Yellow House Canyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow House Canyon |
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Farm to Market Road 400 passing through Yellow House Canyon
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| Length | 32 kilometres (20 mi) |
| Geography | |
| Rivers | North Fork Double Mountain Fork Brazos River |
Yellow House Canyon is a long valley in Texas, USA. It stretches for about 32 kilometers (20 miles). This canyon starts in Lubbock, Texas, where two smaller streams, Blackwater Draw and Yellow House Draw, meet.
The canyon then flows southeast towards the edge of a large flat area called the Llano Estacado. It is one of three main canyons on the east side of this area. The North Fork Double Mountain Fork Brazos River flows through Yellow House Canyon.
Contents
Exploring Yellow House Canyon
The Canyon in Lubbock
Inside the city of Lubbock, Yellow House Canyon is quite narrow and not very deep. It is usually less than 0.5 kilometers (0.3 miles) wide. The canyon is also typically no more than 20 meters (66 feet) deep here.
The city of Lubbock has built several small dams in this part of the canyon. These dams create a series of narrow lakes. These lakes are known together as the Canyon Lakes.
The Canyon Lakes park is a great place for nature and fun. It has areas to protect wildlife. You can also enjoy many activities on the water and along the narrow park beside the lakes.
Lakes and Communities Downstream
As Yellow House Canyon leaves Lubbock, it slowly gets wider and deeper. About 15 kilometers (9 miles) southeast of Lubbock, there is a dam. This dam created Buffalo Springs Lake.
Buffalo Springs Lake is a popular spot for recreation. The main natural springs of the canyon are now under the lake's water. However, the springs still flow beneath the surface.
Right below Buffalo Springs Lake, there is a smaller dam. This dam forms another fun lake called Lake Ransom Canyon. Many homes are built around Lake Ransom Canyon. These homes make up the community of Ransom Canyon, Texas.
The Canyon's Wider Path
After Ransom Canyon, the North Fork river flows freely. It passes through ranchland where not many people live. The canyon continues to get deeper and wider in this area.
Where the North Fork river crosses Farm to Market Road 400, the canyon is very wide. It is almost 3 kilometers (2 miles) across. The canyon is also about 60 meters (200 feet) deep at this point.
Further downstream, near where Plum Creek joins the North Fork, the canyon walls begin to spread out. The North Fork Double Mountain Fork Brazos River then leaves the canyon. It flows out onto the gently rolling plains of West Texas.
Images for kids
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Robert Bruno's unique steel house, built on the edge of Yellow House Canyon.
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The North Fork Double Mountain Fork Brazos River flowing through Yellow House Canyon.
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Parts of the Llano Estacado that have been shaped by erosion in Yellow House Canyon.
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A view of Yellow House Canyon close to Slaton, Texas.
