| Big Bend | |
|---|---|
 TheRio Grande runs throughCañón de Santa Elena, Mexico on the left and Big Bend National Park, U.S. on the right. | |
 Interactive map of Big Bend | |
| Location | Brewster County, Texas, United States |
| Nearest city | Alpine |
| Coordinates | 29°15′0″N103°15′0″W / 29.25000°N 103.25000°W /29.25000; -103.25000 |
| Length | 4 km (2.5 mi) |
| Area | 801,163 acres (3,242.19 km2)[1] |
| Established | June 12, 1944; 81 years ago (1944-06-12) |
| Visitors | 463,832 (in 2019)[2] |
| Operator | National Park Service |
| Website | nps |
Big Bend National Park is anational park of the United States located inWest Texas, bordering Mexico. The park has national significance as the largest protected area ofChihuahuan Deserttopography andecology in the United States,[3] and was named after alarge bend in theRio Grande/Río Bravo.[4] The park protects more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals.[5] Additional park activities include scenic drives, programs led by Big Bend park rangers, and stargazing.[6]
The area has a rich cultural history, fromarcheological sites dating back nearly 10,000 years to more recent pioneers, ranchers, and miners.[7] TheChisos Mountains are located in the park, and are the only mountain range in the United States to be fully contained within the boundary of a national park.[8] Geological features in the park include sea fossils anddinosaur bones, as well asvolcanic dikes.
The park encompasses an area of 801,163 acres (1,251.8 sq mi; 3,242.2 km2), entirely withinBrewster County.[1] For more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km), theRio Grande/Río Bravo forms the boundary between Mexico and the United States, and Big Bend National Park administers approximately 118 miles (190 km) along that boundary.[9][10]
Because the Rio Grande serves as an international boundary, the park faces unusual constraints while administering and enforcing park rules, regulations, and policies. In accordance with theTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the park's territory extends only to the center of the deepest river channel as the river flowed in 1848. The rest of the channel and the land south of it lies within Mexican territory. The park is bordered by the protected areas ofCañón de Santa Elena andMaderas del Carmen in Mexico.
The park is in anunincorporated area ofBrewster County, Texas.[11]
According to theKöppen climate classification system, Big Bend National Park has ahot arid climate (BWh).
The park exhibits dramatic contrasts and its climate may be characterized as one of extremes. Dry and hot late spring and summer days often exceed 100 °F (38 °C) in the lower elevations. Winters are normally mild but subfreezing temperatures occasionally occur. Because of the range in altitude from about 1,800 feet (550 m) along the river toEmory Peak in theChisos Mountains at 7,832 feet (2,387 m),[5] a wide variation in available moisture and temperature exists throughout the park. These variations contribute to an exceptional diversity in plant and animal habitats. Some species in the park, such as the Chisos oak (Quercus graciliformis), are found nowhere else in the United States.
The 118 mi (190 km) of river that form the southern park boundary include the spectacular canyons of Santa Elena, Mariscal, and Boquillas. The Rio Grande, which meanders through this portion of theChihuahuan Desert, has cut deep canyons with nearly vertical walls through three uplifts made primarily oflimestone. Throughout the opendesert areas, the highly productive Rio Granderiparian zone includes numerous plant and animal species and significant cultural resources. The vegetative belt extends into the desert alongcreeks andarroyos.
The park's Chisos Mountains aresky islands surrounded by desert. A significant part of the park's tremendous biodiversity is represented by isolated populations of plants and animals found in the Chisos Mountains and in many of the desert springs distributed across the park.[3]
South of the border lie the Mexican states ofChihuahua andCoahuila and newly protected areas for flora and fauna, which are regions known as theMaderas del Carmen and theCañón de Santa Elena.
