71 Brazos River Facts: Ecosystem, History, Trivia And Much More

The famous Brazos River of Texas, which flows through a number of major cities, and even the campus of Baylor University, is one of the most well-known ones in the country.

The Brazos originates in New Mexico and ends in the Gulf of Mexico. Its long path covers a distance of 840 mi (1352 km).

The earliest recorded history of the Brazos dates back to the 17th century. Before the name 'Brazos', this river was known as 'Tokonohono'.

During ancient times, the Colorado and Brazos Rivers were often thought to be the same. However, over the ages, the Brazos river gained its own identity in Texas and throughout the country for being associated with a number of historical events, like the Texas Revolution and the American Civil War.

The ecosystem around the Brazos is quite noteworthy, with rich species diversity. A number of lakes are also found in this river basin, many of which are reservoirs and serve drinking water to the state.

To learn more facts about the Brazos river, keep reading! You can also check out Brahmaputra river factsand Cape Fear river facts.

Fun Facts About The Brazos River

While the United States is home to multiple river systems, the Brazos River, which is often used to divide the state of Texas into East and West Texas, is one of the most fascinating rivers in the country.

Let us now dive into some fun facts about this long river, that is intricately associated with Texas history and the Texas Revolution.

The Brazos River is not just any long river, but the 11th longest river in the United States. Covering a distance of 840 mi (1352 km), the Brazos River is exceptionally huge in size. In fact, even the Brazos River Basin is quite big and measures nearly 45000 sq.

mi (116549.5 sq. km). While it holds the 11th position in the country, in Texas, Brazos is designated as the longest river, with its basin being the second largest.

The original name of this river was 'Río de los Brazos de Dios'. This name was given by Spanish explorers and translates to 'The River of the Arms of God'.

One of the legends explaining why the early explorers chose this name is quite fascinating.

It says the famous explorer, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, and his associates were in search of the Seven Cities of Gold in Texas but were about to perish due to a severe lack of water. This is when the Native Americans guided them to the Brazos River, and hence, the river saved their lives, thus gaining its name.

The Brazos River is the site for many recreational activities, including canoeing and fishing, though it is not safe to swim in the river. The water quality of the Brazos remains a concern for the Brazos River Authority, due to its high salinity and bacterial levels.

Facts About The Brazos River's Ecosystem

The ecosystem of the Brazos River and Brazos Basin are also fascinating to study, as it sheds a light on the important characteristics associated with the river.

The ecosystem surrounding the Brazos River is deltaic in nature. On the river banks, there are bottomland hardwood forests in addition to marshes.

A bottomland hardwood forest is best described as a type of forest where deciduous and evergreen plants are found. Such forests are usually flooded due to being in close presence to rivers and lakes. The flooding leads to the deposition of alluvial soil, which sustains plant life.

The various animals, birds, and fish are also integral members of the Brazos' ecosystem. Herons, barred owls, least bitterns, and purple gallinules are seen frequenting the shores of this river.

Some of the famous animals along the Brazos River Basin are bobcats, white-tailed deer, and American alligators. The river is also rich in fish species diversity, with catfish, gar, and crappie being commonly seen in the waters. The vulnerable diamondback terrapin turtle is also found here.

Unfortunately, invasive species like nutrias and feral hogs are causing an imbalance in the natural ecosystem of the Brazos.

Lakes In The Brazos River

In total, the River Brazos feeds into over 40 lakes, in addition to various other rivers and streams. Continue reading to learn fun facts about some of the lakes in this river!

In the upper parts of the Brazos River, three well-known lakes are located, which were formed due to the construction of dams. These three lakes are known as Possum Kingdom Lake, Granbury Lake, and Whitney Lake.

Out of these three, Possum Kingdom Lake was the result of the construction of the first water supply reservoir in the basin of this river. In Texas, this lake is one of the biggest sources of drinking water.

Next, Lake Granbury is located in northern Texas, with a depth of 75 ft (23 m). This lake is famous for offering a number of recreational activities. Lake Whitney is a type of flood control reservoir, where drainage from Texas and certain areas of New Mexico takes place.

Just like Granbury, Lake Whitney is also the site for some recreational activities. Interestingly, this lake is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Apart from these three, various other lakes, like Lake Graham, Lake Palo Pinto, Lake Stamford, Cisco Lake, Lake Daniel, and Lake Waco are also part of the Brazos. All these lakes are home to different species of fish. In addition, the surrounding areas are also occupied by different animals.

The Brazos River Flows Through These Places

With its source in the Blackwater Draw of New Mexico, and its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico, the Brazos River flows through a number of places, mainly in Texas.

In its northern section, the Brazos River begins at the Stonewall county of Texas, due to the confluence of its two tributaries, namely, the Salt Fork and Double Mountain Fork. After this, the river flows in a south-eastern direction and eventually joins the Clear Fork River.

This occurs close to the city of Graham.

Subsequently, taking an eastward route, the Brazos River flows through some of the major cities of Texas, including Fort Worth and Dallas.

Then, the river changes its course to a more southward direction, with the Baylor University Campus and the city of Waco falling in its path. Before draining into the Gulf of Mexico, the river passes through a number of other major cities in Texas, like Calvert and College Station.

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