Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in West Texas and protects over 135 square miles of the Guadalupe Mountain range. The park showcases exposed layers of an ancient reef system that formed during the Permian period over 250 million years ago in an inland sea. Uplift and erosion over millions of years revealed the fossilized remains of the reef, including diverse plant and animal life from that era. Notable features include Guadalupe Peak, McKittrick Canyon, Pine Springs, El Capitan, and unique gypsum sand dunes.

1. GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS
NATIONAL PARK: THE ANCIENT
SEASHORE OF TEXAS
James Austin
Brookhaven College
Historical Geology
August 10, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 11

2. WHERE?
Figure 1: Location of Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Google Maps. Web. maps.google.com. 7 Aug. 2011.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

3. WHERE?
Figure 2: Location of Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Google Maps. Web. maps.google.com. 7 Aug. 2011.
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4. WHERE?
Figure 3: Location of Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Google Maps. Web. maps.google.com. 7 Aug. 2011.
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5. Figure 4: Harris A., Tuttle E. and Tuttle S., 2004, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.: Geology of National Parks Sixth Edition: Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt
Publishing, p. 234. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

6. Facts
September 30, 1972
Trans-Pecos Region & Guadalupe
Mountain Range
135 square miles
Guadalupe Peak - 8,479 feet
192,210 visitors in 2010
Source: Harris A., Tuttle E and Tuttle S., 2004, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.:
Geology of National Parks Sixth Edition: Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, p. 233.
Print.
Figure 5: Karpovich, John F., Photo of El Capitan. Web.
Source: National Park Public Use Statistics Office, 2011, Guadalupe Mountains NP Annual Park http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~jfk3w/travel/
Visitation (All Years): National Park Service, U.S. Department of The Interior. Web. http:// gmnp_el_capitan1.html 9 Aug. 2011.
www.nature.nps.gov/stats/park.cfm?parkid=306 7 Aug. 2011.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

7. Weather & Living Things
Desert climate & Texas weather
Mountain lions
Variety of life
Deciduous desert plants
Texas Madrone - Naked Indian Figure 6: Hoy, Lee, Mountain Lion. Web. http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/
5741999057/sizes/m/in/photostream 8 Aug. 2011. Modified by James Austin.
Up to 150 pounds, 8.5 feet
Pines
Source: Harris A., Tuttle E and Tuttle S., 2004, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.: Feed on nearly any mammal
Geology of National Parks Sixth Edition: Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, p. 233.
Print.
Source: Reader’s Digest, 1985, Our National Parks: Pleasantville, New York/Montreal, The Dangerous?
Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. p. 157. Print.
Source: Texas Parks Wildlife Division, 2008, Mountain Lions in Texas. Web. http://
Source: Dunn, Jerry Camillo Jr., Gordon, Alice, and White, Mel, 1990, Texas and the Arkansas www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_br_w7000_0232.pdf 8 Aug. 2011
River valley: New York New York, Worman Publishing, p. 294. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

8. Vegetation
Figure 7: eight.circle, IMG_5479. Web. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ Figure 8: ®iverland, Guadalupe Mountains. Web. http://www.flickr.com/photos/riverland/
34997441@N03/3247158013/sizes/z/in/set-72157613273276704/ 8 Aug. 2011. 1028759508/ 8 Aug. 2011.
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9. Texas Madrone
Figure 9: Wasowski, Sally and Andy, Arbutus xalapensis. Web. Figure 10: Wasowski, Sally and Andy, Arbutus xalapensis. Web.
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=21352 http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=21354
8 Aug. 2011. 8 Aug. 2011.
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10. Pines
Figure 11: coppernate, Fallen Tree. Web. http://www.flickr.com/photos/coppernate/2565935729/sizes/l/in/photostream/ 8 Aug. 2011.
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11. Points of Interest
Guadalupe Peak
McKittrick Canyon
Pine Springs
El Capitan
Gypsum Sand Dunes
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12. Figure 12: Harris A., Tuttle E. and Tuttle S., 2004, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.: Geology of National Parks Sixth Edition: Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/
Hunt Publishing, p. 234. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

13. History
10,000 years ago - Early hunters
1500 - Mescalero Apache
1858 - John Butterfield & The Pinery
1860’s - Felix McKittrick and ranching
1920’s - Judge J.C. Hunter
1930’s - Wallace Pratt
Source: Thybony, Scott., 1992, America’s Hidden
Treasures: Exploring Our Little-Know National Parks - Source: Reader’s Digest, 1985, Our National Parks: Pleasantville, New Source: National Park Service, People. Web. http://www.nps.gov/
Guadalupe Mountains Desert Panorama: Willard, Ohio, York/Montreal, The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. p. 157. Print. gumo/historyculture/people.htm 9 Aug. 2011.
National Geographic Society p. 124-125. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

