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Located 32 miles, or 51 km. NE of downtown El Paso. The park consists of three weak granite mountains, or syenite. It is 860 acres in area.

Human habitation of the area dates back 10,000 years
During early desert archaic culture. The humans there would have eaten mesquite beans, banana yucca, cactus fruits and more. When they were still around. They also used to hunt megafauna of north America.

Significance is shown in the pictographs, or rock paintings. They can be found throughout the region. And, are thousands of years old.
There are ancient pictographs and petroglyphs. Created by native American tribes. Such as Mescalero Apache, Jornada Mogollon, and Kiowa. These rock paintings and carvings offer insight to the lives, beliefs and past. Of these indigenous peoples.

At certain points. The tanks were capable of containing a year’s supply of water
In addition. There are several springs in the area. Currently, the area, does not recieve much more than 1 foot of preceipitation each year.

Plants
Around the syenite stone. The park is surrounded by the Chihuahuan desert. Creosote bush is the dominant species. And, the area provides enough water for oak and juniper trees. Species that have been around since the pleistocene. Other trees include netleaf hackberry, Texas mulberry, Mexican buckeye, catclaw acacia, and Arizona white oak. The site has the only population in the US. Of colubrina stricta (check).

Wildlife
Because of the aquafauna. Users of the park are cautioned against touching the pools of water. Freshwater shrimp, spadefoot toads, and other rare species live here. There are lots of tiger salamander amphibians too. And, 30 species of reptile. More than 20 years ago, in 2002. They set a record year. Sighting 222 bird species. They have a wide variation of animals. Skunks, badgers, coyotes, grey foxes, bobcat. Mountain lions, mule deer and black bear. Jackrabbits, 20 species of rodent and 6 species of bat.

There are hundreds of rock climbing routes
It is a popular destination for camping, hiking, rock climbing and outdoor recreation.

Hueco tanks has alot of cultural and ecological significance. Making it a significant historical, ecological and recreational site. Now its protected as a Texas historical site. And, it’s managed by there parks and wildlife department. You should check it out today.

Bibliography:
Sutherland, Kay, Ph.D. (1996). Rock Paintings at Hueco Tanks State Historical Park (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4501_0095e.pdf) (PDF). Austin, Texas: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. PWD-BK-P4503-095D-1291

“Hueco Tanks.” Texas Beyond History. Jan. 2008. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/hueco/story.html

Miles, Robert W.; Ralph, Ronald W. (15 June 2010). “Hueco Tanks State Historic Site” (https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/gkh02). Handbook of Texas Online.

Metz, Leon (1999). El Paso: Guided Through Time. El Paso, Texas: Mangan Books. ISBN 0930208374.

Zimmer, Barry R. (2002). Birds of Hueco Tanks State Historic Site: A Field Checklist (http://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4501_0095a.pdf) (PDF). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Mulvihill, K. “On Rock Walls, Painted Prayers to Rain Gods” (http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/travel/escapes/19Pict.html), The New York Times. September 19, 2008.