What is the Balcones Escarpment?

The Balcones Escarpment is a series of cliffs located primarily in Austin, Texas, formed as a result of the Balcones fault line. It is part of the greater Balcones Canyonlands.

The escarpment is a topographical trace of the fault line that is millions of years old. Erosion has caused the west side of the embankment to be higher than the east side by more than several hundred feet. The primary rock material is limestone with minor inclusions of dolostone, chalk, marl and claystone. The area is home to a wide range of vegetation, which differs from the west and east sides due to varying soil arrangements.