Rio Grande River
Location
Starts in San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado and flows south into New Mexico and Texas. Forms entire border between Texas and Mexico.
Rio Grande River Source
Clear, snow-fed mountain stream in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado
Runs 1,896 miles
Mouth: Sandy delta in the Gulf of Mexico
Runs along entire Texas Mexico border
History
First explored by European explorers Cabeza de Vaca in 1536 and Coronado in 1540. These Spanish explorers named the river "Big River" translation Rio Grande. The Rio Grande became the border between Texas and Mexico in 1848 following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Important Facts
Dams
- Elephant Butte - New Mexico
- Caballo - New Mexico
- American - Texas
- International - Texas
- Riverside - Texas
- Amistad - Texas
- Falcon - Texas
Uses
Human consumption, hydroelectric power, recreation and agriculture. Two million acres of farmland are irrigated along the Rio Grande. Leading crops are potatos, alfafa, cotton, onions, peppers.
Lakes
Lake Amistad is a man made lake.
Wildlife
Over 700 vertebrates
Ocelots
Ghost Face bats
Armadillos
Beavers
Bobcats
Mountain Lions
Eastern Moles
Peregrine Falcons
Osprey
Plants
Over 1,200 Plants
CottonwoodsAloe Vera
Thorn Crested Agave
Common Oleander
Lazy Daisy