TAOS, New Mexico: The U.S. government has purchased additional land to enlarge Rio Grande del Norte National Park in northern New Mexico near the Colorado border.
In making the announcement, the US Bureau of Land Management said it had purchased some 3,700 acres next to the national monument.
Officials said the new land will allow them to expand public access and recreation for the public around the national park. Rio Grande National Park already includes more than 242,000 acres, and houses a variety of wildlife.
The Rio Grande National Park is located six miles southwest of Taos.
The cost of the new land was $16.6 million, according to officials.
Rio Grande del Norte National Park became a national monument in 2013 during the administration of President Barack Obama.