Comal River, New Braunfels, TX

Texas is a large state, with plenty of rivers, lakes, and other water sources. Parts of Texas are set up on the Gulf of Mexico, and close enough to Mexico to provide great vacations for residents and travelers. For vacationers traveling to New Braunfels, Texas in the summer there is one attraction that can be quite fun.

The Comal River is known as the "longest shortest river in the world,'' at least to locals. In Texas everything is big, so it should not be a surprise that the river is considered large, even though it is actually a short river in comparison to other rivers in the state. Texas has the Guadalupe River and Colorado River, which are both very long.

Comal River begins in Comal Springs, Comal County, Texas and ends at the mouth of the Guadalupe River in Comal County. The length of the river is 2.5 miles and its source elevation sits at 600 feet. During the year the river discharges about 312 feet per 9m/s. The basin area is 130 square miles. When the Spanish first inhabited the area they called Comal River the Guadalupe. However, Pedro de Rivera y Villalon discovered the longer Guadalupe in 1727 and thus the river was changed to Comal. Comal means basin or flat dish in Spanish.

Comal River was used to power watermills and cotton gins by German settlers. It was then used to create hydroelectric power. Today Comal River is no longer used for industrial purposes, but as a recreation area for the locals. It was also used as part of the Schlitterbahn water park, but the original park was moved to another location in order to expand it. The Guadalupe Blanco River Authority maintains the river. One special aspect of the Comal River is the fountain darter. The fountain darter is a fish that is almost extinct. The Comal and San Marcos River are the only two in the world that have this species of fish.

For recreational purposes the river is typically at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. There are tubers which have been left behind as the river was developed millions of years ago. The mild current combined with the clear water make swimming enjoyable for local residents. It is even a local scuba diving spot. The tubers and the depth of the river in some areas make it perfect for the sport. The river is warm even in winter, allowing divers to go year round.

During the summer thousands of people will come to tube down the river or walk around the edges in the foliage. The river is lined with trees and bushes, making it a beautiful spot of a picnic and wilding viewing. Tubing on the Comal is more of a meandering ride, whereas other rivers like the Guadalupe can be dangerous due to the rapids and boulders. At the Comal River where a parking lot and visitor center has been built there is a tubing ramp and walkways to make it even more fun. Texas Tube has set up to rent tubes for visitors.