Texas Regions Powerpoint

Can you name the Regions of Texas?

The regions of Texas are… Gulf Coast Piney Woods Prairies and Lakes Panhandle Plains Big Bend Hill Country South Texas Plains

Gulf Coast Region

PLANTS 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.

Description of Region Area is dissected by streams and rivers flowing into Gulf of Mexico Soils are acidic sands and sandy loams Plains and marshes experience large amounts of weathering, erosion and deposition due to high rainfall & flowing water from rivers

Description of Region cont. Physical weathering occurs here: breaking down of rock into smaller pieces. Caused by wind, water, & rubbing of rocks Sediments from rivers deposited along coast form sand dunes and/or barrier islands over time

Piney Woods

Piney Woods Description Thick forest of pines Part of a larger forest that extends east into other states “Big Thicket”: low lying wetlands (swamps) in southern part of region

Piney Woods Terrain Rolling hills with wetter lower areas Hardwood trees such as elm, mesquite and ash present in wetter areas Mature vegetation holds soil in place preventing erosion

Panhandle Plains or Great Plains

High Plains Cities Amarillo Lubbock Abilene San Angelo Wichita Falls

Geographic Features Rolling grassy lands Thick grasses Limestone rock Higher elevation because limestone doesn't wear down easily Land is flat except for long steep canyons formed by erosion of water

Climate Dry air Tornadoes Windiest in u.s.a.

Plants Prickly pear Yucca Indian Paintbrush Cactus

Animals Pronghorn Prarie Dog Snakes Horny Toad

Big Bend Region or Trans Pecos Region

Location Far west Texas East border near Pecos River South border is the Rio Grande North border is New Mexico

Cities El Paso Pecos Kermit & Monahans in Permian Basin area Fort Davis, Marfa, & Alpine in Mountain area

Climate Driest part of state 8 inches of rain per year, 20” in mountains Hot days, cool nights

Trans Pecos / Big Bend Description Wide open spaces Rugged plateaus Desert mountains Only mountains in Texas

Big Bend Erosion Soil eroded due to decline of grassland Flash flooding and rapid run-off cause erosion Erosion of limestone cliffs due to acid rain. (chemical weathering)

Plants Short grasses Some sagebrush Forests grow on mountain slopes

Hill Country Region Edwards Plateau / Llano Uplift

Hill County Region Rolling to hilly grassland Plateau: high, flat land Many springs and canyons Edwards Aquifer Many caves formed here and rocks weathered due to chemical weathering from carbonic acid

South Texas Plains Region Brush Country

South Texas Plains Also known as Brush Country Plants are grasses, thorny brush and cacti High temperatures here = high evaporation

Prairies and Lakes Contains both Oak trees and grasses 28 to 40 inches of rain Varies from gently rolling hills to nearly level land Many native grasses destroyed for agriculture leaving land vulnerable to erosion Contains cities such as Dallas and Fort Worth