Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is located in the south-central United States in the western corner of the state of Texas.  The national park boundaries encompass an area of 1,252 square miles (3,242 sq km).

The name of the park was derived in the large bend in the Rio Grande River that occurs along the border between Mexico and the United States.  The park includes 118 miles (190 km) of the river.  Parque Nacional Canon de Santa Elena is a sister national park on the Mexico side protecting the common area between the two countries.

The elevations of the park range from 1,800 feet (550 m) near the Rio Grande River to the highest summit of Emory Peak at 7,832 feet (2,387 m).  The river as carved through the desert area creating steep canyon walls that look over the river.  The desert area is part of the Chihuahuan Desert that occupies in Mexico and the United States on both sides of the river.

Although Big Bend National Park sits in the middle of the desert, it is home to over 1,200 species of plants, with only 60 species being cacti.  Apart from insects, over 600 species of animals call the park home as well.

One of the most desired species to see is the cougar or mountain lion.  Other popular species include the coyote, the roadrunner, gray fox, peccary, jackrabbit, and the Mexican black bears.  The golden eagle is one of the most notorious predator species taken down small mammals like deer and goats.