الخميس، 26 سبتمبر 2013

Touring San Antonio Natural Landmarks

مرسلة بواسطة Unknown في 5:02 ص
By Amanda Duff


San Antonio is most recognized for the Alamo, but the town offers much more. San Antonio is a busy urban city with a strong economy and culture all its own. The city also offers visitors and locals some monumental natural scenery. San Antonio natural landmarks are unique and a pleasure for any travelers that have a healthy interest in unique natural sights.

Natural Bridge Caverns

One of the San Antonio natural landmarks that are famous are the caverns. A 30-minute drive from central San Antonio, shuttle service is also available. The The Natural Bridge Caverns were discovered in 1960 and are named after the natural limestone bridge at the entrance to the caverns. The Natural Bridge Caverns are the most in depth caves in the San Antonio area and one of the most massive in Texas. The caverns are on the list of National Historic Places due to proof of human artifacts dating back for thousands of years.

Cascade Caverns

Not very far from San Antonio are the Cascade Caverns. Their naturally cool temperature makes it the perfect spot to go to visit in the hot Texas summer day. These Caverns are renowned for its 100ft waterfall within the cavern depths. The Lipan Apaches discovered the Cascade Caverns in the 1700s. The Lipan Apaches, Kiowa, and Comanche Native Americans had been in the area since around 8000 BC.

San Marcos Springs

Found northeast of San Antonio is San Marcos Springs. Over 200 natural springs issue from the Edwards Aquifer and coalesce to form the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Due to the accessibility of potable water, this became one of the most ancient and continuously inhabited areas on the continent. Archeological digs have discovered materials that are dated 12000 years back. Through the years, this became an entertainment park area peaking in the 1950s. In the past few decades, the area has been allowed to return basically back to nature and the area has been named a critical wetlands habitat. The springs are home to 1 or 2 endangered species, including the fountain darter, Texas Wild Rice and several types of salamander.

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Of the San Antonio natural landmarks, the Lost Maples is also fairly well-known. The Lost Maples State Natural Area is seventy-one miles west of San Antonio. Named for the Uvalde bigtooth Maple trees in the area, it's an fantastic example of the Edwards Plateau eco-system featuring a variety of terrain. Uvalde Maple trees only grow in really select habitats and are so a great distance away from other maples that they are known as "Lost Maples" The trees thrive in protected mountainous regions where a reasonable climate is maintained. There is evidentuary confirmation that the Maples are ice age remnants of a huge maple forest at a point in time when the climate in the environment was more temperate. This park is popular for its beautiful fall trees changing colors in early November.

Those who enjoy nature will be sure not to miss these natural landmarks in San Antonio. The entry charges are free to nominal. These natural landmarks are open all year excepting 1 or 2 significant holidays or due to extreme weather.




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