The 4 Natural Regions of Texas

Natural Regions Are determined by physical geography features such as landforms, climate, vegetation.

The 4 natural regions of Texas are: North Central Plains -Just to the west of Dallas, includes Ft. Worth Coastal Plains This region is along the Gulf of Mexico Great Plains Mostly the northern part of the state or the Panhandle Mountains and Basins West Texas where the Mountains are.

Subregions Each Natural Region of Texas is divided into smaller subregions. There are 11 in all

Coastal Plains Region The largest of all the four regions. Makes up nearly 1/3 of Texas 2/3rds of all Texans live in the Coastal Plains Industries include oil, natural gas, and seafood. Cities in the Coastal Plains: Dallas Austin Houston San Antonio

Subregions of the Coastal Plains: Piney Woods Post Oak Belt Gulf Coastal Plain Blackland Prairie South Texas Plain

-Piney Woods A Pine forest that stretches from the Louisiana border west 125 miles. North-East Texas It is the rainiest portion of the state. 45-60 inches Important due to its Timber Industry.

-Post Oak Belt An area of oak, hickory, and other trees, with a scattering of prairie grasses Just east of Dallas includes the city of Austin

-Blackland Prairie Very narrow but long in Central Texas, it is mostly flat and with small trees. Dallas is located in this subregion

-Gulf Coast Plain An area that follows the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and inland about 30-60 miles -Includes the City of Houston

-South Texas Plains South of San Antonio to the Mexican border. An area 270 miles long and 250 miles wide. The climate is warm year round.

North Central Plains The North Central Plains is an area of plains covered by small oak trees, brush, and scattered grasses. The Region gets higher in elevation and dryer the farther the west you go Cities: -Ft. Worth -Abilene -Wichita Falls

Subregions of the North Central Plains: Grand Prairie Rolling Plains Cross Timbers

-Grand Prairie West-Central Texas. The vegetation consists mostly of tall grasses and scattered trees.

-Cross Timbers Divided into Eastern and Western parts as it wraps around the Grand Prairie Soil allows it to grow trees such as oaks, hickories, pecans, and elms. Ft. Worth is in this Subregion

-Rolling Plains This area is largely a steppe. A vast treeless plain. Elevation of the region varies from 900 feet in the east to 2,000 feet in the west Abilene is in this subregion.

Great Plains The Great Plains lies in the northern and central part of the state. It includes the panhandle and the hill country (near Austin) Cities: Amarillo Lubbock Odessa Midland

Subregions of the Great Plains Llano Basin Edwards Plateau High Plains

-Llano Basin Lies in almost the center of Texas. Known as the hill country because of its huge granite hills. Just west of Austin

-Edwards Plateau Southern part of the Great Plains The Edwards Aquifer supplies water for much of the area.

-High Plains Also called the Llano Estacado or the panhandle of Texas One of the flattest areas in the world Large farming area

PALO DURO CANYON Palo Duro Canyon

PALO DURO CANYON

Mountains and Basins Region Has NO SUBREGIONS Has highest point of Texas, Guadalupe Peak at 8,749 feet. Cities: El Paso

Tall mountains separated by large basins and valleys. Trees grow in the mountains. Cactus, shrubs, and short grasses grow in the basins and valleys. Very little rain.

Texas Escarpments An escarpment is a transition between different geographic regions. -Usually a steep elevation increase, like a cliff or steep slope.

Balcones Escarpment is a geologic fault zone several miles wide between the Coastal and Great Plains

The Caprock Escarpment is a geographical transition point in Texas between the High Plains to the west and the North Central Plains to the east.