| Climate data for Panther Junction, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1955–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 83 (28) | 91 (33) | 95 (35) | 100 (38) | 105 (41) | 109 (43) | 108 (42) | 105 (41) | 103 (39) | 99 (37) | 92 (33) | 85 (29) | 109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 77.4 (25.2) | 82.5 (28.1) | 87.9 (31.1) | 93.9 (34.4) | 99.7 (37.6) | 102.5 (39.2) | 100.2 (37.9) | 98.5 (36.9) | 95.7 (35.4) | 91.5 (33.1) | 83.1 (28.4) | 77.9 (25.5) | 103.3 (39.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 60.8 (16.0) | 66.3 (19.1) | 74.0 (23.3) | 81.9 (27.7) | 89.3 (31.8) | 93.6 (34.2) | 92.0 (33.3) | 91.2 (32.9) | 85.9 (29.9) | 79.7 (26.5) | 69.0 (20.6) | 61.6 (16.4) | 78.8 (26.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 48.8 (9.3) | 53.8 (12.1) | 60.3 (15.7) | 67.8 (19.9) | 75.9 (24.4) | 81.0 (27.2) | 80.7 (27.1) | 80.2 (26.8) | 74.6 (23.7) | 67.3 (19.6) | 57.0 (13.9) | 49.7 (9.8) | 66.4 (19.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 36.8 (2.7) | 41.4 (5.2) | 46.6 (8.1) | 53.6 (12.0) | 62.4 (16.9) | 68.3 (20.2) | 69.5 (20.8) | 69.1 (20.6) | 63.3 (17.4) | 54.8 (12.7) | 44.9 (7.2) | 37.7 (3.2) | 54.0 (12.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 26.4 (−3.1) | 31.4 (−0.3) | 39.5 (4.2) | 49.4 (9.7) | 60.9 (16.1) | 62.9 (17.2) | 62.9 (17.2) | 53.1 (11.7) | 40.1 (4.5) | 30.5 (−0.8) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 20.2 (−6.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 4 (−16) | 6 (−14) | 19 (−7) | 29 (−2) | 38 (3) | 48 (9) | 51 (11) | 50 (10) | 37 (3) | 24 (−4) | 14 (−10) | 4 (−16) | 4 (−16) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.48 (12) | 0.44 (11) | 0.39 (9.9) | 0.49 (12) | 1.30 (33) | 1.67 (42) | 2.25 (57) | 1.93 (49) | 1.71 (43) | 1.17 (30) | 0.70 (18) | 0.47 (12) | 13.00 (330) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.4 (1.0) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 3.1 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 4.8 | 6.1 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 5.8 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 51.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Source: NOAA[12][13] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Castolon, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1947–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 92 (33) | 98 (37) | 105 (41) | 109 (43) | 115 (46) | 117 (47) | 115 (46) | 114 (46) | 110 (43) | 105 (41) | 99 (37) | 93 (34) | 117 (47) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 84.4 (29.1) | 91.0 (32.8) | 98.0 (36.7) | 103.5 (39.7) | 109.3 (42.9) | 112.9 (44.9) | 110.5 (43.6) | 108.5 (42.5) | 104.8 (40.4) | 100.5 (38.1) | 92.1 (33.4) | 83.6 (28.7) | 113.3 (45.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 68.9 (20.5) | 75.4 (24.1) | 83.3 (28.5) | 92.2 (33.4) | 99.9 (37.7) | 104.3 (40.2) | 102.2 (39.0) | 101.7 (38.7) | 96.0 (35.6) | 89.3 (31.8) | 77.7 (25.4) | 69.1 (20.6) | 88.3 (31.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 52.4 (11.3) | 58.5 (14.7) | 65.8 (18.8) | 74.6 (23.7) | 83.4 (28.6) | 89.4 (31.9) | 88.8 (31.6) | 88.5 (31.4) | 82.9 (28.3) | 74.2 (23.4) | 61.6 (16.4) | 52.9 (11.6) | 72.8 (22.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 35.9 (2.2) | 41.6 (5.3) | 48.3 (9.1) | 57.0 (13.9) | 67.0 (19.4) | 74.5 (23.6) | 75.4 (24.1) | 75.2 (24.0) | 69.8 (21.0) | 59.1 (15.1) | 45.6 (7.6) | 36.8 (2.7) | 57.2 (14.