For years, the Albuquerque West Mesa area has been an illegal dumpsite for unwanted items. These items range anywhere from bags of trash to furniture to old car skeletons.
Stretching from just south of Albuquerque to Bernalillo, and located west of the Rio Grande, the West Mesa spans dozens of miles. Residents from surrounding areas have been issuing complaints about the trash buildup for years.
"You cannot drive a single mile without seeing old beds, sofas or even car parts. It’s like there is no respect for this land," said local resident Jennifer Walters.
Although this trash covers most areas of the West Mesa, one site is particularly interesting. The sand dunes at the end of Southern Boulevard in Rio Rancho have become somewhat of a graveyard for old cars.
What lies amongst these vehicles is a 1967 Ford F100, a 1976 Volkswagen Bug and many more that years left unidentifiable by rust and weathering. Old tires, the body of a dirt bike and even an old boat can be found among the wreckage.
Nearly all of these items have been dismantled, covered in layers of rust and riddled with bullet holes. These items have begun to blend with the environment, covered with a thick blanket of New Mexico dirt. Many have desert plants growing out of them.
If these items remain on the West Mesa, the problem may be perpetuated. However, many of the items are so deep within the mesa that removing them would be a difficult task.
Kristina Tanberg is a staff photographer at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at photo@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ktanberger11
