Geography of Texas Chapter 2

Exactly how big is Texas? Texas is the second largest state in the United States after Alaska with a total area of 266, 807 square miles. Texas is as large as New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Maine combined!

Why is it important to study geography?

**Aha!** Knowing the geography of a place helps you appreciate why people live the way they do and even why certain events occurred in the area’s history. Geography is essential to understanding the past and present.

What’s so special about geography? Geography can help us answer questions about what makes a place unique. – Physical characteristics: landforms, climate, plants, animals – Human characteristics: language, religion, architecture, music, politics, ways of life *Learning about how people are affected by the physical and human characteristics of the area they live helps us plan for the future.

Relative Location The relative location of Texas has been important in the state’s development. The Gulf of Mexico provides jobs to thousands of Texans who work in the fishing, oil, tourist, and shipping industries.

**Land and Climate** Geography can help us understand how events of the past shape the land today. It can also help us understand how and why people have adapted the land and water of Texas Hamilton Pool Preserve, Travis County, Texas

Largest Cities Texas’ largest cities developed in the eastern part of the state where people originally settled because of the fertile soil.

Dallas-Fort Worth Dallas started as a cotton market, and then boomed when oil was discovered. Fort Worth was originally a military outpost and became a large cattle- shipping center after the construction of railroads. Arlington is home to industrial companies and high-tech companies. These cities have continued to expand toward each other and are know as a Metroplex, a term used to describe an area where two major cities are economically interlinked and in close proximity.

The Physical Landscape of Texas is diverse! Physical Features of Texas Water Resource Landform Water Resource Hills Plateaus Lakes & Reservoirs Aquifers Mountains Plains Gulf of Mexico Rivers & Streams

Physical Landscape of Texas Texas varies in elevation from sea level to its highest point atop Guadalupe Peak (8,749 ft) in West Texas

Vocabulary Plain – A large area of flat, or nearly flat land – Example: The Great Plains of Texas in the Panhandle

Vocabulary Barrier Island – A narrow island between the mainland and the ocean – Example: Padre Island

Vocabulary Escarpment – A steep and long cliff that results from faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations – Example: The Balcones Escarpment

Vocabulary Fault – A break in the earth’s crust caused by moving plates

Vocabulary Plateau – An area of high, flat land Example: The Edwards Plateau is an uplifted and elevated region formed when the area was covered by oceans millions of years ago.

Vocabulary Caprock – Hard bed of rock below the soil of the High Plains subregion – Example: Caprock Escarpment in the Texas Panhandle

Vocabulary Basins – Lowlands surrounded by high lands

Vocabulary Guadalupe Peak – The highest point in Texas – Rises 8,749 feet above sea level – Located in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Vocabulary Dam – A man-made adaption made for the environment