Biology, Ecology, and Geology
A hidden gem, the under-appreciated Big Bend National Park is located in the heart of the Chauauan Desert, North America's largest desert, and the highest in elevation. Often considered three parks in one, Big Bend features vast deserts, majestic mountains, and the gorgeous greenery of the Rio Grande in the area of 1,250 square miles, almost the size of Rhode Island.
Big Bend provides visitors and residents alike with various ecosystem services (benefits for people that come from the ecosystem). From the fruits of prickly pears and cholla to the recreation of boating down the Rio Grande or hiking in the mountains, the park's wildlife contributes a lot to human activity nearby. Big Bend's diverse ecology also provides the park with copious species of plants and animals. Big Bend boasts 1,200 species of plants, 11 species of amphibians, 56 species of reptiles, 40 species of fish, 75 species of mammals, and and some 3,600 species of insects. Big Bend is home to more types of cacti, birds, and bats then any other national park in the United States. The park is also known as "audobaun's delight" and "a birder's paradise" as it features over 450 different species of birds. Big Bend provides warmth for migratory birds in the winter and a popular breeding area for many tropical species. Its pride and joy is the Colima warbler, which is found exclusively in the Chisos Mountains located in the park, from April to September. Many animals, such as the Mexican Long-Nosed Bat, are found in the Northernmost region of their range in Big Bend. Other species at the extreme edges of their habitats overlap here, creating an even more diverse ecosystem. Big Bend is abundant with gorgeous geological structures including the canyons in the Big Bend of the Rio Grande and long inactive volcanoes that shaped the very ground that makes up the park. Thousands of years ago, the ocean was above Big Bend, and even though it has long since retreated it is possible to discover the fossils of pre-historic aquatic animals in the stone around the park. The plants, animals, and most notably water, of Big Bend are constantly shaping the land and every time you visit it will be a little bit different. The Rio Grande is a prominent feature in Big Bend and created the park's trademark canyons. The river provides the water that numerous plants of Big Bend need to survive and is home to many different species of fish, amphibians, waterfowl, and even beaver. Sadly, many of the fish that once inhabited the waters of the Rio Grande have died off because of overfishing and the construction of dams. The last American Eel was taken from the river in 1954 and the last American sturgeon left the Rio in the lower canyons. One of the fish that thrives in Big Bend is the Big Bend Gambusia. This tiny minnow-like fish is endangered and only found in one tiny spring-fed pond near Rio Grande Village. The desert area of Big Bend is home to mule deer, roadrunners, jackrabbits, and many more animals. It also features numerous species of cacti including prickly pears and cholla. These plants are surprisingly useful, both produce sweet fruits, called tunas, that Native Americans ate and we, today, use in jellies and syrups. The insides of the plants work like aloe vera, softening skin and decreasing pain. The juice inside the pads of the plants can be used as an emergency source of water as well. |
Things To do, places to go
Stargazing
On clear nights over 2,000 stars are visible to the naked eye from almost anywhere in Big Bend. Canoeing on the Rio Grande A canoe trip down the Rio Grande provides visitors with a chance to see many species of fish and plants, as well as numerous varieties of turtles, frogs, beaver, and waterfowl. Not to mention the legendary canyons of Big Bend. Take a Dip in a Hot Spring The hot springs of Big Bend are fueled with ancient, irreplaceable water. This water is heated by geothermal processes, emerging at 105 degrees. The warm water carries disolved mineral salts, which are said to be beneficial to the mind and soul. Visit the Chisos Basin Home of beaucolic cliffs, numerous hiking trails, and mild temperatures, the Chisos Basin is the year-round focal point of the park. The basin features a camper store, a restraunt, and a 60-site campground all in close proximity to footpaths that take visitors into the gorgeous Texas wilderness and often lead to fun and adventurous backcountry hikes. |
History
While Big Bend prides itself on a rich biological environment, it is also abundant with culture and history. Humans have been living in the park for over 10,000 years, and fortresses still stand marking the battles between Mexico and the United States over the land.
Big Bend was authorized by Congress in 1935 and established in 1944. At the time, E.E. Townsend and J.O. Langford wanted to protect the gorgeous Texas landscape from the quick erosion and plant destruction that came with the heavy ranching of the area. Soon enough the Texas Canyons State Park was created. A few months later the name was changed to Big Bend State Park. Even after all of this had been done, Townsend and Langford wanted to go further. Representitives from the National Park Service traveled to Big Bend and retured with fantastic reviews. Unfortunatly, two of the representatives, Roger Toll of Yellowstone, and George Wright of the Washington office, were killed in a car accident on their way back. Two mountains, Mt. Toll and Mt. Wright were named in their honor. The park's mission continues persist, providing a fufilling visitor experience while protecting the beautiful yet fragile ecosystem. In the coming years the goals for Big Bend include upholding the water and air quality in the park, keeping invasive and exotic species out of the park, managing and preserving endangered species, and keeping ecosystems from degradation. |
fun facts!
- Almost all of the igneous rock in Big Bend contains tiny pieces of fools' gold.
- Woodie Guthrie searched for the famous "lost mine" in the Big Bend region in 1921.
- Although many venomous snakes can be found in Big Bend (western diamondback rattlesnake, Trans Pecos copperhead, etc.) the most commenly seen snake, the western coachwhip, is not venomous.
- The mounainous area of the park is home to mountain lions and black bears.
- Land and rock slides continue to devastate the landscape in Big Bend.