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 24.8 (−4.0) | 28.2 (−2.1) | 35.1 (1.7) | 43.9 (6.6) | 54.8 (12.7) | 65.5 (18.6) | 68.3 (20.2) | 68.3 (20.2) | 58.5 (14.7) | 43.6 (6.4) | 31.6 (−0.2) | 24.7 (−4.1) | 21.9 (−5.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 7 (−14) | 5 (−15) | 22 (−6) | 28 (−2) | 44 (7) | 56 (13) | 60 (16) | 64 (18) | 47 (8) | 29 (−2) | 21 (−6) | 7 (−14) | 5 (−15) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.36 (9.1) | 0.33 (8.4) | 0.29 (7.4) | 0.37 (9.4) | 0.79 (20) | 1.38 (35) | 1.71 (43) | 1.51 (38) | 1.55 (39) | 0.81 (21) | 0.48 (12) | 0.28 (7.1) | 9.86 (249.4) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 2.5 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 6.4 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 39.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA[14] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[15] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Chisos Basin, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1947–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) | 84 (29) | 96 (36) | 96 (36) | 99 (37) | 103 (39) | 102 (39) | 100 (38) | 97 (36) | 94 (34) | 89 (32) | 87 (31) | 103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 71.0 (21.7) | 75.4 (24.1) | 80.5 (26.9) | 86.1 (30.1) | 92.4 (33.6) | 94.6 (34.8) | 91.6 (33.1) | 89.7 (32.1) | 87.1 (30.6) | 83.2 (28.4) | 76.1 (24.5) | 70.8 (21.6) | 95.4 (35.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58.1 (14.5) | 62.6 (17.0) | 68.8 (20.4) | 76.4 (24.7) | 83.1 (28.4) | 86.9 (30.5) | 84.8 (29.3) | 83.9 (28.8) | 79.1 (26.2) | 74.1 (23.4) | 65.2 (18.4) | 59.0 (15.0) | 73.5 (23.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 48.0 (8.9) | 51.7 (10.9) | 57.1 (13.9) | 64.3 (17.9) | 71.6 (22.0) | 75.9 (24.4) | 74.9 (23.8) | 74.2 (23.4) | 69.5 (20.8) | 63.8 (17.7) | 54.9 (12.7) | 48.9 (9.4) | 62.9 (17.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37.9 (3.3) | 40.8 (4.9) | 45.5 (7.5) | 52.3 (11.3) | 60.1 (15.6) | 64.8 (18.2) | 65.0 (18.3) | 64.6 (18.1) | 59.9 (15.5) | 53.5 (11.9) | 44.6 (7.0) | 38.9 (3.8) | 52.3 (11.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 22.6 (−5.2) | 25.7 (−3.5) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 36.5 (2.5) | 46.4 (8.0) | 57.0 (13.9) | 59.2 (15.1) | 59.0 (15.0) | 50.0 (10.0) | 37.0 (2.8) | 28.0 (−2.2) | 22.6 (−5.2) | 18.4 (−7.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −3 (−19) | 1 (−17) | 12 (−11) | 25 (−4) | 30 (−1) | 45 (7) | 53 (12) | 52 (11) | 34 (1) | 19 (−7) | 13 (−11) | 4 (−16) | −3 (−19) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.58 (15) | 0.61 (15) | 0.50 (13) | 0.59 (15) | 1.58 (40) | 2.74 (70) | 3.57 (91) | 3.06 (78) | 2.72 (69) | 1.29 (33) | 0.63 (16) | 0.46 (12) | 18.33 (467) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 5.2 | 7.3 | 9.4 | 8.7 | 7.3 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 60.3 |
| Source 1: NOAA[16] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[17] | |||||||||||||
During the early historic period (before 1535) several Indian groups were recorded as inhabiting the Big Bend. The Chisos Indians were a loosely organized group of nomadic hunters and gatherers who probably practiced limited agriculture on a seasonal basis. The origin of the Chisos Indians is not known. Linguistically, they were associated with the Conchos Indians of northern Chihuahua and northwestern Coahuila. They spoke a member ofUto-Aztecan, a language family whose speakers ranged from central Mexico to theGreat Basin of the U.S.
