Photo Galleries

La Fiesta de Amistad

15 Images

The Abrazo (Hug) Ceremony takes place each year on the border between the United State and Mexico at Amistad Dam. Representatives from Ciudad Acuna (Mexico) and Del Rio (USA) celebrate the occasion with a hug of friendship. La Fiesta de Amistad and the ceremony commemorate the completion of the dam in 1969. The dam was the product of a cooperation between the United States and Mexico to mitigate for severe floods and provide a water source in times of drought. "Amistad" is Spanish for "friendship," which is what the dam project came to represent for the cities of Del Rio and Acuna.

Recreation

9 Images

Lake Amistad provides the perfect backdrop for many recreational activities, among these are biking, hiking, boating, and fishing. The legislation establishing Amistad National Recreation Area in 1990 specifically states the park is to "provide for public outdoor recreation use and enjoyment of the lands and waters associated with the United States portion of the reservoir known as Lake Amistad, [...] and to protect the scenic, scientific, cultural, and other value contributing to the public enjoyment of such lands and waters."

Viewscapes

8 Images

Three major biotic communities (the Chihuahuan Desert, oak and juniper ecosystem, and Tamaulipan shrubland) meet at Amistad National Recreation Area, giving the park an interesting mix of flora and fauna. The addition of the large reservoir and its lacustrine (lake-related) characteristics to this varied but arid environment makes photography and just soaking in the scenery a very rewarding experience.

Devils River Hydro Plants

17 Images

Central Power & Light's hydropower plants on the Devils River reshaped the region and shaped a new and growing electrical appliance market. See photos of dam construction, as well as CP&L store fronts.

 

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