Pedernales River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pedernales River |
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The Pedernales River in Pedernales Falls State Park
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Location of Pedernales River, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Region | Edwards Plateau, Texas Hill Country |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Kerr County, Texas 690 m (2,260 ft) 30°15′45″N 99°19′31″W / 30.26250°N 99.32528°W |
| River mouth | Lake Travis, Travis County, Texas 197 m (646 ft) 30°25′51″N 98°03′36″W / 30.43083°N 98.06000°W |
| Length | 170 km (110 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 3,297 km2 (1,273 sq mi) |
The Pedernales River (say it: PUR-də-NAL-iss) is a cool river in Central Texas, United States. It flows into the Colorado River. The river is about 106 miles (171 km) long.
The name "Pedernales" comes from a Spanish word. It means "flint rocks," which are common in the riverbed.
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Where the Pedernales River Flows
The Pedernales River starts from springs in northeastern Kerr County. This is about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Junction.
- It flows north into southeast Kimble County.
- Then it turns east into Gillespie County, going south of Fredericksburg.
- Next, it enters Blanco County, passing north of Johnson City.
- Finally, it joins the Colorado River in Lake Travis. This is about 10 miles (16 km) west of Austin.
The River's Journey Through Texas Hill Country
The Pedernales River is a big part of the Texas Hill Country. It shows off the area's unique geography. As it flows east, the river goes over many rocky limestone cliffs.
A famous person, President Lyndon B. Johnson, had a ranch along the south side of the river. He grew up nearby in Stonewall.
History of the Pedernales River Area
People have lived along the Pedernales River for a long time. Early Spanish explorers and settlers came to this area.
- In 1750, a plan was made to build a mission for the Lipan Apache people living by the river.
- In 1789, there was a small fight near the river. It was between a Spanish group and some Lipan and Mescalero Native Americans.
- The first lasting European settlement was in 1846. German immigrants started the town of Fredericksburg.
- It was hard for people to settle here until the 1880s. This was because of raids from Native American groups.
Pedernales Falls State Park
Pedernales Falls State Park is a popular place along the river. It is in Blanco County, east of Johnson City.
River Safety: Understanding Flash Floods
Like many rivers in Central Texas, the Pedernales River's water level can change very quickly. A sign at the state park shows this clearly. One picture shows a calm river, and the next shows a huge wall of muddy water. These pictures were taken only five minutes apart!
These fast-rising floods are called flash floods. They can be very dangerous. Sadly, some people have died at the park because of them. To keep visitors safe, warning sirens have been put in the park and along other parts of the river.
When the water is high, the lower part of the river is a great spot for whitewater rafting.
