TEXAS RIVERS

RIO GRANDERIO GRANDE Separates Texas and MexicoSeparates Texas and Mexico 22ndnd longest river in the United States longest river in the United States Its headwaters (beginning) is in ColoradoIts headwaters (beginning) is in Colorado

PECOS RIVERPECOS RIVER Tributary to the Rio GrandeTributary to the Rio Grande Separates the Mountain Basin Region from Separates the Mountain Basin Region from

Great PlainsGreat Plains

NUECES RIVERNUECES RIVER

Runs between Rio Grande and Frio RiverRuns between Rio Grande and Frio River

FRIO RIVERFRIO RIVER

Named for its unusually cool temperaturesNamed for its unusually cool temperatures Popular destination during summer Popular destination during summer

(camping/swimming, State Parks)(camping/swimming, State Parks)

SAN ANTONIO RIVERSAN ANTONIO RIVER

Spring fed riverSpring fed river Located in San AntonioLocated in San Antonio River WalkRiver Walk

GUADALUPE RIVERGUADALUPE RIVER

Spring fed river that originates in the Texas Spring fed river that originates in the Texas Hill CountryHill Country

Popular for canoeing, tubing and swimmingPopular for canoeing, tubing and swimming

COLORADO RIVERCOLORADO RIVER Many man-made lakes (Lake Travis, Lake Many man-made lakes (Lake Travis, Lake

LBJ, Lake Buchanan, popular for LBJ, Lake Buchanan, popular for recreational activities)recreational activities)

Runs through the capital AustinRuns through the capital Austin Has many large tributaries (Concho, San Has many large tributaries (Concho, San

Saba, Llano)Saba, Llano)

BRAZOS RIVERBRAZOS RIVER

Largest river between Rio Grande and Red Largest river between Rio Grande and Red RiverRiver

Spanish for “embrace” or “Arms of God”Spanish for “embrace” or “Arms of God”

Legend of How the Brazos got its Legend of How the Brazos got its namename

A Mexican couple was traveling in Tejas in search A Mexican couple was traveling in Tejas in search for a place to camp at a river, as they heard for a place to camp at a river, as they heard Comanche behind them. They beat the Indians to Comanche behind them. They beat the Indians to the river, but were afraid to cross, because it was the river, but were afraid to cross, because it was swollen by the spring rains. The man decided it swollen by the spring rains. The man decided it was still better to plunge into the waters, than to was still better to plunge into the waters, than to face the Comanche and so they did. The swirling face the Comanche and so they did. The swirling waters carried them downstream and the Indians waters carried them downstream and the Indians did not cross the river. The man comforted his wife did not cross the river. The man comforted his wife by saying that “We are in the arms of God”. After a by saying that “We are in the arms of God”. After a night of rain the river was in such a state that the night of rain the river was in such a state that the Indians turned back and the river came to be Indians turned back and the river came to be called “El Rio de los Brazos de Dios” which means called “El Rio de los Brazos de Dios” which means “The River in the arms of God”. It was later “The River in the arms of God”. It was later shortened to Brazos.shortened to Brazos.

TRINITY RIVERTRINITY RIVER

Begins in DallasBegins in Dallas Lake Livingston and its dam are built on itLake Livingston and its dam are built on it

NECHES RIVERNECHES RIVER

Located in East TexasLocated in East Texas Named after the Neches IndiansNamed after the Neches Indians

SABINE RIVERSABINE RIVER Eastern boundary between Texas and Eastern boundary between Texas and

LouisianaLouisiana

RED RIVERRED RIVER

Boundary between Texas and OklahomaBoundary between Texas and Oklahoma A menace to travelers because of quicksand A menace to travelers because of quicksand

and strong currents, often with disastrous and strong currents, often with disastrous results (loss of life or property)results (loss of life or property)

CANADIAN RIVERCANADIAN RIVER

Northern most river in TexasNorthern most river in Texas Crosses the Texas PanhandleCrosses the Texas Panhandle Early explorers mistakenly called it the Early explorers mistakenly called it the

Canadian, because they thought it led to Canadian, because they thought it led to CanadaCanada

HoustonHoustonBrownsvilleBrownsvilleSan AntonioSan Antonio

DallasDallasAustinAustin

Wichita FallsWichita FallsCorpus ChristiCorpus Christi