Geology of the Big Bend Region
Dr. Kevin Urbanczyk, Sul Ross University in Alpine, explains
how the geology of the region determines the location of water
and the plant species found.
Part one:
Windows Media |
Real Media
Part two: Windows Media | Real Media
View of Big Bend National Park from Big Bend Ranch State Park
Typical Plants
This is in the Arroyo Primero drainage of the Fresno Canyon floodshed.
The side canyon below Madrid Falls is known as Chorro Canyon.
Madrid Falls, with an approximate 120 foot pouroff,
is the second highest waterfall in Texas. It is, however,
actually one in a series of waterfalls leading to the bottom of the arroyo.
View from the air of the Solitario, an approximate
10 mile diameter collapsed dome laccolith.
Photo courtesy of The Natural Areas Surveys.
View of uplifted sedimentary (limestone) strata in the rim of the Solitario.
From the ground of an eroded drainage
through the limestone layers with an igneous intrusion on the right.
From Guayule Mesa looking into Tapado Canyon.
Aerial view of the Rio Grande corridor
looking SE toward Closed Canyon in the foreground
and "Big Hill" on the horizon.
More evidence of the unparalleled significance of the aquatic resources.
This is "Ojito Adentro" a stop on the main road to Sauceda with a wayside exhibit.
Finally, a visit to the most significant riparian system in the park.
Terneros Creek actually begins in the central and northern portions of the park.
Leyva Canyon and the drainage around the headquarters at Sauceda is a portion of this system.