Texas Has The Prettiest Rivers In The USA – Know Why?

Things are bigger in Texas and they're prettier too. Our rivers for example are super clear and I'm not just bragging, there's some science behind this.

Texas has all kinds of waterways including lakes, creeks, bayous, rivers ... jeez, we have an ocean. A big chunk of the lone star state sits along the Gulf of Mexico. Or, the Gulf of America I guess.

It may wind up being the Gulf of Texas, I'm not sure ... apparently, we're working that out at the moment.

Anyway, we have loads of rivers in Texas including, (part of), the 4th longest one in the USA. That would be the Rio Grande which stretches 1,900 miles, across 3 states, from source to mouth.

It starts in Colorado, flows through New Mexico, then along the Texas - Mexico border before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico ... or, America. Maybe Texas. You know what, I'm going with the Gulf of Dubba G until somebody makes a decision.

Why Are Texas Rivers So Clear And Pretty?

A "naturalized" Texan, from Georgia, noticed how much clearer and bluer Texas rivers were compared to others he had seen around the USA and decided to investigate. Turns out, she's right - here's why:

There are, at least in the central Texas area, a lot of limestone quarries and lots of natural deposits.

Limestone is composed primarily of calcium carbonate, which breaks down into small crystals that mix into the water, reflecting sunlight for a beautiful blue color. - southernliving.com

Natural Springs Are A Big Help

Within some Texas rivers and swimming holes, there are spring-fed waters that keep to an ideal cool-to-cold temperature year-round, as well as maintain a pale blue or green hue that you can see through, often right to the bottom. The water comes from underground sources that are filtered and purified as they travel through layers of rock and soil, resulting in a more clean, clear water. - southernliving.com

There's one more factor at play here that also involves the limestone. It sometimes serves as the river bed which keeps the water looking much clearer than a muddy bottom would.

Texas has one more river on the top 10 longest list and it is all ours. The Brazos originates in Texas and flows 1,280 miles to the Gulf of Dubba G.