Long known as the River of Destiny, the Rio
Grande has been the focus of both conflict
and peace between Mexico and the United States.
Although rich in history, the Rio Grande's
delta also supports a rich legacy of natural
history. Twisting and turning from the Chihuahuan
Woodlands to the Gulf of Mexico, the last
250 miles of this great river forms a rich
delta... a transition zone between the semiarid
tropics and the temperate north. Since the
turn of the century, most of the delta's native
vegetation has been lost but many small islands
of endangered habitat survive at the edge
of farms and cities. These islands harbor
an incredible number of species... many endangered
or threatened. Some are known only from the
delta or reach their northern limits here.
The delta is also an oasis... a stopping point
for many birds on their annual migrations
to the tropics and back.
It is a land between north and south... a
land shared by two great countries, Mexico
and the United States.
John Bax spent two years chronicling the
delta's wildlife and historic sites. His journey
has taken him from the arid ranch country
to rich Gulf estuaries. Many of the sights
and sounds have never before been documented.
