Download Regions of Texas

Regions of Texas
How many regions are in Texas?
Great
Plains
Mountains
and Basins
North Central
Plains
Coastal Plains
What region is Fort Worth in?
4
Can you name the 4 regions of Texas?
Great
Plains
North Central
Plains
Mountains
and Basins
Coastal Plains
2. North Central
Plains
1. Great Plains
1
2
3
4
3.
4.
Mountains
and Basins
Coastal Plains
• Texas is a vast state made up of
many different natural elements and
terrains.
The 3 largest states in the United
States are:
1st largest is …………………… Alaska
2nd largest is ……………………… Texas
3rd largest is ……………………… California
Texas is the 2nd largest state in the
United States.
Traveling across Texas you will see
everything from forests to mountains
to beaches to plains.
What region do we live in?
Coastal Plains Region
The 4 Regions of
Texas are
Great Plains
North Central Plains
Coastal Plains
Mountains and Basins
Regions of Texas
• Each region has different natural resources.
• This allows Texas to be one of the most
self-sufficient states in the country.
Do you know what SELF-SUFFICIENT means?
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
• Location
– Center part of the state
– Hill Country in the
southern part
– Bordered by the Cap
Rock Escarpment on the
west
– Bordered by the
Balcones Escarpment on
the east
es·carp·ment
a long, steep slope, especially one at the edge
of a plateau or separating areas of land at
different heights.
North Central Plains
Cities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Austin
Waco
Fredericksburg
Llano
Fort Worth
Wichita Falls
Abilene
North Central Plains
Physical Features
– Prairies
– Forests
– Rolling Plains and Hills
– Variety of trees
– Small shrubs
– Limestone rock
- Thick grass
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
SUBREGIONS
This region is
divided into
3 subregions:
Grand Prairie
Cross Timbers
Rolling Plains
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
HAS 3 SUBREGIONS
GRAND PRAIRIE – flat and rolling hills,
grasslands; suited for livestock
CROSS TIMBERS – sandy soil; good for
farming a variety of crops
ROLLING PLAINS – grasslands; hilly
terrain; steep valley; rivers; suited for
cattle and ranches
north Central
Plains
flat and rolling
hills; grasslands
well suited for cattle, other
livestock; Fort Worth is a large
meat-processing center
wet and mild
climate; thin soil
limits crops that can be grown
to mainly crops for animal feed;
cotton in some areas
TIMBERS
sandy soil
absorbs water well—very good
for farming; many crops grown
from peanuts to corn, cotton, hay
ROLLING
grasslands; hilly
terrain; steep
valleys; rivers
GRAND
PRAIRIE
CROSS
PLAINS
well suited for cattle (valleys—
shelter; grasslands and rivers—
food and water); contains many
of the state’s largest ranches
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
CLIMATE
– Sub tropical
– Cold winters
– Hottest summer
temperatures in the
state
– 20-30 inches of
rainfall a year
– Violent storms and
tornadoes
North Central Plains
Climate
Central Texas is shaped by its many rivers and hills.
In a single year the region can receive many inches of rain,
and flooding is common near rivers and in low lying areas.
North Central Plains
• In the summer, one of the favorite activities is floating down a
creek or river in an inner tube.
• Spring is a time for residents to drive the winding back roads
and take in the rainbow of colors produced by the blooming
wildflowers, including Bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush.
• In the fall and winter, hunters visit in hopes of taking home a
white-tailed deer.
• Some of the favorite local cuisines are barbecue and a variation
on traditional Mexican food affectionately referred to as TexMex.
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
PLANTS
-bluebonnets
-Indian Paintbrush
-Texas Oak Trees
-Mesquite Trees
North Central Plains
Animals
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•
•
•
•
•
Bobcat
White-tailed deer
Turkeys
Screech Owl
Mexican Freetail Bat
Cliff Swallow
And the road runner….
The real
road
runner…
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
AGRICULTURE (farming and ranching)
– Cattle, goats,
sheep, cotton,
grain sorghum,
oats, pecans, hay,
peaches, cedar
trees, wheat, corn,
peanuts
– Fertile soil, beef,
wool, mohair from
angora goats, oil in
some areas
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
ECONOMY
The fertile soil produces crops for a large
portion of its industry
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
• Crops: Cotton,
corn, and other
grains.
