Blue Lake and the Rio Pueblo de Taos have long been the life
force for the people of Taos Pueblo. In addition to the obvious
necessity the Pueblo community has for a consistent supply of
water, Blue Lake has even more crucial religious significance to
the group. The lake itself is located about twenty miles north
of Taos Pueblo in northern New Mexico, and is the site of annual
pilgrimage and ceremony. However, until a 1971 Congressional
decision finally returned the lake and surrounding lands to the
Pueblo people once and for all, the sacrality of Blue Lake was
threatened by increased forestry in the area, demands for water,
and increased public traffic as roads were constructed by the
U.S. Forest Service (Hecht 55). Situated in the thin air at
11,800 feet, Blue Lake is a stunning turquoise color and has
been the site of Pueblo religious reverence since time
immemorial. The annual August pilgrimage is undertaken by the
Pueblo people on foot or horseback, and it takes roughly two
days to cover the twenty miles