Hamilton Reserve

The Hamilton Reserve is a natural pool that appeared when the dome of an underground river collapsed under the influence of thousands of years of erosion. The pool is surrounded by huge limestone slabs that lie at the very edge of the water. From the ceiling above, huge stalactites grow. Hamilton Creek flows right over these limestone slabs, creating a 15-meter waterfall that falls straight into a steep canyon. The waterfall never dries up completely, but during periods of drought it becomes slower and shallower. However, the water level in the basin remains the same even during periods of drought.

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1. The pool is located about 37 km west of Austin, Texas.

2. Since the 1960s, this pool has been a favorite summer spot for visitors and residents of Austin.

3. Golden-cheeked forest songbird and a wide variety of other birds live here.

4. The diverse vegetation of the Hamilton Basin ranges from semi-dry species in the uplands to coastal species in the canyon.

5. Juniper and oak savannas grow in the uplands with a wide variety of herbs and wild flowers.

6. Several rare species, including canyon orange, red perseus (the westernmost colony of the eastern subspecies) and various types of orchids also grow in the reserve's canyon.

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