"Big Bend National Park is an American National Park located in Greater Big Bend/ Trans Pecos Regional Area of Far West Texas, bordering Mexico. The park has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States. 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. Geological features in the park include sea fossils and dinosaur bones, as well as volcanic dikes. The area has a rich cultural history, from archeological sites dating back nearly 10,000 years to more recent pioneers, ranchers, and miners. The park encompasses an area of 801,163 acres and for more than 1,000 miles, the Rio Grande River forms the boundary between Mexico and the United States, and Big Bend National Park administers approximately 118 miles along that boundary. The park was named after a large bend in the river, and the Texas—Mexico border."