Sunday, September 29, 2013

San Antonio Natural Landmarks to Visit

By Amanda Duff


San Antonio is most recognized for the Alamo, but the town offers much more. San Antonio is a bustling metropolitan city with a strong economy and culture all its own. The city of San Antonio also offers visitors and locals some amazing natural scenery. San Antonio natural landmarks are unique and a pleasure for any travelers that have an abiding 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 downtown San Antonio, shuttle service is also available. The The Natural Bridge Caverns were discovered in 1960 and are named after the limestone bridge in the area. The Natural Bridge Caverns are the most extensive caves in the region and one of the most massive in Texas. The caverns are on the list of National Historic Places due to archeological evidence of human habitation going back for thousands of years.

Cascade Caverns

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

San Marcos Springs

Situated northeast of San Antonio is San Marcos Springs. Over 200 natural springs emerge from the Edwards Aquifer and create the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Due to the availability of viable drinking water, this became one of the very oldest and continuously inhabited areas on the continent. Artifacts have been discovered from archeological digs that can be dated 12000 years in the past. Through the years, this became an amusement park area peaking in the 1950s. Over the past few decades, the area has been permitted to return essentially back to nature and it's been named a critical wetlands habitat. The springs are home to several endangered animals and plants, including Texas Wild Rice, several types of Salamander and the fountain darter.

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Of the San Antonio natural landmarks, the Lost Maples is also very widely 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 is an fantastic example of the Edwards Plateau ecosystem featuring a range of terrain. Uvalde Maple trees only grow in really select habitats and are so a great distance away from other maples they are known as "Lost Maples" The trees prosper in protected mountainous regions where a moderate climate is maintained. There is evidentuary confirmation that the Maples are ice age residue 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 gorgeous fall trees changing colors in early November.

Those who enjoy nature won't want to miss these natural landmarks in San Antonio. The entry fees are free to minimal. These natural landmarks are open all year except for one or two important holidays or due to extreme weather.




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