• Resources:
Limestone, sand,
gravel, oil, gas,
and clay.
• Grow: Peaches,
hay, peanuts,
wheat, and
sorghum.
Where are the North Central Plains?
North Central
Plains
North Central Plains
COASTAL PLAINS
COASTAL PLAINS
• largest of the 4
Texas regions
Location of Coastal Plains
•
•
•
•
Covers 1/3 of the land of Texas
Northeast border is the Sabine River
Southeast border is the Gulf of Mexico
West border is the Balcones
Escarpment
• The Coastal Plains reaches inland, away
from the coast about 250 miles
COASTAL PLAINS CITIES
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Brownsville
Dallas
Houston
San Antonio
Tyler
Texarkana
Corpus Christi
Coastal Plains
Physical Features
– Woods & Forest
– Beaches
– Grassy Plains and Prairies
– Has lots of fishing and shrimping
– It is the largest of the 4 regions in Texas
- Gets the most rainfall
- Has citrus groves
COASTAL PLAINS
This region is
divided into
5 subregions:
Piney Woods
Gulf Coastal Plains
South Texas Plains
Post Oak Belt
Black land Prairie
COASTAL PLAINS
SUBREGIONS
• Piney Woods – pine forest, farming, timber
• Gulf Coast Plain – prairie, bayous, farming, ranching, fishing,
ports, oil, petrochemicals
• South Texas Plains – warm dry climate, year-round farming,
ranches
• Post Oak Belt – sandy soils,
prairies, farming, energy resources
• Blackland Prairie – rich soil,
large population, manufacturing
The Coastal Plains
Subregion
Piney Woods
Gulf Coast
Plain
South Texas
Plains
Post Oak
Belt
Blackland
Prairie
Main Industrial and Economic Activities
timber, farming (fruits, vegetables), cattle ranching, oil
farming (rice, cotton, grains), livestock, fishing, shrimping,
center of oil industry, petrochemicals, ports and shipping
farming (Rio Grande valley: fruit, vegetables, sugar-cane);
ranching; retail and international trade; tourism; military
bases (San Antonio)
farming (cotton), corn, cattle, hogs); mining (oil,gas,
lignite); manufacturing
farming (cotton, grains, vegetables, cattle, chickens,
hogs); Dallas/Metroplex: banking, insurance, and oil
corporate headquarters, international cotton market,
manufacturing, transportation hub
COASTAL PLAINS
• The land along the Gulf Coast is very
near sea level. It is hard for water to
drain off the land, since there is
nowhere lower for the water to go.
Much of the coast of Texas is made up
of marshes----wetlands where a variety
of tall grasses grow.
COASTAL PLAINS CLIMATE
-Hot and damp, humid
-Tornadoes, hurricanes
“More rain and violent storms
than any other region”
-30-55 inches of rain per year
COASTAL PLAINS ANIMALS
Many kinds of animals live in the coastal plains
region…
– Quail, hawks, owls, bald
eagles and hundreds of
other birds
– White tail deer
– Foxes, bobcats, skunks
– River otters
– Alligators in the marshes!!! Some weigh up to
500 lbs!!!
Coastal Plains Animals….
COASTAL PLAINS
AGRICULTURE
– Timber, dairy, cattle,
hogs, poultry, grain,
sorghum, cotton, corn,
peanuts, roses, fruits,
hay, fish, sheep, wheat,
vegetables, rice, citrus,
and shrimp
– People, lots of rain, rivers,
lumber and paper mills,
chemical plants, ports, and
oil
COASTAL PLAINS
Economy Way of life:
Fishing: Various fish and shrimp
Timber: Trees in north east area
Oil and Gas: Along coastal region and off shore
THE GULF COAST PLAINS
ADAPTS TO ENVIRONMENT
• Houston – petrochemicals, shipping,
manufacturing
• Dallas – banking, manufacturing,
corporate headquarters
• Laredo – trade, farming
• San Antonio – tourism, military, retail
Where are the Coastal Plains?
