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Rio Grande Wild & Scenic RiverPark ranger patrolling the Lower Canyons
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Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River
History & Culture
Remains of a Candelilla wax operation in the lower canyons
NPS\Big Bend National Park
Remains of a Candelilla wax operation in the lower canyons.
 
Prehistoric and historic sites are abundant along the river corridor, mostly on private property in the United States or Mexico. Preserving these sites is important in understanding human use and development along the river.

Additional information can be found at Big Bend National Park's History & Culture section.



Read about it
Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River Administrative History (1988) [725kb PDF file]
Rangers at an illegal wax camp, 1950s  

Did You Know?
The harvesting and processing of the candellila plant into wax has long been a border industry. In the 1950s, illegal wax camps could be found in Mariscal, Boquillas and the Lower Canyons. Observant floaters can still see remains of these camps along the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River today.
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Last Updated: September 22, 2006 at 09:05 EST