San Antonio Natural Landmarks to Visit

By Amanda Duff


San Antonio is most recognized for the Alamo, but the city offers much more. San Antonio is a busy metro city with a strong economy and culture all its own. The city also offers visitors and residents some amazing natural sights and scenery. San Antonio natural landmarks are unique and a treat 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 these caverns. A 30-minute drive from central San Antonio, shuttle service is also available. The The 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 San Antonio area and one of the most massive in Texas. The caverns are on the list of National Historic Places because of evidence of human artifacts dating back for thousands of years.

Cascade Caverns

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

San Marcos Springs

Found northeast of San Antonio is San Marcos Springs. Over 200 natural springs come forth from the Edwards Aquifer and coalesce to form the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Due to the accessibility of drinkable water, this became one of the very oldest and steadily inhabited areas on the continent. Artifacts have been discovered from archeological digs that can be dated 12000 years in the past. Through the years, this became an amusement park area having its hay-day in the 1950s. Over the past few decades, the area has been allowed to return primarily back to nature and it's been named a critical wetlands habitat. The springs are home to 1 or 2 endangered wildlife and plants, including the fountain darter, Texas Wild Rice and several types of salamander.

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Of the San Antonio natural landmarks, the Lost Maples is also fairly well-known. The Lost Maples State Natural Area is about seventy miles west of San Antonio. Named for the Uvalde bigtooth Maple trees in the area, it's an fantastic example of the Edwards Plateau eco-system featuring a variety of terrain. Uvalde Maple trees only grow in really select habitats and are so a great distance away from other maples that they're known as "Lost Maples" The trees flourish in protected hilly regions where a modest climate is maintained. There exists evidentuary confirmation that those Maples are ice age residue of a big maple forest at a time when the climate in the environment 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 nominal. These natural landmarks are open all year apart from 1 or 2 important holidays or due to extraordinary weather.




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