| San Solomon Springs, near Balmorhea, is an oasis in arid
West Texas. It's one of the largest spring systems in Texas.
The picture above is a marsh fed by the springs. This marshy
outcropping of the springs is called a ciénega. The Jumano and
Mescalero Indians used the marsh to water their animals and irrigate
corn and peach trees. Today it's in Balmorhea State Park in
Toyahvale, and the tremendous flow of the springs (22 to 28 million
gallons a day) is used to feed a large
swimming pool. It's the largest and nicest spring fed swimming
pool in Texas after Austin's Barton Springs. |
