Regions of Texas How many regions are in Texas? 4 Great Plains
North Central Plains Mountains and Basins Coastal Plains
What region is Allen in? Can you name the 4 Regions of Texas?
Great Plains
North Central Plains
Mountains and Basins Coastal Plains 2. North Central 1. Great Plains Plains
1 2
4 3
3. Coastal Plains
4. Mountains and Basins • Texas is a vast state made up of many different natural elements and terrains.
The 3 largest states in the United States are:
1st largest is ………………………. 2nd largest is ……………………….. 3rd largest is ……………………….. 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.
What region do we live in? North Central Plains Region
The 4 Regions of Texas are Great Plains North Central Plains Coastal Plains Mountains and Basins
Regions of Texas
• Each region has different natural resources.
• This allows Texas to be one of the most self-sufficient states in the country.
Do you know what SELF-SUFFICIENT means? NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
• Location – Center part of the state – Hill Country in the southern part – Bordered by the Cap Rock Escarpment on the west – Bordered by the Balcones Escarpment on the east
North Central Plains Cities • Austin • Waco • Fredericksburg • Llano • Fort Worth • Wichita Falls • Abilene
• The Hill Country is a popular name for the area of hills along the Balcones Fault and is a transitional area between the Great Plains and the Gulf Coastal Plains. North Central Plains Physical Features
– Prairies – Forests in the Cross Timbers – Rolling Plains and Hills – Variety of trees – Small shrubs – Limestone rock - Thick grass
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS PHYSICAL FEATURES AFFECT INDUSTRY
• Rich soils support farm industries • Natural resources have spurred other industries NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS SUBREGIONS
This region is divided into
3 subregions: Grand Prairie Cross Timbers Rolling Plains
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS HAS 3 SUBREGIONS
GRAND PRAIRIE – flat and rolling hills, grasslands; suited for livestock CROSS TIMBERS – sandy soil; good for farming a variety of crops ROLLING PLAINS – grasslands; hilly terrain; steep valley; rivers; suited for cattle and ranches north Central Plains well suited for cattle, other flat and rolling livestock; Fort Worth is a large GRAND hills; grasslands meat-processing center PRAIRIE wet and mild limits crops that can be grown climate; thin soil to mainly crops for animal feed; cotton in some areas
CROSS absorbs water well—very good TIMBERS sandy soil for farming; many crops grown from peanuts to corn, cotton, hay
grasslands; hilly well suited for cattle (valleys— ROLLING shelter; grasslands and rivers— terrain; steep PLAINS food and water); contains many valleys; rivers of the state’s largest ranches NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS CLIMATE
– Sub tropical – Cold winters – Hottest summer temperatures in the state – 20-30 inches of rainfall a year – Violent storms and tornadoes North Central Plains Climate Central Texas is shaped by its many rivers and hills. In a single year the region can receive up to 48 inches of rain, and flooding is common near rivers and in low lying areas. 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 -Texas Oak Trees -Mesquite Trees
North Central Plains Plants
Indian Blanket
Standing Cypress Blue Sage North Central Plains Animals
• Bobcat • White-tailed deer • Turkeys • Screech Owl • Mexican Freetail Bat • Cliff Swallow
And the road runner…. The real road runner…
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS ANIMALS
-Bobcat -White-tailed deer -Turkeys -Screech Owl
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS AGRICULTURE – Cattle, goats, sheep, cotton, grain sorghum, oats, pecans, hay, peaches, cedar trees, wheat, corn, peanuts
– Fertile soil, beef, wool, mohair from angora goats, oil in some areas
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS ECONOMY The fertile soil produces crops for a large portion of its industry
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
• Crops: Cotton, corn, and other grains. • Resources: Limestone, sand, gravel, oil, gas, and clay. • Grow: Peaches, hay, peanuts, wheat, and sorghum.
Where are the North Central Plains?
