Our Final Day in Del Rio

The Amistad National Recreation Area is a great source of beauty in this area of Texas. It provides recreation, and year round adventures  such as boating, fishing, diving and just getting out in Nature encouraging exercise, and appreciating how beautiful our country is.

This area is the coming together of three large rivers, the Rio Grande, the Pecos River and the Devils River. When they joined the water levels would sometimes cause devestating floods, loss of property and life. People needed to get across the canyons the rivers carved out,  so bridges were built to cross the expanse. The Southern Pacific Railroad also built a bridge to cross the canyon. People and goods were carried from one side of America to the other, East and West were joined...... 

Amistad Dan was built to for flood control,water conservation, hydroelectric power and recreation.

Amistad means friendship is Spanish. The Dam was constructed by the United States and Mexico in accordance to the Water Treaty Act. It was built in response to frequent drought and a number of floods, worst of which occurred in 1954, killing over three hundred people from Del Rio and a significant loss of life to our neighbors in Mexico, across the Rio Grande. 

The overall cost of the of the dam was shared between the two countries and it is operated and maintained jointly between the United States and Mexico. The National Park Service began providing for and managing recreation of the area. Ownership of the reservoir  lands on the United States Side was given to the National Park System in 1990.

 

 

Look how beautiful the water looks

 

Every boat launch was filled with fishing boats. They were all out today because of a huge fishing tournament for Bass.

This is the train bridge. 

 

This is the auto bridge, it is kind of superimposed on the train bridge in the background.

 

That pesky zebra mussel is beginning to show itself in these waters

This water is really over the road in on of the campgrounds. Been like that for years. Weird.

 

A less developed primitive area for tent camping also has lost its road. Fisherman we talked to said this is low right now and rises as the dam water is adjusted. 

 

These guys love the water. Check out the white beak.

 

This little guy was running for cover. There were some hungry looking birds  flying overhead.

 

Check out the pickers on this bad boy

Well I guess that's about all for now. We are heading out tomorrow to the city of Marathon, Texas. It is about 70 miles from the entrance gate to Big Bend National Park. We will take a day at Marathon and then we have a spot in Rio Grande Village for three nights. Hopefully I will get some great pictures to share with you.

Hope you all are well and enjoying Michigans weather. 

At the days end, I wish you Good Night!