Regions of Texas

How many regions are in Texas? 4 How many regions are in Texas? Great Plains North Central Plains Mountains and Basins Coastal Plains What region is Klein in?

Can you name the 4 Regions of Texas? High Plains North Central Plains Mountains and Basins Coastal Plains

Texas Regions 2. North Central Plains 1. Great Plains 1 2 3 4 3. Coastal Plains 4. Mountains and Basins

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.

Regions of Texas Each region has different natural resources. This allows Texas to be one of the most self-sufficient states in the country!!!

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS Location Northeast Texas

North Central Plains Cities Abilene Waco Fort Worth

North Central Plains Physical Features Prairies Rolling Plains and Hills Variety of trees Small shrubs Limestone rock - Thick grass

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS CLIMATE moderate rain cold winters tornadoes

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 Tex-Mex.

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS PLANTS -bluebonnets -Indian Paintbrush

North Central Plains Animals Bobcat White-tailed deer Turkeys Screech Owl Mexican Freetail Bat Cliff Swallow

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS Crops: Cotton, corn, and other grains. Resources: Limestone, sand, gravel, oil, gas, and clay. Grow: Peaches, hay, peanuts, wheat, and sorghum.

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS ECONOMY The fertile soil produces crops for a large portion of its industry

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS PHYSICAL FEATURES AFFECT INDUSTRY Fertile soils support farm industries. Spacious land supports ranching industries.

Where are the North Central Plains?

COASTAL PLAINS

COASTAL PLAINS largest of the 4 Texas regions

Location of Coastal Plains Southeast Texas

COASTAL PLAINS CITIES Austin Dallas Houston San Antonio

Coastal Plains Physical Features Woods & Forest Beaches Grassy Plains and Prairies Has lots of fishing and shrimping It is the largest of the four regions in Texas Gets the most rainfall Has citrus groves

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 lots of rain warm hurricanes

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, timber, oil and gas The gulf coast is a major center of economic activity. The marshlands provide breeding grounds for ocean life, which make the fish and shrimp businesses very important. The port of Houston is one of the 10 busiest ports in the world. The Houston Ship Channel is the 3rd largest port in the nation.

COASTAL PLAINS Oil and Gas Along the coastal region you will find many oil rigs that are on-shore and off-shore. The ocean gives easy access to ship the oil and gas to where it needs to go.

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?

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 Northwest Texas

GREAT PLAINS CITIES Amarillo Lubbock

GREAT PLAINS GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES -Rolling grassy lands -Thick grasses -Cross Timbers area - large areas of hardwood trees -Limestone rock -Higher elevation because limestone doesn't wear down easily

GREAT PLAINS Climate Windy, Dry Air

GREAT PLAINS PLANTS -Prickly pear -Yucca -Indian Paintbrush -Cactus

GREAT PLAINS ANIMALS Pronghorn Prarie Dog Snakes Toads

GREAT PLAINS PLANTS -Prickly pear -Yucca -Indian Paintbrush -Cactus

GREAT PLAINS ANIMALS 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, vegetables, watermelons, oats Ranching - cattle, goats Cedar trees – fence posts Oil and gas

TEXANS HAVE ADAPTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE GREAT PLAINS Used grasslands for farming Pumped water for irrigating crops Drilled for oil and gas Built cities

Where are the Great Plains?

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS LOCATION Far west Texas

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS CITIES Alpine El Paso

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS PHYSICAL FEATURES Towering Peaks, Rocky Canyons, and flowering cacti. Mountains and Basins have dry, rocky soils. 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 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Dry desert climate Rocky soil Mountains, Canyons, Basins Plateaus Limited Plant Life

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS CLIMATE -Driest part of state -Hot days, cool nights

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS PLANTS -Some sagebrush

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS ANIMALS mountain lions mountain goats falcons rattlesnakes

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS WAY OF LIFE Ranching-cattle, sheep, goat Farming - cotton, fruits, vegetables, Oil and gas

Where are the Mountains and Basins?

Benefits Each region contains different natural resources. From the cotton fields of the Mountain and Basin and Great Plains regions to the ports of the Coastal/Gulf Plains, each area is rich with essential resources. This range of resources is a huge benefit as it allows Texas to be one of the most self-sufficient states in the country.