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A seasonal lake bed located north of Grants, New Mexico. The lake was named “La Laguna del Difunta Ambrosio” after a Spaniard who was presumably killed by Native Americans in the vicinity. The area surrounding the lake is known for its rich uranium deposits, which were mined starting in the 1950s. This mining led to the accumulation of radioactive waste in and around the lake. In 1987, the Department of Energy initiated a cleanup of contaminated materials, a slow process that lasted until 1995.
"View from Mount Taylor over the Ambrosia Lake valley, North of Grants, NM, September 2014" by Sophie Ell is licensed under CC BY.
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