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Regions: Physical and Human Characteristics
Objectives:
Know the 4 regions of Texas
Understand the different physical characteristics of each region
Understand how physical differences affect human characteristics (way of life)
Can you name the Regions of Texas?
Gulf Coastal Gulf Coastal Central PlainsCentral PlainsGreat PlainsGreat PlainsMountains and Mountains and BasinsBasins
Gulf Coastal Plains
Location of the Gulf Coastal PlainsCovers 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
Coastal Cities……
Houston
Dallas (on the border of Central Plains)
San Antonio
Texarkana
Corpus Christi
Brownsville
Coastal Climate…….Hot and damp, humid
Tornadoes, hurricanes
30-55 inches of rain per year
PLANTSThe 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 Animals….Many kinds of animals live in the coastal
region… To name a few…
Quail
Hawks
Owls
Hundreds of other birds
Bald eagle
White tail deer
Foxes
Skunks
River otters
Bobcats
Alligators in the marshes!!! Some weigh up to 500 lbs!!!
Way of life….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. Seafood!
The port of Houston is one of the 10 busiest ports in the world.
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..
Central Plains
Location of Central Plains
The Great Plains include the Llano Estacado, the Panhandle, Edwards Plateau, Toyah Basin and the Llano Uplift.
It is border on the east by the Caprock Escarpment in the panhandle and by the Balcones Fault to the southeast.
Picture of Edwards Plateau
Central Plain Cities…..
Austin
Waco
Fredericksburg
Llano
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.
Central Plains ClimateCentral Texas is shaped by its many rivers
and hills. The climate is subtropical.
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.
In the summer, one of the favorite activities is floating down a creek or river in an inner tube (tubing). 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..
Central Plains Culture
Central Plains - PlantsBlue bonnets
Indian Paintbrush
Texas Oak Trees
Mesquite Trees
Baldcypress Trees
Indian Blanket
Blue Sage
Standing Cypress
Central Plain - AnimalsBobcat
White-tailed deer
Turkeys
Screech Owl
Mexican Freetail Bat
Cliff Swallow
The Great Plains
Location of the Great PlainsNortheast Texas
Colorado and Red Rivers are the borders.
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 Cities
Amarillo
Lubbock
Abilene
San Angelo
Wichita Falls
ClimateDry air
Tornadoes
20-30 inches of rain per year
windy
PlantsPrickly pear
Yucca
Indian Paintbrush
Cactus
AnimalsPronghorn
Prarie Dog
Snakes
Horny Toad
Way of LifeFarming - fruits, vegetables,
watermelons, oats
Ranching - cattle, angora goats (mohair)
Cedar trees - fenceposts
Oil and gas
Mountains and Basins
Location
Far west Texas
East border near Pecos River
South border is the Rio Grande
North border is New Mexico
CitiesEl Paso
Pecos
Kermit & Monahans in Permian Basin area
Fort Davis, Marfa, & Alpine in Mountain area
ClimateDriest part of state
8 inches of rain per year, 20 in mountains
Hot days, cool nights
Plants
IT IS FLAT!!!!!
•Some sagebrush
Animals
Way of LifeRanching - cattle, sheep, goat
Farming - cotton, fruits, vegetables, cantaloupes (irrigation in El Paso and Pecos River Valley)
Oil and gas - part of Permian Basin