TheBig Bend is part of theTrans-Pecos region in southwesternTexas,United States along the border withMexico, north of the prominent bend in theRio Grande for which the region is named.[1] Here theRio Grande passes between theChisos Mountains in Texas and theSierra Madre Oriental in Mexico as it changes from running east-southeast to north-northeast. The region covers three counties:Presidio County to the west,Brewster County to the east, andJeff Davis County to the north.[2]
The region is rugged, sparsely populatedChihuahua Desert, including theChisos Mountains,Chinati Mountains, and theDavis Mountains. The region has well over 1 million acres (4,000 km2) of public lands, includingBig Bend National Park (801,163 acres)Big Bend Ranch State Park (300,000 acres), Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (103,000 acres)[3][4] and Chinati Mountains State Natural Area (39,000 acres)[5] along the north side of the Rio Grande. It is also the home of theMcDonald Observatory. In Mexico, adjacent areas of protected lands on the south side of the Rio Grande include theCañón de Santa Elena Flora and Fauna Protection Area (ca. 511,508 acres),Ocampo Flora and Fauna Protection Area (ca. 850,630 acres), and theMaderas del Carmen Flora and Fauna Protection Area (ca. 514,920 acres).
The largest towns in the region areAlpine,Presidio,Marfa,Sanderson,Terlingua, andMarathon. The counties arePresidio County,Jeff Davis County,Brewster County,Pecos County, andTerrell County.
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30°0′0″N103°0′0″W / 30.00000°N 103.00000°W /30.00000; -103.00000
