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:

Oct 31, 2018Shhh, the movie is about to start
Feb 27, 2020Three cheers for polar bears!
Jan 3, 2025Happy Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien!
Feb 26, 2019Snow on the temple
Mar 5, 2019Stompin’ with the Big Chief
Apr 18, 2022Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park
Apr 29, 2022Arbor Day
Apr 4, 2022Norway s Kjeragbolten boulder
Sep 26, 2025Least chipmunk, Kootenai National Forest, Montana
Sep 16, 2026Polar bear cubs playing in Svalbard, Norway
Aug 5, 2019A ‘Superior’ paddle
Dec 10, 2025Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain
Jun 21, 2018Inhale and exhale, it’s Yoga Day
Nov 16, 2025A traboule in Lyon, France
May 18, 2025International Museum Day
Apr 28, 2024Last day of National Park Week
Sep 16, 2018Mexico celebrates its Independence Day
Mar 28, 2022Kawachi Fuji Garden
Aug 11, 2019Storm rolls over the grasslands
Sep 4, 2020A bull, some flowers, and a stratovolcano
May 21, 2026International Tea Day
Aug 15, 2019It’s surströmming time
Aug 16, 2024International Roller Coaster Day
Dec 13, 2018Iceland awaits the Yule Lads
Mar 29, 2021Rising up from the black sand like rock gods
Mar 14, 2018Happy Pi Day!
Sep 22, 2025Autumn equinox
Dec 25, 2018Happy holidays!
May 20, 2024World Bee Day
Jun 14, 2021A Flag Day tradition