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These abandoned cotton fields on the Rio Grande between Ruidosa and Candelaria were flooded and overgrown. Several trees mark the end of the field, and behind them, large mountains extend towards the cloudy sky.

As with many borders, conflicts arise. Ownership of the El Chamizal tract, consisting of 630 acres of disputed land between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, remained in dispute for nearly a hundred years. The issue involved the interpretation of how fast…

Fire damaged tamarisk (salt cedar) trees obscure the view of the Rio Grande.

According to treaties negotiated between Mexico and the United States, shared waterways must maintain specific water flow. Instead of losing water to evaporation and seepage, hoses may be used to carry the required water across the border. These…

The canal, slightly obscured by vegetation, is bordered by a dirt road on the left. Most water from the river is used for irrigation. Canal reduces the flow within the river to minimal levels. As a consequence, many undocumented workers attempting to…

An almost dry Rio Grande. Dried vegetation lines both sides of the river bank. The Rio Grande is often reduced to a trickle and can become difficult to recognize. Because of growing agricultural demand for the water, many irrigation ditches actually…

A dirt road stands between the border wall and a chain link fence outside El Paso. In the distance, a Ferris wheel documents the festivities in town.

The train yards in El Paso that border the Rio Grande are favorite crossing points for undocumented workers. The trains provide relatively easy and quick transportation out of town, and the yards provide many hiding and resting areas. This is the…

The Rio Grande, surrounded by vegetation on both sides. In the distance, a road and residential structures are visible.

The headwaters of the Rio Grande are above Albuquerque, New Mexico. Beginning at El Paso the Rio Grande (also called the Rio Bravo del Norte) engages the emotions and drama of a natural boundary between two countries. West of El Paso and Ciudad…

View of Monument No. 3, overlooking Mesilla Valley and the Southern Pacific Railroad.

View of Monument 8 facing south, looking into Chihuahua from New Mexico.

Without water, the landscape cannot sustain the urban or agricultural development typical of the Rio Grande Valley. The topography is entirely arid desert. The border is marked by 276 permanent monuments covering 698 miles from Monument No. 1 to the…

A view of Monument 11, facing east. A wire fence runs next to the monument while shrubs fill the landscape.

View of Monument 12, facing east. A small roads marks the border where Chihuahua is on the right and New Mexico on the left.

View from the Mexican side of the line at Monument No. 14, looking northwest.

Three roads between Monument 25 and 26, looking east. Mexico is on the right.

View of Monument 34, looking south. A wire fence and wooden posts run perpendicular to the monument.

View of Monument 40, in corner of New Mexico border running east to west and north to south. A fence runs behind the monument while vegetation populates the space behind it.

View of Monument 41, looking south. On the left, a fence extends into the distance over a ridge. Vegetation also covers the landscape.