Inge Johnsson Photography

Santa Elena Canyon

Mouth of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Ben National Park, Texas. Big Bend National Park in the U.S. state of Texas has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States. It contains more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals.

The national park covers 801,163 acres, which is larger than the state of Rhode Island. Few other parks exceed this park's value for the protection and study of geologic and paleontologic resources. A variety of Cretaceous and Cenozoic fossil organisms exist in abundance. Archaeologists have discovered artifacts estimated to be 9,000 years old, and historic buildings and landscapes offer graphic illustration of life along the international border in the 19th century.

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 in the lower elevations. Winters are normally mild but sub-freezing temperatures occasionally occur. Because of the range in altitude from approximately 1,800 feet along the river to Emory Peak in the Chisos Mountains at 7,832 feet 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 gravesii), are found nowhere else in the United States.

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Filename: BigBendSantaElenaCanyon1.jpg
Copyright: Copyright for these photos belongs solely to Inge Johnsson. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Image Size: 3484x5318 / 2.4MB; America American Big Bend National Park Inge Johnsson NP NPS National Park North America Rio Grande Santa Elena Canyon Texan Texas US USA United States backcountry background beautiful beauty blue calm clean clear color colorful colors colour colourful colours direction environment environmental harmonious harmony landscape majestic natural nature park parks peaceful picturesque pure red river scenery scenic serene solitude stillness vertical wall walls water west western wild wilderness
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Mouth of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Ben National Park, Texas. Big Bend National Park in the U.S. state of Texas has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States. It contains more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals.<br />
<br />
The national park covers 801,163 acres, which is larger than the state of Rhode Island. Few other parks exceed this park's value for the protection and study of geologic and paleontologic resources. A variety of Cretaceous and Cenozoic fossil organisms exist in abundance. Archaeologists have discovered artifacts estimated to be 9,000 years old, and historic buildings and landscapes offer graphic illustration of life along the international border in the 19th century.<br />
<br />
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 in the lower elevations. Winters are normally mild but sub-freezing temperatures occasionally occur. Because of the range in altitude from approximately 1,800 feet along the river to Emory Peak in the Chisos Mountains at 7,832 feet 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 gravesii), are found nowhere else in the United States.