1. Unit 1

6. A region is an area that is used to identify and organize areas of the Earth’s surface for various purposes

7. Physical Characteristics – Physical characteristics of places include landforms and soils, bodies and sources of water, vegetation, climate and weather patterns, and animal life.

8. Human characteristics of places include the language, religion, political systems, economic systems, population distribution, ethnicity, age, and standards of living.

10. Coastal Plains Characteristics Slopes toward the Gulf of Mexico Largest region Most populated part of Texas Covers 1/3 of the land of Texas Flat and low Wooded land and Coastal sands Big Thicket National Preserve - forest in SE Texas Rivers - Brazos, Colorado, Trinity Good soils along rivers Plains, desert, hills

11. Climate: Hot and damp, humid Tornadoes, hurricanes 30-55 inches of rain per year

12. Natural Resources: Plants - pine trees, hardwood trees (elm, oak, cottonwood, pecan) Various Animals Minerals Bodies of water

13. Economic Resources: Farming Fishing Ranching Tree farms - lumber businesses Oil and gas (Spindletop 1901) Factories Ports

14. Major Cities Houston Dallas (on the border of Central Plains) San Antonio Texarkana Corpus Christi Brownsville

16. North Central Plains Characteristics Rolling grassy lands Thick grasses Cross Timbers area - large areas of hardwood trees Limestone rock Higher elevation because limestone doesn't wear down easily Elevation decreases from west to east

17. Climate: Dry air Tornadoes Hot, short summer – cool to cold winters 20-30 inches of rain per year

18. Natural Resources: Limestone Minerals Streams Fertile lands for crops

19. Economic Resources: Farming - fruits, vegetables, watermelons, oats Ranching - cattle, angora goats (mohair) Cedar trees – fence posts Oil and gas

20. Major Cities Austin Fort Worth Abilene Wichita Falls San Angelo

22. The Great Plains Characteristics Flat Few trees Canyons in North (Palo Duro Canyon) Higher elevation than Central Plains Cap Rock Escarpment Edwards Plateau

23. Climate: Dry air Hot summers Cold winters Dust storms 16-20 inches of rain per year

24. Natural Resources: Short grasses Mesquite, cedar, pecan, and oak trees in Edward Plateau area Deer Wild turkeys

25. Economic Resources: Farming - cotton, wheat (irrigation from wells) Ranching - cattle, sheep, goat Oil and gas in the Permian Basin

26. Major Cities Amarillo & Lubbock in the Panhandle Midland & Odessa in the Permian Basin Kerrville, Fredericksburg, & Del Rio in the Edwards Plateau area

28. Mountains and Basins Characteristics 150 mountains in the mountain ranges Plateaus and basins Deserts Pecos and Rio Grande Rivers Big Bend National Park

29. Climate: Driest part of state 8 inches of rain per year, 20 in mountains Hot days, cool nights Hot short summers / cold winters

30. Natural Resources: Plants - short grasses, shrubs, desert plants in plateaus and basins; pine forests in mountains

31. Economic Resources: Ranching - cattle, sheep, goat Farming - cotton, fruits, vegetables, cantaloupes (irrigation in El Paso and Pecos River Valley) Oil and gas - part of Permian Basin

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

33. Coastal Plains Mountains and Basins Great Plains North Central Plains