Chapter 3:

The Regions of Texas

Section 4:

The Great Plains

The Central Plains

HighPlains

High Plains

•High plains cover most of the Texas Panhandle

•High Plains are higher than the Central Plains

High Plains

•Caprock—hard bed of rock beneath the soil of the High Plains

•Erosion of the rock has created cliffs called Escarpments

High Plains

Palo Duro Canyon

High Plains

• The High Plains receives little regular rainfall

• Rich grass lands attracted ranchers

• Grasslands farmed with irrigation—wheat and cotton raised

High Plains

•Cities

–Lubbock & Amarillo—meat processing

–Midland & Odessa—oil production

Edwards Plateau

Edwards PlateauThe Balcones Escarpment

separates the Edwards Plateau from the Gulf Coastal Plain.

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Edwards Plateau

•Fault—break in the earth’s crust

•Fault line extends through San Antonio & Austin

Edwards Plateau

•Deep hard layer of limestone below the soil

•Erosion has cut into limestone causing a rocky landscape

Edwards Plateau

Ranchers have adapted to the

environment in rocky areas by raising sheep and goats.

Edwards Plateau

•Cities

–Austin: largest city on the Edwards Plateau

–Del Rio

–San Angelo