TheJumano was a nomadic group that traveled and traded throughoutWest Texas and southeasternNew Mexico, but some historic records indicate they were enemies of the Chisos. Around the beginning of the 18th century, theMescalero Apaches began to invade the Big Bend region and displaced the Chisos Indians. One of the last Native American groups to use the Big Bend was theComanches, who passed through the park along theComanche Trail on their way to and from periodic raids into the Mexican interior. These raids continued until the mid-19th century. The last of the great military leaders of the native peoples of the region was an Apache of Spanish ancestry named Alzate, who was active as late as the late 1860s.
The European presence in the region beginscirca 1535 AD with the firstSpanish explorations into this portion of North America. The expedition ofÁlvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca passed near the Big Bend and was followed by other expeditions. Some of these expeditions were searching for gold and silver, or farm and ranch land. Others, such as those by theFranciscanmissionaries, were intended to establish centers in which the natives could beevangelized. In an attempt to protect the northern frontier of theNew Spain, from which emerged present-day Mexico, a line ofpresidios, orforts, was established along the Rio Grande in the late 18th century. ThePresidio de San Vicente was built near present-daySan Vicente,Coahuila, and thePresidio de San Carlos was built near present-dayManuel Benavides,Chihuahua. Some of the presidios were soon abandoned, because of financial difficulties and because they could not effectively stop Indian intrusions into Mexico. The soldiers and settlers of these presidios moved to newer presidios where the interests of theSpanish Empire were more defensible. Such was the case of Santa Rosa Maria del Sacramento, now Muzquiz, Coahuila.
Very little study has been made of the Spanish occupation of the Big Bend following the abandonment of the presidios. In 1805, a Spanish settlement called Altares existed 30 mi (48 km) south of the Rio Grande. The region became a part of Mexico when it achieved its independence from Spain in 1821. Mexican families lived in the area when English-speaking settlers began arriving following the secession of Texas during the latter half of the 19th century.
Following the end of theMexican–American War in 1848, the U.S. Army made militarysurveys of the uncharted land of the Big Bend. Forts and outposts were established across Trans-Pecos Texas to protect migrating settlers from Indian attacks. A significant proportion of the soldiers in the late 1800s wereAfrican American and came to be called the "buffalo soldiers", a name that was apparently given to them by the Native Americans.Lieutenant Henry Flipper, the first American of African ancestry to graduate fromWest Point, served inShafter, Texas, near the end of the 19th century. (Shafter, named for GeneralWilliam R. Shafter, lies west of the Big Bend along the highway fromPresidio toMarfa.) Ranchers began to settle in the Big Bend about 1880, and by 1900, sheep, goat, and cattle ranches occupied most of the area. The delicate desert environment was soonovergrazed.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, valuable mineral deposits were discovered, which brought settlers who worked in the mines or supported the mines by farming or by cutting timber for the mines andsmelters. Communities sprang up around the mines.Boquillas andTerlingua both resulted from mining operations. During this period, the Rio Grande flood plain was settled by farmers. Settlements developed with names like Terlingua Abajo, San Vicente, La Coyota, and Castolon. Often, no more than clusters of families were living and farming in the same area, and they were successful only to the degree that the land was able to support them.
In May 1916, araid on Glenn Springs received national attention, motivating President Wilson to issued orders for the mobilization of the Texas National Guard to aid federal forces along the border. A permanent cavalry camp was established at Glenn Springs in 1916 and remained until 1920, when the border situation improved.[18]
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In the 1930s, many people who loved the Big Bend country saw that it was a land of unique contrast and beauty that was worth preserving for future generations. In 1933, theTexas Legislature passed legislation to establish Texas Canyons State Park. Later that year, the park was redesignated Big Bend State Park. In 1935, theUnited States Congress passed legislation that would enable the acquisition of the land for a national park.[19] The State of Texas deeded the land that it had acquired to thefederal government, and on June 12, 1944, Big Bend National Park became a reality. The park opened to visitors on July 1, 1944.
