1. Chapter 3 Regions

2. Great Plains
Also called the “bread basket of the world” due to it’s fertile land.
It’s bounded on the east by the Mississippi River and on the west by the Rocky Mountains.
Covers most of the Texas Panhandle
Little rainfall

3. Great Plains
Land Use
Great herds of bison roamed the area, followed by Native Americans.
Europeans and farmers moved in and used the area for farming crops such as corn and wheat.
Oil discovered in the 1920s.
Drought, high winds, and poor farming practices contributed to the Dust Bowl.
The federal government established national grasslands in the area to preserve the land.

4. Great Plains Climate Dry, so irrigation from aquifers is necessary
Higher elevations, but not as high as the Mountains and Basins.
Cooler summers and winters
Rich grasslands attracted farmers for wheat and cotton

5. Llano Basin
High Plains
Edwards Plateau

7. Great Plains--Subregions
The High Plains
Mostly flat
The Caprock Escarpment provides a natural border between the North Central Plains
The Canadian River and the Red River run through the High Plains.
Both rivers cut through the Caprock Escarpment causing the Palo Duro Canyon.
The Llano Estacado stretches from across the High Plains

8. Great Plains--Subregion
The High Plains
Wildlife include: turkey, deer
Plants: yucca, mesquite, cedar

9. Great Plains--Subregion
The High Plains
The High Plains are split into two: the North Plains and the South Plains
The North Plains economy includes petroleum, cattle ranching, and farming wheat and sorghum (grain for cattle). Amarillo is the largest city in the North Plains. Oil field equipment is also manufactured.
The South Plains economy focuses on farming cotton. Cottonseed processing is a big business for Lubbock. Oil is important for cities like Midland and Odessa.

10. Palo Duro Canyon

11. Great Plains--Subregion
Edwards Plateau
High-level land rising from escarpment which separates the subregion with the Gulf Coast Plains region
Thin soil and vover of mesquite, cedar, small oak trees make this area suitable for grazing livestock that for farming.
Ranchers have adapted to rocky environment by raising cattle, sheep, goats
Mostly ranchlands with few cities
Largest city is Del Rio and trade with Mexico is important
Hill Country—Fredericksburg, Kerrville, are bigger cities and the area has a high area of natural game (white-tailed deer)

12. Great Plains--Subregion
Llano Basin
Rolling plains and hills crossed by two rivers: Llano and Colorado which has caused lots of erosion
State’s smallest geographic region
Dams on the Colorado River have caused the reservoirs known as the Highland Lakes with Lake Buchanan being the largest.
Economy relies on tourism, hunting, and livestock production
Pecans are important crops

13. Great Plains
Question to consider… How has geography affected the economy of the Edwards Plateau?

14. North Central Plains

15. North Central Plains
Hills and valleys are covered with grasses, brush, and weathered trees.
More rainfall than Great Plains equals a variety of crops
Cattle ranching dominates the economy
Rural area with low populations.
Largest city: Fort Worth

16. Rolling Plains

17. North Central Plains--Subregion
The Rolling Plains
Also known as the Lower Plains
Dry in the winter with little rain and snow
Thunderstorms are widespread causing frequent tornados
Rolling landscape with hills, mesas (small plateaus), and buttes (smaller flat-topped hills)
Cattle grazing
Crops include: cotton, grain sorghum, wheat, peaches, pecans
Largest cities: Wichita Falls (military, manufacturing), Abilene (oil, marketing), and San Angelo (agribusiness-large scale commercial farming)

18. Cross Timbers and the Grand Prairie

19. North Central Plains--Subregion
Cross Timbers
Two separate belts make up the Cross Timbers
Eastern Cross Timbers and Western Cross Timbers
Woodlands gave Native Americans shelter from enemies.
Soils are important for draining rainfall
Cotton, corn, vegetables, various oak, cedar, elm pecan trees grow here. Livestock and dairy farming also popular
Eastern Cross Timbers: Arlington (manufacturing and tourism)
Western Cross Timbers: Brownwood (regional trade and distribution)
The Eastern Cross Timbers cuts the Metroplex in half.

20. North Central Plains--Subregion
The Grand Prairie
Area includes mainly short and bunched grasses
Rain quickly drains through the limestone and clay soil
Difficult for trees to grow anywhere but near streams
Livestock and farming are important
Crops include: cotton, grain sorghum, wheat, peanuts, and corn
Fort Worth is the largest city
Other industries include: aircraft, manufacturing, and military (Ft. Hood) in addition to farming

21. North Central Plains
Question to consider… How do the landscape and rainfall of the North Central Plains compare to those of the Great Plains?