Big Bend National Park
December 11, 2017
Photographer: J. Michelle Pakron
Summary Authors: J. Michelle Pakron; Jim Foster
Shown above and at left are scenes from Big Bend National Park in west Texas. The Rio Grande defines the southern border of the park as well as the border between Texas and Mexico. The park's name comes from a huge bend in the Rio Grande as it winds through the Chihuahuan Desert to the Gulf of Mexico from its source in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. As a result of the period of uplift that helped form the Rocky Mountains, the Rio Grande began cutting into the underlying bedrock, creating a number of spectacular canyons in the Big Bend region. Rock outcrops here, such as Cerro Castellan at left, are composed chiefly of limestone and sandstone.
Note that this isolated park is a lure to stargazers as it's one of the best dark sky locations in the U.S. Additionally, with over 450 bird species identified in the park, it's a popular destination for birdwatchers.
Photo Details: Top - Camera Model: NIKON D500; Exposure Time: 0.0016s (1/640); Aperture: ƒ/11.0; ISO equivalent: 160; Focal Length: 35mm; Lens: Tokina AT-X 11-20mm F2.8 PRO DX; Software: Adobe Photoshop CC (Macintosh). Inset: same except - Camera Model: NIKON D300; Aperture: ƒ/8.0; ISO equivalent: 200; Lens: 55.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6.