North Central Plains North Central Plains COASTAL PLAINS COASTAL PLAINS • largest of the 4 Texas regions
Location of Coastal Plains
• Covers 1/3 of the land of Texas • Northeast border is the Sabine River • Southeast border is the Gulf of Mexico • West border is the Balcones Escarpment • The Coastal Plains reaches inland, away from the coast about 250 miles
COASTAL PLAINS CITIES
– Austin – Brownsville – Dallas – Houston – San Antonio – Tyler – Texarkana – Corpus Christi
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
This region is divided into
5 subregions: Piney Woods Gulf Coastal Plains South Texas Plains Post Oak Belt Black land Prairie
COASTAL PLAINS SUBREGIONS • Piney Woods – pine forest, farming, timber • Gulf Coast Plain – prairie, bayous, farming, ranching, fishing, ports, oil, petrochemicals • South Texas Plains – warm dry climate, year- round farming, ranches • Post Oak Belt – sandy soils, prairies, farming, energy resources • Blackland Prairie – rich soil, large population, manufacturing
The Coastal Plains
Subregion Main Industrial and Economic Activities
Piney Woods timber, farming (fruits, vegetables), cattle ranching, oil
Gulf Coast Plain farming (rice, cotton, grains), livestock, fishing, shrimping, center of oil industry, petrochemicals, ports and shipping
South Texas farming (Rio Grande valley: fruit, vegetables, sugar-cane); Plains ranching; retail and international trade; tourism; military bases (San Antonio)
Post Oak farming (cotton), corn, cattle, hogs); mining (oil,gas, Belt lignite); manufacturing
Blackland farming (cotton, grains, vegetables, cattle, chickens, Prairie hogs); Dallas/Metroplex: banking, insurance, and oil corporate headquarters, international cotton market, manufacturing, transportation hub 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
-Hot and damp, humid -Tornadoes, hurricanes
“More rain and violent storms than any other region”
-30-55 inches of rain per year
Warm in the South Cold in the North
COASTAL PLAINS PLANTS
• 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 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.
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?
Coastal Plains 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
– Texas Panhandle to the north – Cap Rock Escarpment on the east -Northeast Texas -Colorado and Red Rivers are the borders.
GREAT PLAINS CITIES
-Amarillo -Lubbock -Odessa Abilene Midland -San Angelo -Wichita Falls
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE GREAT PLAINS
• Panhandle area of Texas • Highest Elevation in Texas • High and flat treeless plains and grasslands • Caprock Escarpments with elevation rising to the east • Balcones Escarpments along the eastern and western edges Caprock• Red River– hard formsbed of rockPalo belowDuro theCanyon soil of the High Plains Escarpment – cliffs 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 This region is divided into
3 subregions: High Plains Edwards Plateau Llano Basin
The Great Plains HIGH PLAINS
Physical Features high flat, Caprock prairie with elevation rising to east; escarpments on eastern, western edges; Red River forms Palo Duro Canyon; little rainfall; oil and gas
EDWARDS PLATEAU
Physical Features high, hilly limestone plateau rising and getting more rugged to west; Balcones Escarpment and Fault, many springs on southern edge; many areas rocky with thin soil; prairie grasses; trees; rivers, streams form deep valleys and canyons GREAT PLAINS • Climate – Windy, Dry Air – Tornadoes – Very cold in winter – Very hot in summer – Coldest region of Texas – 15-20 inches of rainfall a year – Violent sand, snow, and rain storms 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, angora goats (mohair) • Cedar trees - fenceposts • 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?
Great Plains Great Plains MOUNTAINS AND BASINS MOUNTAINS AND BASINS LOCATION
• Far west Texas • East border near Pecos River • South border is the Rio Grande • North border is New Mexico
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS CITIES
– Alpine – El Paso – Fort Stockton - Pecos -Kermit & Monahans in Permian Basin area -Fort Davis, Marfa, & Alpine in Mountain area
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 Physical Features
– Mountains ranges, basins & plateaus – Guadalupe Mountains – Big Bend National Park – Guadalupe Peak – highest peak in Texas (8749 feet)
• Basins are lowlands surrounded by higher land. MOUNTAINS AND BASINS This region has no subregions
MOUNTAINS AND Basins
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
Physical Features Economic Population/ mountains, plateaus, Activities Main Cities basins, canyons; ranching; some population: desert climate with farming with irriga- small, concentrated little rainfall; dry tion; oil, sulfur, silver; in a few small towns rocky soil; limited tourism; El Paso plant life (desert (military bases, main city: grasses, shrubs, Mexican trade, I-10 El Paso (one of the cacti) trade route) largest Texas cities MOUNTAINS AND BASINS CLIMATE
-Driest part of state -8 inches of rain per year, 20 in mountains -Hot days, cool nights
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS PLANTS
-Some sagebrush MOUNTAINS AND BASINS ANIMALS mountain lions peregrine falcons rattlesnakes
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS WAY OF LIFE
Ranching-cattle, sheep, goat Farming - cotton, fruits, vegetables, cantaloupes (irrigation in El Paso and Pecos River Valley) Oil and gas - part of Permian Basin
Where are the Mountains and Basins?
