.03%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_35.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 2, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101195546/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_35.txt|archive-date=January 1, 2015}}</ref> It is the second-largest county in New Mexico by area, after [[Catron County, New Mexico|Catron County]].

Socorro County ranges in elevation from approximately {{convert|4528|ft|m|abbr=on}} on the banks of the [[Rio Grande]] to {{convert|10784|ft|m|abbr=on}} at the top of [[South Baldy (New Mexico)|South Baldy]] peak in the [[Magdalena Mountains]]. The southern portion of the Rocky Mountains extend into New Mexico and Socorro County. There are several mountain ranges that spread throughout the county. The Forest Service manages portions of four mountain ranges: the [[Bear Mountains (New Mexico)|Bear]], [[Datil Mountains|Datil]], [[Magdalena Mountains|Magdalena]], and [[San Mateo Mountains (Socorro County, New Mexico)|San Mateo Mountains]]. Most of the land that comprises these mountains are within the Cibola National Forest. These ranges, as well as [[Ladron Peak]] located in Socorro County, are classified as [[sky island]]s.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Cibola County, New Mexico|Cibola County]] – northwest
* [[Valencia County, New Mexico|Valencia County]] – north
* [[Torrance County, New Mexico|Torrance County]] – northeast
* [[Lincoln County, New Mexico|Lincoln County]] – east
* [[Sierra County, New Mexico|Sierra County]] – south
* [[Catron County, New Mexico|Catron County]] – west

===National protected areas===
* [[Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Cibola National Forest]] (part)
* National System of Public Lands managed by the [[Bureau of Land Management|BLM]]’s Socorro Field Office (part)
* [[El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail]] (part)
* [[Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument]] (part)