Regions of Texas UNIT 1

What is a Region?  An area of the world that has similar, unifying characteristics.

 Physical Characteristics of places include landforms and soils, bodies and sources of water, vegetation, climate, weather patterns, and animal life  Human Characteristics of places include the language, religion, political systems, economic systems, population distribution, ethnicity, age, and standards of living

Texas Is Divided Into Four Major Regions  Mountains and Basins  Great Plains  Central Plains  Coastal Plains

Mountains and Basins Physical Characteristics  Rivers  Deserts

Mountains and Basins Landscape  Scattered mountain ranges  Flat desert basins  Mostly desert

Mountains and Basins Region Climate  Dry & Arid  Hot dry summers  Cold winters  Little moisture (Rain)  Hot days, cold nights

Mountains and Basins Jobs = Industries Human Characteristics  Industries – Ranching  Big Bend National Park  Dams

Mountains and Basins Major Cities  El Paso, TX.

Great Plains Physical Characteristics  Canyons  Escarpments  Plains  Aquifers  Plateaus

Great Plains Climate  Dry  Hot Summers  Very Cold Winters

Great Plains Major Cities ODESSAMIDLAND

Great Plains Major Cities Cont…. LubbockAmarillo

Great Plains  Irrigation  Industries – ranching & agriculture  Wind Farms  Dams – Amistad  Oil/Gas & Ranching Human Characteristics

Texas Landscape Keep In Mind: As we go from West to East (Mountains and Basins to Gulf Coast Plains) Elevation Decreases

What does that mean?

It means that as you get closer to the Gulf of Mexico (Sea Level), the land gets flatter. (No Mountains and less Hills)

North Central Plains

Landscape  Rolling Prairies/Grasslands  Few Rivers  Hilly  Hardwood Forests Physical Characteristics

North Central Plains Climate Similar to the Great Plains  Hot Short Summers  Cool to Cold Winters  More Moisture (Rain)

North Central Plains (Major Cities) Fort WorthArlington

North Central Plains  Agriculture (Farming/Ranching)  Manufacturing  Energy Production (Petroleum/Wind Power) Human Characteristics

Coastal Plains Region

WHY? WHY DOES THIS REGION OF TEXAS SEEM TO HAVE MORE OF A VARIETY OF TREES AND PLANTS THAN THE REST OF THE STATE?

GULF OF MEXICO The Gulf’s winds and moisture bring in most of the states rain. As it reaches the higher elevations of the state (West), the clouds and moisture start to evaporate.

Coastal Plains Landscape Varies  Plains  Hills  Pine Forests  Desert  Flat grasslands  Swamps-Marshes  Elevation Varies (1,000ft – Sea Level) Physical Characteristics

Coastal Plains Landscape  All the rivers flow thru this region  Wrong way rivers that take water from the dries part of the state to the wettest part of the state Physical Characteristics

Landforms Barrier Islands Plains Barrier Islands Balcones Escarpment Plains Gulf Coast Plain South Texas Plains

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  Part of it is in Austin  Lower elevation on the eastern side  Flatter on the eastern side

Coastal Plains Climate  Mild  Hot – Humid Summers  Mild Winters  Greater Moisture

Coastal Plains Major Cities Dallas Houston

Coastal Plains Major Cities Austin San Antonio

Coastal Plains  Highway Systems  Location of major cities  Industries – timber, agriculture, oil & gas, technology, education  Dams  Fishing, tourism, intra- coastal waterway Human Characteristics