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Regions of How many regions are in Texas? 4 Great

North Central Plains 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. 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 .

The 3 largest states in the 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 .

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 • Austin • Waco • Fredericksburg • Llano • Fort Worth • Wichita Falls • Abilene

• The Hill Country is a popular name for the area of hills along the Balcones and is a transitional area between the Great Plains and the Gulf Coastal Plains. North Central Plains Physical Features

– Forests in the – Rolling Plains and Hills – Variety of trees – Small shrubs – rock - Thick grass

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS PHYSICAL FEATURES AFFECT INDUSTRY

• Rich soils support farm industries • Natural resources have spurred other industries NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS

This region is divided into

3 subregions: Grand 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 ; 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 ; thin soil to mainly crops for animal feed; cotton in some areas

CROSS absorbs 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 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. • 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 • Swallow

And the road runner…. The real road runner…

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS ANIMALS

-Bobcat -White-tailed deer -Turkeys -Screech Owl

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS – 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 of Texas • Northeast border is the Sabine River • Southeast border is the Gulf of • West border is the Balcones Escarpment • The Coastal Plains reaches inland, away from the coast about 250 miles

COASTAL PLAINS CITIES

– Austin – Brownsville – – 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: Gulf Coastal Plains Plains Post Oak Belt Black land Prairie

COASTAL PLAINS SUBREGIONS • Piney Woods – pine forest, farming, timber • Gulf Coast – 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 (: fruit, vegetables, sugar-cane); Plains ranching; retail and international trade; ; 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 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 center of economic activity. The marshlands provide breeding grounds for life, which make the fish and shrimp businesses very important.

The is one of the 10 busiest ports in .

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 . It is a barren area with very few trees.

GREAT PLAINS LOCATION

to the north – Cap Rock Escarpment on the east - - 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 -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 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 ; 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 • East border near Pecos River • South border is the Rio Grande • North border is

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS CITIES

– Alpine – El Paso – Fort Stockton - Pecos -Kermit & Monahans in Permian Basin area -Fort Davis, Marfa, & Alpine in area

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS PHYSICAL FEATURES

• Towering Peaks, Rocky Canyons, and flowering cacti.

• Mountains and Basins have dry, rocky soils.

• Places: National Park, Guadalupe National Park, and

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS

is the highest point in Texas

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Dry climate • Rocky soil • Mountains, Canyons, Basins • • Limited Plant Life Mountains and Basins Physical Features

– Mountains ranges, basins & plateaus – – 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 rocky soil; limited tourism; El Paso plant life (desert (military bases, main : 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 -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 border, through San Antonio, and down to the Mexico border -growing season 230-280 days soil not good for growing trees -prairie grass 4. : -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.: -primarily of limestone - caves and underwater streams - (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 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 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 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 • • 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.