Big Bend National Park located in West Texas, bordering Mexico, is the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States. It was named after a large bend in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo. The park protects more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals. Additional park activities include scenic drives, programs led by Big Bend park rangers, and stargazing.

The park encompasses an area of 801,163 acres. For more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km), the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo forms the boundary between Mexico and the United States.  Big Bend occupies approximately 118 miles along that boundary.