San Antonio Springs: Difference between revisions

'''San Antonio Springs''' (also known as the '''Blue Hole''') is a cluster of [[Spring (water)|springs]] in [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]], [[Texas]]. These springs provide a large portion of the water for the [[San Antonio River]], which flows from [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] to the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. The [[San Pedro Springs]] also feed into the [[San Antonio River]].

== Geography ==

The San Antonio Springs are located about three miles (5&nbsp;km) north of Downtown San Antonio; most are now on the property of the [[University of the Incarnate Word]] in the Midtown Brackenridge district of San Antonio. The springs are fed by water from the [[Edwards Aquifer]]; this water reaches the surface through [[Geologic fault|faults]] along the [[Balcones Fault|Balcones Escarpment]]. There have been more than 100 individual springs identified, but many of these are no longer active due to pumping demands on the Edwards Aquifer and [[sediment]]ation from the upstream Olmos Creek, although sedimentation has been partially mitigated by the [[Olmos Dam]] since 1926.<ref name="Brune 2002">{{cite book | last=Brune | first=G.M. | title=Springs of Texas | publisher=Texas A&M University Press | series=Manufacturing engineering modular series | issue=v. 1 | year=2002 | isbn=978-1-58544-196-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bvJ6gjatcK0C | access-date=2021-11-08 | page=70}}</ref> During periods of [[drought]], the springs sometimes stop flowing entirely, only to resume when water levels rise in the aquifer. The mean flow from the springs is 20&nbsp;ft³/s (0.6 m³/s).

== History ==

Artifacts from [[Paleo Indians|Paleo-Indian]] cultures have been found at the site of the San Antonio Springs; some of these artifacts are more than 11,000 years old.<ref name="HBOT">{{cite web | title=San Antonio Springs| website=Texas State Historical Association, Handbook of Texas | date=1995-04-01 | url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/san-antonio-springs | access-date=2021-11-08}}</ref>

The earliest [[Europe]]ans found up to 200 sub-bands of [[Coahuiltecan]] Indians in the vicinity of the springs; however, they were soon displaced by the [[Lipan Apache people|Lipan Apaches]]. [[Spain|Spanish]] [[Missionary|missionaries]] built a system of [[aqueduct (water supply)|aqueducts]] and canals to carry water from the springs to the local missions, including [[Alamo Mission in San Antonio|The Alamo]].<ref name="HBOT"/><ref name="Edwards"/>

By the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the springs had become contaminated.<ref name="Edwards">{{cite web | title=San Antonio Springs and Brackenridge Park | website=The Edwards Aquifer Website | url=http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/saspring.html | access-date=2021-11-08}}</ref>In 1891, [[Artesian aquifer|artesian wells]] were drilled to provide clean water for the city.<ref name="Edwards"/>

== Gallery ==

Image:SanAntonioSprings01.JPG|{{center|Entrance to the springs area}}

Image:SanAntonioSprings02.JPG|{{center|The largest spring, The Blue Hole}}

<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:SanAntonioSprings03.JPG|{{center|Front of The Blue Hole}} -->

Image:SanAntonioSprings04.JPG|{{center|High water levels due to recent rains}}

Image:SanAntonioSprings10.JPG|{{center|Spring water pouring out of the mouth of The Blue Hole}}

Image:SanAntonioSprings06.JPG|{{center|Water flows downstream}}

Image:SanAntonioSprings08.JPG|{{center|Additional, smaller springs}}

Image:SanAntonioSprings09.JPG|{{center|More springs}}

Image:SanAntonioSprings11.JPG|{{center|Olmos Creek (left) joins with San Antonio Springs (right) to form the San Antonio River}}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==