Greatheart Press

America’s National Parks

Puzzle 52 · The Desert Southwest · Page 76 in print

Big Bend

Quetzalcoatlus, the pterosaur whose first bones were found in Big Bend in 1971, had an estimated wingspan of 36 to 39 feet, the largest known flying creature of all time.

Jump to a word
A large black bear is standing amidst bear grass in a canyon.

A Mexican black bear in Big Bend.

NPS/R. Negele · Public domain (U.S. federal government work) · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

Colima Warbler in pool of water.

A Colima warbler drinks in Boot Canyon.

NPS/R. Negele · Public domain (U.S. federal government work) · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

The words

  1. Black Bear

    The black bear, the bear that returned naturally to the Chisos Mountains.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  2. Boquillas

    Boquillas Canyon, the Rio Grande canyon in Big Bend's eastern area.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  3. Casa Grande

    Casa Grande, the named peak above the Chisos Mountains Lodge.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  4. Castolon

    Castolon, the historic cavalry-camp and trading settlement in western Big Bend.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  5. Chisos

    The Chisos Mountains, the mountain range within Big Bend National Park.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  6. Colima Warbler

    The Colima warbler, the bird occurring in Big Bend's mountain habitat.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  7. Emory Peak

    Emory Peak, the high summit in the Chisos Mountains.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  8. Javelina

    The javelina, the wild mammal found in Big Bend.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  9. Mule Ears

    Mule Ears Peaks, the twin named peaks visible from the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  10. Pterosaur

    A pterosaur, the flying reptile represented by Big Bend's Quetzalcoatlus fossils.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  11. Rio Grande

    The Rio Grande, the river carving Big Bend's border canyons.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  12. Roadrunner

    The roadrunner, the bird called paisano in Big Bend's interpretive program.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  13. Ross Maxwell

    Ross Maxwell, the geologist who served as Big Bend's first superintendent.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  14. Santa Elena

    Santa Elena Canyon, the Rio Grande canyon along the Texas and Mexico border.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  15. Terlingua

    Terlingua Creek, the stream whose badlands lie along the west side of the park.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

Sources

  1. Black Bears - Big Bend National ParkNational Park Service
  2. Natural History - Big Bend National ParkNational Park Service
  3. Lodging - Big Bend National ParkNational Park Service
  4. Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive - Big Bend National ParkNational Park Service
  5. Day Hikes - Big Bend National ParkNational Park Service
  6. Colima story - Big Bend National ParkNational Park Service
  7. Backcountry Food Storage - Big Bend National ParkNational Park Service
  8. Pterosaurs - Big Bend National ParkNational Park Service
  9. Big Bend Digital Junior Ranger - Big Bend National ParkNational Park Service
  10. 1916–1966: First 50 Years of the National Park Service - Fossils and PaleontologyNational Park Service

How we choose sources and photographs