
View larger. | Photo taken earlier this week by EarthSky Facebook friend Geraint Smith Photography of Taos. See more of Geraint’s photos here.
We hear many stories of the renewal of natural lands after a devastating wildfire, but this photo of an older burn area in New Mexico is particularly striking. It’s from Geraint Smith Photography in Taos, New Mexico. It shows the Valle Vidal Unit of New Mexico’s Carson National Forest, which, like many parts of the U.S. west, has had its share of wildfires in recent years.
The fires in the U.S. West have been exacerbated by hot, dry summertime conditions. They’re often driven by wind. Later, even a little rain can help rejuvenate a natural area (although human structures may be lost).
Earlier this summer, beginning around June, Stage 1 fire restrictions were in effect at Carson National Forest. As the rains came around mid-July 2013, restrictions were lifted.
Thank you, Geraint!