Big Bend remains one of the largest, most remote, and one of the least-visited national parks in thecontiguous United States. In the 10-year period from 2009 to 2019, an average of 377,154 visitors entered the park annually.[2]
The oldest recordedtectonic activity in the park is related to thePaleozoicMarathonorogeny, althoughProterozoic events (over 550Mya) possibly have some deep control. The Marathon orogeny (part of theOuachita-Marathon-Sonora orogenic belt) is part ofthrusting of rocks from theSouth American Plate over theNorth American Plate. This can be best seen in the Persimmon Gap area of the park. This orogenic event is linked to the lack ofTriassic- andJurassic-age rocks in the park.[5]
Between the Triassic and theCretaceous, the South American Platerifted from the North American Plate, resulting in the deposition of theGlen Rose Limestone,Del Carmen Limestone,Sue Peaks Formation,Santa Elena Limestone,Del Rio Clay,Buda Limestone, andBoquillas formations (preserved in the Sierra del Carmen–Santiago Mountains, Nine Point Mesa, Mariscal Mountain, and Mesa de Anguila areas). Also during this time, the Chihuahua trough formed as theGulf of Mexico opened, which resulted in east–weststrikingnormal faulting.[5] As a result of this depositional time,dinosaur,[20] forest[21][22] and other fossils are preserved in the park.
Following the ending of rifting in the Late Cretaceous to the earlyCenozoic, the Big Bend area was subjected to theLaramide orogeny. This period of (now east–west) compression caused the northeast-facing Mesa de Anguila (an upliftedmonocline on the park's southwest margin), the southwest-facing Sierra del Carmen–Santiago Mountains (an uplifted andthrust-faulted monocline that forms the park's boundary on the east) and theTornillo Basin. During the middle Cenozoic, most of thevolcanic rocks, including theChisos Group, thePine Canyon caldera complex, and theBurro Mesa Formation, formed.[5]
The most recent tectonic activity in the park isbasin and range faulting from theNeogene toQuaternary. This period of east–west extension has resulted in Estufa and Dehalo bolsons in the Chisos Mountains, as well as the Terlingua and Sierra del Carmen, Chalk Draw, and Burro Mesa Faults. The Rio Grande has entered the Big Bend area roughly 2 million years ago, and since then, extensiveerosion and downcutting have occurred.[5]
Cultural resources in the park range from thePaleo-Indian period 10,500 years ago through the historic period represented byNative American groups, such as the Chisos,Mescaleros, andComanche. More recently, Spanish, Mexican, Anglo, and Irish settlersfarmed,ranched, andmined in the area.
Throughout the prehistoric period, humans found shelter and maintained open campsites throughout the park. The archeological record reveals anArchaic-period desert culture, whose inhabitants developed a nomadic hunting and gathering lifestyle that remained virtually unchanged for several thousand years.
The historic cultural landscape centers upon various subsistence or commercial land use. The riparian and tributary environments were used for subsistence and irrigation farming. Transportation networks, irrigation structures, simple domestic residences and outbuildings, and planed and terraced farmland lining the stream banks characterize these landscapes.
Despite its harsh desert environment, Big Bend has more than 1,200 species of plants (including 60 cactus species[23]), over 600 species of vertebrates, and about 3,600 insect species. The variety of life is largely due to the diverse ecology and changes in elevation between the dry, hot desert, the cool mountains, and the fertile river valley.
The variety of cactus and other plant life add color to the Big Bend region. Cactus in the park include prickly pear (Opuntia spp.), claretcup (Echinocereus coccineus), andpitaya (E. enneacanthus). In the spring, the wildflowers are in full bloom and theyucca flowers display bright colors.Bluebonnets (Lupinus spp.) are prevalent in Big Bend, and white and pink bluebonnets are sometimes visible by the road. Other flowering plants such as the desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata), desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), rock nettle (Eucnide urens), and lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla) abound in Big Bend.
Of particular importance to the region was the candelilla plant (Euphorbia antisyphilitica). This was used to createcandelilla wax, and was the motivation for wax camps within the area of Big Bend National Park such asGlenn Springs, Texas.