Coastal Plains
Coastal Plains
GREAT PLAINS
GREAT PLAINS
• Region is located mostly in the panhandle area
of Texas.
• This area is very flat with a high elevation
that features canyons. It is a barren area
with very few trees.
GREAT PLAINS
LOCATION
– Texas Panhandle
to the north
– Cap Rock
Escarpment on
the east
-North and central
Texas
GREAT PLAINS CITIES
-Amarillo
-Lubbock
-Odessa
-Midland
-San Angelo
GREAT PLAINS
GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES
- Flat land
- Few trees
- Limestone rock
- Higher elevation because limestone
doesn't wear down easily
GREAT PLAINS
This region is
divided into
2 subregions:
High Plains
Edwards Plateau
The Great Plains
HIGH PLAINS
Physical Features
high flat, Caprock prairie with elevation rising to east; escarpments
on eastern, western edges; Red River forms Palo Duro Canyon;
little rainfall; oil and gas
EDWARDS PLATEAU
Physical Features
high, hilly limestone plateau rising and getting more rugged to west;
Balcones Escarpment and Fault, many springs on southern edge;
many areas rocky with thin soil; prairie grasses; trees; rivers, streams
form deep valleys and canyons
GREAT PLAINS
• Climate
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–
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Windy, Dry Air
Tornadoes
Very cold in winter
Hot in summer
Coldest region of
Texas
– 15-20 inches of
rainfall a year
– Violent sand, snow,
and rain storms
GREAT PLAINS
PLANTS
-Prickly pear
-Yucca
-Indian Paintbrush
-Cactus
GREAT PLAINS ANIMALS
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•
•
•
Pronghorn
Prarie Dog
Snakes
Toads
Great Plains Economy
Way of Life
• Cattle ranching and cotton farming are
major sources of commerce in this area
• Farming – fruits (watermelons),
vegetables, oats
• Ranching - cattle, angora goats (mohair)
• Cedar trees - fenceposts
• Oil and gas
TEXANS HAVE ADAPTED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT OF THE GREAT PLAINS
• Use grasslands for farming
• Pump water for irrigating crops
• Drill for oil and gas
• Build cities
Where are the Great Plains?
Great
Plains
Great Plains
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
LOCATION
• Far west Texas
• East border near Pecos
River
• South border is the Rio
Grande River
• North border is
New Mexico
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
CITIES
– Alpine
– El Paso
– Fort Stockton
- Pecos
- Kermit & Monahans in Permian Basin area
- Fort Davis, Marfa, & Alpine in Mountain area
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
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Towering Peaks
Rocky Canyons
Flowering cacti
Dry, rocky soil
• Places: Big Bend
National Park,
Guadalupe National
Park, and Davis
Mountains
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
• Guadalupe Peak is
the highest point in
Texas
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
This region
has no subregions
MOUNTAINS AND Basins
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
Physical Features
mountains, plateaus,
basins, canyons;
desert climate with
little rainfall; dry
rocky soil; limited
plant life (desert
grasses, shrubs,
cacti)
Economic
Activities
ranching; some
farming with irrigation; oil, sulfur, silver;
tourism; El Paso
(military bases,
Mexican trade, I-10
trade route)
Population/
Main Cities
population:
small, concentrated
in a few small towns
main city:
El Paso (one of the
largest Texas cities
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
CLIMATE
-Driest part of state
-8 inches of rain per year
-Hot days, cool nights
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
PLANTS
-Some sagebrush
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
ANIMALS
mountain lions
peregrine falcons
rattlesnakes
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
ECONOMY
Ranching-cattle, sheep, goats
Farming - cotton, fruits, vegetables,
cantaloupes (irrigation in El Paso and Pecos
River Valley)
Oil and gas - part of Permian Basin
The name derives from the fact that the area
was pushed downward before being covered by
the Permian sea and contains one of the
thickest deposits of Permian rocks found
anywhere.
Where are the Mountains and Basins?
Mountains
and Basins
Mountains & Basins