![]() ![]() Unique flora & fauna at Enchanted RockĮnchanted Rock is not just a geological wonder, but it is also home to a variety of flora and fauna that can only be found in this part of Texas. Today, visitors can explore the rock and learn about its geological and cultural significance through guided tours and educational programs. To the Tonkawa and Apache tribes, Enchanted Rock was a sacred site where they believed spirits dwelled. The massive size of Enchanted Rock is also a result of its slow cooling process, which allowed the rock to solidify and grow over time.Įnchanted Rock is not only a geological marvel, but also holds great significance to the indigenous people of the region. As the rock cooled, these minerals crystallized and gave it its unique hue. The pink color of the granite comes from the feldspar and quartz that make up its composition. Over millions of years, erosion and tectonic activity pushed the rock to the surface, where it was exposed to the elements. Enchanted Rock is a batholith, which is a large underground area of molten rock that cooled and solidified deep beneath the Earth’s surface. The answer lies in the incredible geological history of the region. This massive pink granite dome rises 425 feet above the ground, making it one of the largest rock formations in the United States. The geological formation of Enchanted RockĮnchanted Rock, located in the heart of Texas Hill Country, is an iconic landmark that draws visitors from all over the world. The “talking rock” was believed to house the spirits of the dead, and because of this, many settlers and trailriders of the 19th century sought refuge at the rock when raiding parties ere near. The Tonkawa, Apache and Comanche believed the rock was enchanted, partly because of the strange moans and groans that come from the rock shortly after sunset. There’s plenty of legend and history associated with the rock. ![]() During the mid-1700s, the Spaniards made several trips to the north and northwest of San Antonio, establishing a mission and presidio on the San Saba River and carrying out limited mining on Honey Creek near the Llano River. The first well-documented explorations of this area did not begin until 1723 when the Spanish intensified their efforts to colonize Texas. It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States. The Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet above ground, 1825 feet above sea level, and covers 640 acres. ![]() Rising above the central Texas Hill Country is a granite monolith of nature, a great dome of rock that rises as a natural landmark, a virtual geographic wonder that still attracts academic study as well as tourists from all around the world.Įnchanted Rock State Natural Area consists of 1643.5 acres on Big Sandy Creek, north of Fredericksburg, on the border between Gillespie and Llano Counties.Įnchanted Rock was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1970 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The geological formation of Enchanted Rockįull of mystery and legend, the “Rock” stands as a reminder of the rough and untamed frontier of the 18th & 19th centuries in Central Texas a geologic wonder and a great place to waste away a day in the Texas Hill Country.
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