Most of the animals are not visible in the day, particularly in the desert. The park comes alive at night, with many of the animals foraging for food. About 150cougar (Puma concolor) sightings are reported per year, despite the fact that only two dozen cougars live in the park.[24] Other species that inhabit the park includecoyote (Canis latrans),kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spp.),greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus),golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos),gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus),collared peccary (Dicotyles tajacu), andblack-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus).Mexican black bears (Ursus americanus eremicus) are also present in the mountain areas.
Plans to reintroduce theMexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) to Big Bend National Park were rejected in the late 1980s by the state of Texas. Disagreement over the reintroduction included the question of whether the park contained enough prey animals, such as deer and javelinas, to sustain a wolf population.[25]
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More than 450 species of birds have been recorded at Big Bend NP.[26]
Eight basic land-cover types occur at the park. In order of predominance, they are desert shrubland, igneous grassland, limestone grassland, riparian vegetation, montane woodland, bare ground, developed areas, and surface water.[27]
Birders flock to the park, as it is home to the only area in the United States within the breeding range of theColima warbler (Leiothlypis crissalis). The colima warbler arrives in the Chisos Mountains in mid-April to summer in the high canyons of the mountains. By mid-September, it returns to its wintering grounds in southwestern Mexico. The species is a ground nester and prefers the oak-maple habitat found in Boot Canyon and similar high, cool areas from Laguna Meadow to Boot Canyon and the South Rim.[26] The first U.S. record of thenorthern tufted flycatcher (Mitrephanes phaeocercus), aCentral American species, was from this site in November 1991.[28]
Paleontologists began working at Big Bend National Park site as early as 1907, with the discovery of sharks andammonite fossils by Johan Udden.[29] Then, from 1938 to 1939, a handful of men worked at three fossil quarries in Big Bend as part of aW.P.A. project. Other fossil hunters, includingBarnum Brown and Roland "R.T." Bird, arrived in search of dinosaur remains in 1940. Among other discoveries, Brown and Bird uncovered neck vertebrae of a giant sauropod,Alamosaurus, as well as partial jawbones of a crocodylian species,Deinosuchus.[30]
The first museum built to display fossils at the park burned down in 1941, mammoth teeth and saber tooth cat fossils were lost in the blaze.[31] A new exhibit of fossil bones opened in 1957, and displayed fossils ofHyracotherium, a horse ancestor, andCoryphodon, a large hippo-like animal that lived during theEocene, about 55 million years ago (mya).[31] In 1990, the fossils were replaced with replicas, but the museum was overhauled in the 2000s - a redesigned Fossil Discovery Exhibit opened in 2017.[30] Today, citizens need permits to legally collect fossils in Big Bend National Park.
135 mya, Big Bend was underwater.[32] Fossils from this time period include sharks, marine reptiles such asplesiosaurs,pliosaurs, plankton andforaminiferamicrofossils - as well as the remains of larger mollusks.[32] Fossils from 85–82 mya show that Big Bend was covered by warm waters frequented by sharks, smallmosasaurs, and fish such asXiphactinus. Spiral-shelled ammonites and invertebrates of the marine shelf are also common.[33]
When water levels fell 83-72 mya, the area that is now Big Bend became a complex mosaic of deltas, populated by fish and sharks, big turtles, and crocodylian. There is also evidence of terrestrial species such as herds ofhadrosaurs, hornedceratopsids, armorednodosaurs, andtyrannosauroids.[34]
Big Bend was, at this time, well above sea level. Some of its animals include early carnivorous mammals, hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, tyrannosauroids, and the largest known pterosaur,Quetzalcoatlus. Its waterways were filled with fish, rays, and amphibians.[34]
Ingeological strata marking the end of theCretaceous, the remains of flowering plants,conifers,gar, rays, as well as the bones ofAlamosaurus have been found. TheCretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event occurred around 66 mya, wiping out seventy percent of life on land, including all non-bird dinosaurs andpterosaurs, and 90 percent of ocean life.[35]
