Browse by Title: R

Rio Bravo Boulevard, Albuquerque, New Mexico

A relatively old, major street in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The street runs east-west through Albuquerque's old farming neighborhoods of the South Valley. It starts in…

Rio Grande River, Colorado, New Mexico & Texas

The Rio Grande is a large, meandering river that flows north to south from its headwaters in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado through the center of New…

Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico

The Rio Grande is the largest river flowing through the state of New Mexico, and the valley surrounding it has provided much-needed water and sustenance to the various…

Rio Puerco River, New Mexico

A western tributary of the Rio Grande River that passes through the central part of the state of New Mexico. The Rio Puerco River originates in the Nacimiento Mountains…

ritual

A formal or prescribed set of observances that make up a regular practice, especially one carrying spiritual significance. A ritual can be performed alone or in small…

rock sage

A species of sage, which is also known as Greaseleaf Salvia. It grows throughout the southwestern U.S. in rocky limestone hills. Rock sage can grow to a maximum height…

rocket

A rocket is an aircraft propelled by the release of gases produced via the process of combustion. Rockets take the basic form of a tube with an elongated nose. A…

Rocky Mountains

One of the longest mountain ranges in North America, the Rocky Mountains are located in the western United States and span from northern Alberta and British Columbia in…

Roman nose

A term used culturally to refer to noses that have a prominent ridge and a hook at the end. Also, known as an aquiline nose, which is from the Latin word meaning “eagle…

roof hole

A roof hole is a hole in the roof of traditional pueblo structures. These holes allowed air and light to come into the dwelling and smoke to exit the dwelling, but…

roofing paper

Also known as roofing felt or tar paper, roofing paper is made of either heavy-duty paper or fiberglass mat that is soaked in tar or asphalt to produce a waterproof…

Rough Rock, Arizona

A small community on the Navajo reservation, located at the foot of the eastern slope of Black Mesa in Apache County in northeast Arizona. The Navajo name for the area…

Round Rock, Arizona

Round Rock, also known as Tsé Nikani (Flat Plated Rocks) in the western part of the Navajo Reservation and Bis Dootl'izh Deez'ahi (Blue Pointed Mesa) in the eastern…

Route 504

In Tony Hillerman's 1984 Navajo detective novel THE GHOSTWAY, Jim Chee travels from east to west along Route 504, "through Teec Nos Pos, Red Mesa, Mexican Water, and…

ruff

A ruff is a conspicuous ring of feathers or fur found around the neck of various animal species. A manmade ruff is used in the human world to adorn revered figures such…

ruins

In the Southwestern U.S., the primary setting for Tony Hillerman's Navajo detective series, ruins typically refer to ancient Puebloan structures that are scattered…

runoff

Runoff occurs when water from snowmelt or rain runs along the surface of the earth without being absorbed into the soil. Over time, runoff contributes to erosion. In…

Rural Route 2, New Mexico

Current maps of Grants, New Mexico show no indication that such a road exists. It is possible that road names have changed since the time Hillerman wrote People of…