14. History
Figure 13: National Park Service, Pictographs. Web. http://www.nps.gov/gumo/
historyculture/index.htm 8 Aug. 2011.
Figure 14: Carey, Frank, The Pinery Station. Web. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolor_ipsum/
3828164572/sizes/l/in/photostream/ 8 Aug. 2011.
Figure 15: M., Glen, Pratt Cabin Back. Web. http://www.flickr.com/
photos/glenmpics/3459511603/sizes/l/in/photostream/ 8 Aug. 2011.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

15. The Geologic Process
Ancient reef complex
All parts of reef
Inland sea
Uplift
Erosion
Figure 16: King, Geoffrey, Over the Guadalupe Mountains. Web. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dogmycats/
39404929/sizes/o/in/photostream/ 9 Aug. 2011.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

16. Ancient Reef Exposed
Figure 17: Harris A., Tuttle E. and Tuttle S., 2004, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.: Geology of National Parks
Sixth Edition: Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, p. 236. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

17. The Beginning
Delaware Basin Ancient Life
Inland sea Algae & Sponges
Early Permian Brachiopods
About 2000 feet of Coral
limestones
Skeletons
Source: Harris A., Tuttle E and Tuttle S., 2004, Guadalupe
Source: National Park Service, Geologic Formations. Web. http://
Mountains National Park, Texas.: Geology of National Parks Sixth
www.nps.gov/gumo/naturescience/geologicformations.htm 9 Aug. 2011.
Edition: Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, p. 233. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

18. Delaware Basin
Figure 18: Harris A., Tuttle E. and Tuttle S., 2004, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.: Geology of National Parks Sixth Edition: Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/
Hunt Publishing, p. 237. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

19. Layering & Development
Depositional Layers in basin Reef formation
Figure 19: Harris A., Tuttle E. and Tuttle S., 2004, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.: Geology of National Parks Sixth Edition: Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt
Publishing, p. 239. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

20. Figure 20: Harris A., Tuttle E. and Tuttle S., 2004, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.: Geology of National Parks Sixth
Edition: Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, p. 240. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

21. El Capitan
Figure 21: Paul & Kelly, El Capitan Peak. Web. http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulkelly/3209873705/sizes/l/in/photostream/ 9 Aug. 2011.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

22. McKittrick Canyon
Figure 22: LastGreatRoadTrip, McKittrick Canyon. Web. http://
www.flickr.com/photos/lastgreatroadtrip/3570347273/sizes/l/in/ Figure 23: LastGreatRoadTrip, McKittrick Canyon, Webt. http://
photostream/ 9 Aug. 2011. www.flickr.com/photos/lastgreatroadtrip/3571157910/sizes/l/in/
photostream/ 9 Aug. 2011.
Source: National Park Service, McKittrick Canyon. Web. http://www.nps.gov/gumo/planyourvisit/mckittrick.htm 8 Aug. 2011.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

23. Pine Springs
Figure 24: R. Pahre, Pine Spring Canyon and Hunter Peak. Web. http://www.flickr.com/photos/13467208@N02/5439525928/sizes/l/in/
photostream/ 9 Aug. 2011.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

24. Gypsum Sand Dunes
Unique conditions
Playa Lakes
Gypsum deposits
High winds
Acquired later
Source: National Park Service, Salt Basin Dues. Web. http://www.nps.gov/gumo/planyourvisit/
dunes.htm 8 Aug. 2011. Figure 25: Henry, Charles, Standing In The Dunes. Web. http://
Source: Adam Harrington Narrating Documentary On The Saly Basin Dunes At Guadalupe www.flickr.com/photos/amarilloposters/5749059465/sizes/l/in/
National Park. Web Video. http://www.worldgamingexecutives.com/video/adam-harrington- photostream/ 8 Aug. 2011.
narrating?xg_source=activity 9 Aug. 2011.
Wednesday, August 10, 11

25. So What?
Snapshot of the Permian
Rare formations
“The most beautiful spot in Texas”
Source:Young, Donald, 2006, National Parks of America: New Line Books Limited, p. 93. Print.
Wednesday, August 10, 11