| San Antonio Springs | |
|---|---|
 Location of San Antonio Springs | |
 Interactive map of San Antonio Springs | |
| Location | San Antonio,Texas,USA |
| Coordinates | 29°28′08″N98°28′03″W / 29.468889°N 98.467500°W /29.468889; -98.467500 |
| Spring source | Edwards Aquifer |
| Elevation | 680 feet (210 m) abovesea level |
| Type | Karst springs |
| Provides water for | San Antonio River |
| Magnitude | 2 |
| Discharge | 20 cubic feet (570 L)/s |
San Antonio Springs (also known as theBlue Hole) is a cluster ofsprings inBexar County,Texas. These springs provide a large portion of the water for theSan Antonio River, which flows fromSan Antonio to theGulf of Mexico. TheSan Pedro Springs also feed into theSan Antonio River.
The San Antonio Springs are located about three miles (5 km) north of Downtown San Antonio; most are now on the property of theUniversity of the Incarnate Word in the Midtown Brackenridge district of San Antonio. The springs are fed by water from theEdwards Aquifer; this water reaches the surface throughfaults along theBalcones Escarpment. There have been more than 100 individual springs identified, but many of these are no longer active due to pumping demands on the Edwards Aquifer andsedimentation from the upstream Olmos Creek, although sedimentation has been partially mitigated by theOlmos Dam since 1926.[1] During periods ofdrought, the springs sometimes stop flowing entirely, only to resume when water levels rise in the aquifer. The mean flow from the springs is 20 ft³/s (0.6 m³/s).
Artifacts fromPaleo-Indian cultures have been found at the site of the San Antonio Springs; some of these artifacts are more than 11,000 years old.[2]
The earliestEuropeans found up to 200 sub-bands ofCoahuiltecan Indians in the vicinity of the springs; however, they were soon displaced by theLipan Apaches.Spanishmissionaries built a system ofaqueducts and canals to carry water from the springs to the local missions, includingThe Alamo.[2][3]
By theCivil War, the springs had become contaminated.[3] In 1891,artesian wells were drilled to provide clean water for the city.[3]
