Texas

Border crossing point at Ft Hancock, TX.

The dark line all the way across the picture is the border fence -- a stark comparison to the border along the Big Bend area. This is near Ft Hancock, TX, which is only a few miles east of El Paso.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Balmorhea State Park is near the Davis Mountains and its central attraction is a very large pool built in the 30's by the CCC. The pool is fed by a natural spring and consists of three separate, but connected areas. Parts of the pool have a concrete floor, while other parts are walled portions of the original springs. Also on the grounds of the park are motel-like units built by the CCC. The satellite view (see the map link) gives an excellent view of the size of the pool.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Balmorhea State Park, built in the 30's by the CCC. See detail with nearby picture.

Views of McDonald Observatory -- see description with nearby photo.

Views of McDonald Observatory -- see description with nearby photo.

I visited the observatory very early in the morning, when the visitor center wasn't open and the grounds crew was working. It seemed to be quite a contradiction for an institution like the observatory, which would be concerned about air pollution, to have their sidewalks cleaned with a gas powered, 2 cycle, leaf blower. Not only does a blower (of any power) add particulate to the air, but two-cycle engines are notorious polluters -- from where I was, I could smell the unburnt fuel in the exhaust fumes. Even if the observatory is so remote that this air pollution isn't a problem, it doesn't seem like good role modeling to be using an environmentally bad solution.

The Davis Mountains, between the state park and McDonald Observatory.

The McDonald Observatory, which is operated by the Univ of Texas, is in the Davis Mountains. If you ever hear "StarDate" on NPR or many other radio stations, "StarDate" is a production of the McDonald Observatory.