Big Bend’s Chisos Mountains

2013

Stretching over 1,000 miles, the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo forms the international boundary between the United States and Mexico. Named for the southernmost 118 mile U-shaped bend in the Rio Grande, Big Bend National Park’s 1,250 sq. miles means it is larger than the state of Rhode Island.

Lying in a southwest – northeast axis, the 20 mile long Chisos Mountain range is the furthest southern mountain range in the U.S. Its 7,835′ Emory Peak is the highest of its four peaks that exceed 7,000′.

The Chisos Mountains, initially amongst a surrounding lowland formed some 66 million years ago, was uplifted 30 million years later. Followed by very active volcanism, the high basalt content offers a wide range of beautifully subtle hued formations.

I found I just couldn’t resist the texture, color and shape of the Chisos Mountains basalt formations…

Chisos Mountains<br>Big Bend's Chisos Mountains - 2013 Chisos Mountains II<br>Big Bend's Chisos Mountains - 2013 Chisos Detail<br>Big Bend's Chisos Mountains - 2013 Chisos Detail II<br>Big Bend's Chisos Mountains - 2013 Chisos Detail III<br>Big Bend's Chisos Mountains - 2013 Chisos Detail IV<br>Big Bend's Chisos Mountains - 2013