“The Narrows” is the name given to a ridge running east and west in Knox County, TX, which forms the watershed between two rivers in north central Texas. A watershed is a geographic feature which separates one drainage basin from another. A drainage basin is the area of land where water, such as precipitation and snow melt, flows downhill into some body of water, such as a lake or river. This type of ridge is often called a “hogback” due to its resemblance to the ridge of bone between a hog’s shoulders; a hogback is characterized by steeply sloping sides, usually 30-40 degrees.
It is interesting to note that water going into either of these drainage basins will eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico, although by different paths.
US 82 runs along the crest of this ridge and the earth cache is located in a public rest stop along this highway just east of Benjamin, TX. The rest stop is on the north side of the highway and overlooks the slope which forms part of the drainage basin for one of the rivers. The southern slope can be seen from the highway and is part of the drainage basin for the other.
The type of terrain seen from the overlook is referred to as “badland topography,” which forms in areas that are generally arid, with infrequent but very intense rainfalls resulting in massive erosion. Badlands are characterized by steep slopes, slippery clay, loose dry soil and deep sand. Such terrain is difficult to traverse, giving rise to the name. This rapid erosion, on the other hand, quickly exposes the sedimentary layers, making it easier to locate fossil remains which help to establish the geologic history of the region. Several remains of glyptodons (a large armored mammal from the Pleistocene related to the armadillo) were unearthed in this area in the 1950’s and 60’s, and a new genus and species of rodent found in the early 1970’s suggested a revision of the age assignments for the Pleistocene deposits.
The layers exposed by the badland erosion seen from the overlook show a thin loam soil, considered unproductive in terms of land resources, over dissected red beds, which are layers of sedimentary rocks whose distinctive red color comes from the iron oxides in their mineral structure. The light-colored layers are limestones.
Buffalo were drawn to this area by the natural springs and abundant buffalo grass, a prairie grass native to North America. Buffalo grass is largely found on high plains and is resistant to drought, heat and cold, making it an excellent fodder grass. The presence of buffalo brought several tribes of Native Americans to the area, and traces of their camps are still being found.
The posted coordinates will bring you to an upright concrete slab with an historical marker that has information on the area.
To claim this find you must email answers to the following questions. Please do NOT post them in your log.
Question 1 What are the two rivers whose drainage basins are separated by this ridge?
Question 2 Name three of the Native American tribes who are known to have hunted in this area.
Further examples of this type of terrain can be seen along US 82, between this stop and the town of Benjamin to the west, as well along Highway 6, traveling south from Benjamin and continuing through Knox City.