Rio Grande River, New Mexico Poster

A Spring storm rolls in over the Rio Grande River along the low road to Taos in New Mexico. The Rio Grande River flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico and United States border. According to the International Boundary and Water Commission, its total length was 1,896 miles (3,051 km) in the late 1980s, though course shifts occasionally result in length changes. Depending on how it is measured, the Rio Grande is the fourth or fifth longest river system in North America. The Rio Grande is one of 19 Great Waters recognized by America's Great Waters Coalition. In 1968, the Rio Grande was among the first eight rivers the US Congress designated into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to protect outstanding resources values. The Wild and Scenic River flows through the Rio Grande Gorge Recreation Area. The recreation areas include the Wild Rivers area in the north and the Orialla Verde area in the south, which provide hiking, boating, fishing and camping facilities.