A big birthday for Big Bend Jun 12, 2019

A big birthday for Big Bend

Seventy-five years ago today, on June 12, 1944, Big Bend officially became a US national park. The park covers more than 800,000 acres in West Texas along the Mexico border. The vast protected area contains mountain, river, and desert ecosystems, including the largest protected area of the Chihuahuan Desert in the United States. But the ‘big’ doesn"t stop there. Big Bend is home to 1,200 species of plants, over 450 species of birds, 75 species of mammals, and 56 species of reptiles. (We"re not sure how many of those are snakes, if you"re wondering.) Because of its remote location, Big Bend also has among the darkest skies ever measured in the contiguous US. So tonight, the only light you"ll likely see is the glow from 75 birthday candles—and a few million stars.

© Grant Ordelheide/Tandem Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Jun 12, 2018Celebrating Helsinki’s birthday at the Kiasma Museum
Jun 12, 2020Big sky at Big Bend
Jun 12, 2021In Texas, even the riverbend is big
Jun 12, 2022Big Bend National Park turns 78
Jun 12, 2023Big Bend National Parks birthday
Jun 12, 2024Big Bend National Park anniversary
Jun 12, 2025Big Bend National Park in Texas turns 81
Jun 12, 2026European bee-eater, Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, Cádiz, Spain

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 19, 2021Zion National Park, Utah
Jun 30, 2020We re gonna need a bigger birdhouse
Aug 18, 2020Women s suffrage at 100
Sep 1, 2022Wildlife crossing, Wierden, Netherlands
Sep 14, 2019I am the walrus
Feb 19, 2026Dragons Eye, Uttakleiv Beach, Norway
Mar 1, 2026Womens History Month
Sep 13, 2019The moon rises for Mid-Autumn Festival
Sep 15, 2019A light on National Hispanic Heritage Month
Aug 3, 2024Three Natural Bridges, Wulong Karst, China
Jul 21, 2021An octagonal architectural treasure
Mar 6, 2018Celebrating National Dentist Day
Oct 12, 2025Village of Saranac Lake, New York
Sep 6, 2020Summer winds down in the Hamptons
Apr 20, 2021Terraced fields of green
Nov 2, 2026Polar Bear Week
Jul 12, 2021A lofty lighthouse and a little ocean spray
Nov 1, 2025National Bison Day
Jul 27, 2026Tiffany Dome, Chicago Cultural Center, Illinois
Sep 16, 2019The mighty, mighty mushroom
Dec 19, 2023Castle Square, Old Town, Warsaw, Poland
Jul 17, 2026Vai, Crete, Greece
Sep 29, 2024West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut
Jun 25, 2019Sutherland Falls in Fiordland National Park
Dec 1, 2024Antarctica Day
Jun 14, 2025Flag Day
Jul 27, 2022Mada in Saleh, Saudi Arabia
Mar 2, 2025Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains National Park, Australia
Jul 9, 2020High alpine color in Colorado
May 20, 2026World Bee Day