Collect Them All...

[SHANEA]

Ok, new game, see we can collect all of the "Did You Know's".  Before posting, insure that it already hasn't been posted.

Did You Know?
The western pipistrelle is the smallest bat found in Big Bend National
Park. It is often the first bat to appear at dusk, but can sometimes be seen
in broad daylight. 

[chisos_muse]

Kay!

Did You Know?
In 1942 soldiers from Fort Bliss installed a machine-gun emplacement along the Rio Grande pointed at Boquillas, Mexico. This was done due to fears over border security and a possible Japanese invasion through Mexico.

I found this one to be rather amusing....do ya think they'll have a "did you know" in 66 years that relates to the border wall?

Anyway, Ranger Leonard can correct me if I'm wrong, but what's really cool is that the BIBE "did you know's" appear on other park websites......but on BIBE, only BIBE one's appear!

[RichardM]

Did You Know?
In 1942 soldiers from Fort Bliss installed a machine-gun emplacement along the Rio Grande pointed at Boquillas, Mexico. This was done due to fears over border security and a possible Japanese invasion through Mexico.

I found this one to be rather amusing....do ya think they'll have a "did you know" in 66 years that relates to the border wall?

Anyway, Ranger Leonard can correct me if I'm wrong, but what's really cool is that the BIBE "did you know's" appear on other park websites......but on BIBE, only BIBE one's appear!

That is one of my favorites.

Did You Know?
Before its establishment as a National Park in 1944, Big Bend was a Texas state park for eleven years. When established in May of 1933 the park was first designated "Texas Canyons State Park." The name of the new park was changed to Big Bend by the end of that year.

As I recall being told by Eric, the individual parks are responsible for coming up with the Did You Know? entries.  If they don't have enough, random ones are pulled from other parks.  Thanks to Eric, BIBE has enough.

[Peach]

The Dagger Flat Auto Trail is an eight-mile improved dirt road, open to cars. The road ends in a hidden valley where the giant dagger yuccas grow 15-20 feet high. In March and April of some years, clusters of white flowers weighing up to 70 pounds cap these giants.



That was the first road I drove on when I got to BIBE the first time...

[aggiehiker]

Did you know that even though BiBe is 800,000+ acres, it is the 15th largest national park?

[SHANEA]

I think some are missing the point here,    the point here is to collect the vast amount of NPS "Did You Know's" from the BIBE website. 

[RichardM]

Sorry for the hijack.  Get somebody to move it to the proper spot.

Nah, I like it where it is!

Did You Know?
Russell E. Dickenson, eleventh Director of the National Park Service (May, 1980-March, 1985) served as Chief Ranger at Big Bend National Park in 1955-56. He later recalled that "Big Bend was a compression of ten years of experience into one."

[RichardM]

Hmmmm, this one seems familiar...

Did You Know?
Environmental essayist Edward Abbey once wrote of Big Bend National Park, "I’d rather be broke down and lost in the wilds of Big Bend, any day, than wake up some morning in a penthouse suite high above the megalomania of Dallas or Houston."


P.S.  Nice Jeep!

[uh_clem]

[Peach]

Now this surprises me, but I guess that's why I love BIBE so much...

Did You Know?
Big Bend is one of the least visited of the National Parks in the lower 48 states. In recent years annual visitation has averaged between 300,000 - 350,000.

[RichardM]

Did You Know?
The most recently named peak in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park is Mount Huffman. Mount Huffman (6,069'/1,850 m) at the head of Green Gulch was named in honor of Calvin Huffman. As state representative in 1941, Huffman was instrumental in the establishment of Big Bend National Park.


Did You Know?
The Big Bend Mosquitofish (Gambusia Gaigei) has the smallest known home range of any vertebrate species. It is found in the wild only in a few small spring pools in the area of Rio Grande Village.


Did You Know?
Near the north entrance to Big Bend National Park, Dog Canyon cuts through the Santiago Mountains. Although the real source of the canyon's name is unknown, it was called "Cañon del Perro" by the Spaniards in the late 1700s and early 1800s.


I wonder how many more times today I'll be looking something up on the BIBE site...

[uh_clem]

[RichardM]

Did You Know?
Border trading posts were located on the Texas side of the Rio Grande because it was easier to obtain supplies from the United States markets. These operators not only sold merchandise but purchased products from their customers who could, in turn, purchase store items as needed.
more...


Did You Know?
Common in Big Bend National Park, the Southwestern Earless Lizard has no external ear openings and is often referred to as the lizard with the pink shirt and green pants.
more...


Did You Know?
The Johnson store and home at Johnson's Ranch was the largest adobe structure in the Big Bend in the late 1930's. It was from this building that Elmo Johnson ran his sucessful trading company and managed the Army Air Corps landing field on his property.
more...

[RichardM]

Did You Know?
Established in 1956, the Big Bend Natural History Association operates bookstores in all the visitor centers in Big Bend National Park. During that time they have contributed $1.8 million dollars to support the mission of the National Park Service at Big Bend National Park and Amistad NRA.
more...


Did You Know?
The geologic features and Cretaceous and Tertiary fossils in Big Bend National Park furnish opportunities to study the sedimentary and igneous processes.
more...


Did You Know?
The alligator juniper is one of three species of juniper trees found in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park. Alligator juniper got its name from its bark which resembles the scaly plates, or chutes, on an alligator's back.
more...


Did You Know?
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who carved the presidential figures into Mount Rushmore, briefly considered a similiar project on the walls of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park. This idea, like many others in the formative years of the park, was quickly abandoned.
more...

[uh_clem]