First, Albuquerque is the Hot Air Balloon Capital of the World, hosting the International Balloon Fiesta every October, which sees over 500 balloons fill the desert sky in the world's most photographed event. Second, it is a city of extreme elevation; sitting at an average of 5,312 feet (1,619 meters) above sea level, it is one of the highest major metropolitan areas in the United States, meaning visitors often need a few days to adjust to the thinner air. Third, the city is home to the Sandia Peak Tramway, which features the world's third-longest single span and whisks passengers from the desert floor to the 10,378-foot summit of the Sandia Mountains in about 15 minutes. Additionally, the city is a major hub for nuclear and scientific research, being the site of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History and located near the Sandia National Laboratories, which has significantly influenced its economy and culture since the mid-20th century.

Here are three distinct facts about Albuquerque, New Mexico:

1. It’s Home to the World’s Longest Aerial Tramway.
The Sandia Peak Tramway stretches 2.7 miles from the base of the Sandia Mountains to their 10,378-foot summit. The ride offers breathtaking views of the Rio Grande Valley and the city, with a vertical climb of nearly 4,000 feet.

2. It Hosts the World’s Largest International Hot Air Balloon Event.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, held each October, attracts over 500 balloons and hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe. The city’s unique “Albuquerque Box” wind pattern allows pilots exceptional control for spectacular mass ascensions.

3. It Has One of the Oldest Continuously Inhabited Communities in the U.S.
While Albuquerque was founded as a Spanish villa in 1706, the Old Town plaza area sits on a site that has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years, first by Native American pueblos. The historic adobe buildings and San Felipe de Neri Church (built 1793) still anchor the city’s cultural heart.