Visiting San Antonio Natural Landmarks

By Amanda Duff


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

Natural Bridge Caverns

One of the San Antonio natural landmarks that are best known 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 limestone bridge in the area. The Natural Bridge Caverns are the most extensive caves in the area and one of the most massive in Texas. The caverns are on the list of National Historic Places because of archeological evidence of human artifacts and habitation dating back thousands of years.

Cascade Caverns

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

San Marcos Springs

Located 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. Because of the availability of potable water, this became one of the oldest and inhabited areas on the continent. Archeological digs have discovered materials that are dated 12000 years in the past. Through the years, this became a theme park area peaking in the 1950s. Over the past few decades, the area has been permitted to return basically back to nature and it has been named a critical wetlands habitat. The springs are home to several endangered animals and plants, including Texas Wild Rice, the fountain darter and several types of salamander.

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 71 miles west of San Antonio. Named for the Uvalde bigtooth Maple trees in the area, it is an excellent example of the Edwards Plateau eco-system featuring a range of terrain. Uvalde Maple trees only grow in really select habitats and are so a long distance from other maples they are known as "Lost Maples" The trees prosper in protected rocky regions where a moderate climate is maintained. There's evidence that those Maples are ice age residue of a massive maple forest at a point when the climate in the region was more temperate. This park is well known for its beautiful fall trees changing colors in early November.

Those who enjoy nature shouldn't miss these natural landmarks in San Antonio. The entry fees are free to minimum. These natural landmarks are open all year excepting one or two important holidays or due to acute weather.




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