Amistad is an international recreation area on the United States-Mexico border. The Amistad Reservoir on the Rio Grande includes 850 miles of Lake Shoreline, of which 540 are in Texas. Boating and water sports highlight activities in the U.S. section of the reservoir. In addition, the area is rich in archeology and rock art, and contains a wide variety of plant and animal life.

Description
“Amistad” is Spanish for “friendship”, as the Amistad Reservoir is located on the border with Mexico. Amistad is a land of contrasts and of hidden treasures. A splash of blue stands out against limestone cliffs. The honking of a great blue heron, interspersed with the descending trill of a canyon wren, can be heard off in the distance. This landscape, which at times appears stark and desolate, comes alive with color after a rainstorm.

History
Amistad National Recreation is administered under cooperative agreement with the International Boundary and Water Commission as Amistad Recreation Area, November 11, 1965. The reservoir, at the confluence of the Rio Grande, Devils and Pecos rivers, was created by Amistad Dam in 1969. It was authorized as a national recreation area November 28, 1990.

Activities
Most visitors come to Amistad for world-class fishing and boating, but there are a variety of other activities both in the park and surrounding area.

1. Amistad is known for excellent water-based recreation, camping and is surrounded by a landscape rich in prehistoric rock art, a vibrant border culture, along with a wide variety of plant and animal life.
2. Another popular activity is scuba diving, since the water is unusually clear, and there are interesting underwater rock formations including submerged caves.
3. Lake Amistad’s dark night skies are a special attraction to stargazers. Amistad also provides opportunities for picnicking, camping and hunting.
4. Other activities are Biking, Boating, Educational Programs, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Swimming, Water Skiing, Wildflower Viewing, Wildlife Viewing, Bird Watching, Nature Walks, Kayaking and Snorkeling.

Geology
Amistad National Recreation Area offers visitors many interesting natural features to investigate. The river and lake canyons have shear cliffs dotted with caves. The colorful canyon walls range from deep grays to bright yellows and reds as ground water oxidation makes them look as if large paintbrushes have painted them. These limestone cliffs are also full of marine fossils of the Permian era, over 360 million years old. Corals, gastropods (snails), ammonites and various bivalve fossils are common.

Ecology
Amistad National Recreation Area supports incredible biodiversity due to its location at the juncture of three Texas ecoregion. The east side of Lake Amistad is surrounded by hills covered in the shrubs and small acacia trees of the southwest Texas coastal plains, the Tamaulipan Chaparral ecoregion. Yet the western canyons of the lake are covered by the yuccas, cactuses and creosote typical of the Big Bend region, the Chihuahua Desert.  In the Edwards Plateau in the northern parts of the lake you can find juniper trees and scrub oaks.

Facilities
The facilities of this place include a Visitors Centers, Restaurant or Snack Bar, Picnic Areas, Groceries or Supplies, Comfort Stations, Museum Exhibits, Fuel Tours & Guided Activities and Medical Services.

Climate
Local weather includes long, hot summers perfect for cooling off in Amistad Reservoir, and relatively mild winters with only a few nights of freezing temperatures. Rainfall is about 18 inches per year, but amounts and timing varies erratically. Mornings can be humid and afternoons are usually breezy and dry.

Visit this borderline paradise to enjoy a fun filled vacation with family and friends.

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