The Amazing Trans Pecos
By: Emma Fuller
AKA Big Bend
Big Bend National Park
Located in the mountains and basins region near El Paso, the Big Bend was the first national park in Texas. The Big Bend is about 1,250 square miles. (That's about the size of Rhode Island!) http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/gkb02 http://emilyvincent.weebly.com/mountains-and-basins.html
Weather in Trans Pecos
The weather here is usually dry with low humidity. During june-October it's rainy and during the fall and spring season it is very warm and pleasent, but summers are HOT!
Activities
Sight Seeing
The Big Bend is an amazing, beautiful place to go. It has gorgeous wildlife like the cactus wren and amazing plant life as well. http://www.go-texas.com/Big-Bend-National-Park/tourism-attractions-sightseeing/
Hiking
In Big Bend National Park, there are wonderful places to go along the trails in the Trans Pecos. Also there are different trails like the Lost mine or the Window Trail. http://www.adventurefinder.com/adventure-travel/texas-adventures/texas-big-bend-national-park-hiker-timberline-adventures-tidtiad2341.html
River Trips
There are a variety of river trips down the Rio Grande. They offer trips from 1/2 days to 21 days on the river! Also the river covers many other canyons too, over 250 miles. http://bigbendfarflung.com/ http://www.bigbendrivertours.com/river.html
How was Trans Pecos formed?
Weathering
Over many years, the Rio Grande has weathered away forming the Trans Pecos to what it is today.http://www.ratestogo.com/blog/best-national-parks-in-america-part-2/rio-grande-big-bend-national-park/
Erosion
Erosion is when sediment is being carried away by wind or water. The Rio Grande carries away the sediment from the sides if the Big Bend. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Bend_Rio_Grande.jpg
Deposition
The sediment that the river picks up is deposited at the sides or at the end of the Rio Grande. http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/projects/borderstudies/bigbend.html
Wildlife
Desert Mule Deer
Desert Mule deers prefer to live in arid, open areas and rocky hillsides. The Mule Deer eats things like green leaves, twigs, grasses, blackberries, raspberry vines, grapes, mistletoe, mushrooms, and ferns. Also they can live up to 25 years in captivity.
Cactus Wren
Cactus Wrens nest in cactus plants or a hole in a saguaro. It eats insects like ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and wasps. Sometimes it will eat seeds from a fruit or it will eat small reptiles or frogs. Also the cactus wren is the state bird of Arizona. http://www.dmcquestion.com/02_Cactus_Wren_313.html
Desert Bighorn Sheep
The Bighorn Sheep like to lives on steep slopes on mountains with a clear view of the surrounding area. They usually eat grasses, shrubs, and forbs. In herds, they about 10 in one herd, but they can get up to 100 in a herd. http://webservices.itcs.umich.edu/drupal/recd/?q=node/128
More Sites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bend_National_Park
pic http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/texas/big-bend-national-park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Pecos
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/big-bend-national-park/
http://www.nationalparked.com/US/Big_Bend/Weather.php