Mountains and Basins Mountains & Basins
Coastal Plains
• Includes about 1/3 of Texas • Home to more people than any other part/region of Texas • About 2 out of every 3 Texans live in the Coastal Plains • The Coastal Plains is divided into 5 subgroups: -Piney Woods -Post Oak Belt -Gulf Coast Plain -Blackland Prairie -South Texas Plain Coastal Plains and its Subregions 1. Piney Woods: -pine forests -rainiest part of Texas -elevation low -growing season (average number of days between the last killing frost of spring and the first killing frost of fall) is 230- 265 days 2. Post Oak Belt: -dryer than Piney Woods -west of Piney Woods subregion -oak, hickory trees - growing season 230- 280 days
3. Blackland Prairie: -long, narrow area -follows the Balcones Escarpment (cliff or abrupt break in the land’s surface) near Oklahoma border, through San Antonio, and down to the Mexico border -growing season 230-280 days soil not good for growing trees -prairie grass 4. Gulf Coastal Plain: -warm temperatures, long growing season 240-309 days, low elevation 5. South Texas Plain: -warm year round vast range of elevations (sea level to 1,000 ft. above) -growing season 265-341 days (long growing season in Brownsville) North Central Region and its Subregions
•Rolling plains lBrush, scattered grasses •Covered by small oak and mesquite trees •North Central Region is divided into 3 subregions: Grand Prairie Cross Timbers Rolling Plains North Central Region and its Subregions
1. Grand Prairie: -near Temple and Killeen -soil NOT good for growing trees -mostly tall grasses 2. Cross Timbers: -post oak, hickory, pecan and elm trees 3. Rolling Plains: -largest subregion in North Central Region -most of this subregion is largely steppe (vast, flat, treeless plain) Great Plains Region and its Subregions
Great Plains Region is divided into 3 subregions: 1.Edwards Plateau: -primarily of limestone - caves and underwater streams -Edwards Aquifer (San Antonio’s water supply) is in this subregion 2.High Plains: -major farming area -dry climate -elevation ranges from 3,000-4,000 feet
Mountains and Basins Region • Tall mountains separated by large basins (closed valleys) • Forests on mountains • Lower elevations (basins) are deserts with cactus, short grasses, and shrubs • Very little rain • Contains the HIGHEST POINT IN TEXAS: Guadalupe Peak ~ 8,751 feet 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.
REGIONS OF TEXAS
1 Label the 4 regions of Texas
2 4 3 TRACE PATTERN OF TEXAS
• Draw and label the 4 natural regions (pg 10 in map book) COLOR THE REGIONS
• Draw and label 5 major cities (pg 3 in map book)
• Draw and label 5 rivers (pg 50 in class book)
• Draw a compass rose on your map • You will be given a region to work on AS A GROUP. • You will need to find a way to make sure that all topics are somehow shown on your poster. Designate certain people to do certain jobs. • *This project will be given 2 FULL class days to work on and can be worked on during any extra catch-up time throughout the day. • *Project is due Friday, Sept 5th at the beginning of the social studies period.
• *The following are requirements for your poster : • Illustration of Texas • Illustration of your given region. • Climate • Major cities • Way of life • Contributions • Plants and animals • Landforms • Any other interesting info you find. • *This is a MAJOR GRADE!!! • *Each group member will have an opportunity to grade the other members by using the rubric for the project.