The park has several hot springs, including the springs in the Hot Springs Historic District. The main hot spring is calledHot Springs; it is also known as Bocadillas Hot Springs and Langford Hot Springs. Hot Springs is on theNational Register of Historic Places.[36] The hot springs were the first major tourist attraction in the Big Bend area before the national park was established. In 1909, J.O. Langford began developing the springs. There was a small stone soaking tub of local stone from the time before Langford's development was excavated at the site. Adugout shelter existed at the site that the Langford family renovated as a residence. The Langfords then constructed anadobe house, a stonebathhouse, and bathing shelters made of brushwood. Later in 1927 they rebuilt the bathhouse and built a store and a motor court with seven attached cabins.[37]
Big Bend's primary attraction is itshiking andbackpacking trails. Particularly notable among these are the Chimneys Trail, which visits a rock formation in the desert; the Marufo Vega trail, a loop trail that passes through scenic canyons on the way to and from the Rio Grande; the South Rim trail which circles the high mountains of the Chisos; and the Outer Mountain Loop trail in the Chisos, which incorporates parts of the South Rim loop, descends into the desert along the Dodson Trail, and then returns to the Chisos Basin, completing a 30-mile loop. Other notable locations includeSanta Elena Canyon, Grapevine Hills, and the Mule Ears, two imposing rock towers in the middle of the desert. Professional backpacking guide services provide trips in the park.
The park administers 118 miles (190 km) of the Rio Grande for recreational use. Professional riveroutfitters provide tours of the river. Use of a personal boat is permitted, but a free river float permit is required. In June 2009, the Department of Homeland Security began treating all float trips as trips that had left the country and required participants to have an acceptable form of identification such as a passport to re-enter the country.[38]
Visitors often cross the Rio Grande to visit the Mexican village ofBoquillas. TheDepartment of Homeland Security closed the border crossing in 2002 due to increased security following theSeptember 11 attacks, but in April 2013, the Boquillas crossing reopened as an official Class B Port of Entry between the U.S. and Mexico. It is open Wednesday through Sunday between 9 am and 6 pm.[39][40][41]
With more than 450 species of birds recorded in the park, a widely popular activity isbirdwatching. Many species stop in the park during their annualmigrations.
Five paved roads are in Big Bend.Persimmon Gap toPanther Junction is a 28-mile (45 km) road from the north entrance of the park to park headquarters at Panther Junction. Panther Junction to Rio Grande Village is a 21-mile (34 km) road that descends 2,000 feet (610 m) from the park headquarters to the Rio Grande. Maverick Entrance Station to Panther Junction is a 23-mile (37 km) route from the western entrance of the park to the park headquarters. Chisos Basin Road is 6 miles (10 km) long and climbs to 5,679 feet (1,731 m) above sea level at Panther Pass before descending into the Chisos Basin. The 30-mile (48 km) Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive leads to theCastolon Historic District andSanta Elena Canyon.
In 2012, the park was designated aninternational dark-sky park by theInternational Dark-Sky Association. The association also recognized the park with its Gold Tier designation as "free from all but the most minor impacts of light pollution." Measurements made by the National Park Service show that Big Bend has the darkest skies in thecontiguous United States.[42] Thousands of stars, bright planets, and theMilky Way are visible on clear nights.
San Vicente Independent School District is based on the park grounds.[43] San Vicente ISD's facility moved to thePanther Junction area circa 1951 so children of park employees had a local school.[44] Much of the park is in San Vicente ISD while other parts are physically inTerlingua Common School District.[45] High school aged students from San Vicente ISD attend high school atBig Bend High School of Terlingua CSD.[46]
Prior to 1996Alpine High School of theAlpine Independent School District served as the high school for students from Terlingua CSD,[47] and also for students of San Vicente ISD.[44] Big Bend High opened in 1996.[47] San Vicente began sending students to Big Bend High when it was established in 1996.[48]
Big Bend Natl Pk- Name "Big Bend Natl Pk" is seen on pages with the park
{{cite book}}:|website= ignored (help){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Physical Address: 195 ESCUELA VISTA BIG BEND NATL PARK, TX 79834-0195
Media from Commons
Travel information from Wikivoyage of theNational Park Service (NPS)| International | |
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