Souvenirs from the Past

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Souvenirs from the Past

Details: Created on Thursday, 12 May 2011 01:12; Published on Thursday, 12 May 2011 01:12; Written by Abe Connally

There are many good reasons to go to Big Bend National Park. Among the most common are to enjoy the peace and beauty of nature, spend quality time with family and friend, relax and forget about the troubles of life in civilization, or to take yourself to the extreme with awesome hiking, climbing, and dirt biking. But a less talked about reason for coming down to the park this summer involves the prehistoric past.

porosus_obl Mother Earth is an old gal, and she’s been supporting life long before the first cave-man invented the wheel. The prehistoric reptiles that once roamed the land and the plants that provided their surroundings can still be seen through the fossils they left behind in the very ground we tread. Big Bend is home to quite a number of such fossils. In fact, hundreds of species have been found imprinted in rocks, whether they be dinosaurs, plants, frogs, fish, crocodiles, and some early mammals. Put all that together and you have a pretty complete portrait of the prehistoric environment of the area.

Some of the most famous discoveries in Big Bend were what are known today as the super-crocs. Giant crocodile skeletons have been found in the Aguja Formation. These are some of the biggest croc remains ever found, including some individuals that may have been up to 40-50 feet long. Imagine that monster on your next hiking trip! One of such specimens is on display in the Dallas Museum of Natural History.

Whether it’s one of the 90 dinosaur species or a leaf imprint in the rock of a canyon, Big Bend is home to many of natures little souvenirs from the distant past. Who knows? You may be hiking and accidentally stumble upon a new fossil and discover a species of you own! Remember, though, you absolutely can’t pick up fossils and take them home. In fact, it’s against the law to collect any kind of fossil or rock from Big Bend National Park. But that should stop you from enjoying the experience!

Come and See for Yourself

So if you like the idea of exploring the prehistoric past, or if you just want to enjoy the normal, modern nature, you should definitely do so this summer. Why? Because we have some awesome discounts available for you, and you won’t want to miss them.

Worth a Thousand Words

There are some views you just can't take in all at once. Like a dazzling sunset or breathtaking field of wildflowers—you just can't appreciate such beauty in the moment, a moment that is often over before you realize it, the forms and colors of that marvelous vista already fading in your memory. Perhaps it was with the goal of preserving such scenes that the first camera was invented, a goal that you may still share when you visit a place as beautiful as Big Bend and the surrounding area. Why not take a look through our new and improved photo galleries to see what amazing sights have been preserved by astounded visitors and appreciative locals? When you see the mountains, plains, flora, and fauna displayed in those images, you'll be glad the gallery contributors took their camera along.

Birding in Big Bend

Among the many activities available in Big Bend National Park that highlight the region's diversity of wildlife, birding can be enjoyable and promising. Big Bend engulfs a vast area, bounded by the the rushing Rio Grande valley to the south, containing high peaks in the Chisos Mountains, and boasting both desert and forest climates between the two. It embodies the very diversity that makes America great, providing countless opportunities to spot more than 450 birds in one area.

Your Big Year is Here

What are your new year's resolutions for 2012? Did you keep your resolutions for 2011? While the top resolutions each year include losing weight, learning something new, traveling, or getting out of debt, here's a new challenge you can take on this year: spot all the bird species in Big Bend National Park.

Big Bend Video Collections

Big Bend has some of the most spectacular scenery in Texas, if not the entire US. Our big sky country rivals any other state and our night skies are as dark as anywhere for excellent star gazing. The beautiful light and great scenery make for a photographer’s paradise.

Trails and Wildlife

There are many things you may love to do in Big Bend National Park in the heat of summer, but running or jogging is probably not one of them. With 90+ degree temperatures, there simply is no such thing as a nice July run in West Texas. With the dry weather we've had this year, you have truly hostile workout conditions. That all changes this time of year, though, as temperatures drop and the sun gives us a break for a few months. What a great time to get out on some trails in Big Bend!

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