Texas Regions & Rivers

1. Texas Regions & Rivers

2. Based on the two maps (physical & precipitation) how would you divide Texas by Regions? Food for thought...

3. TEXAS REGIONS

4. Great Plains Central Plains Coastal Plains Mountains & Basins

5. (Gulf) Coastal Plains

6. Climate (Gulf) Coastal Plains • Hot and damp, humid • Tornadoes, hurricanes • 30-55 inches of rain per year (most in the state)

7. Coastal Plains • Physical characteristics: woods, rolling hills, grasslands, bayous, bays, lagoons, islands, swamps, low elevations • Vegetation: Varies greatly because most plants thrive here (pine, oak, magnolia, native grasses)

8. Major Cities: Houston, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Brownsville

9. Water Sources: Rivers (Trinity, Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, San Antonio and Neches River), Reservoirs, Gulf of Mexico

10. Cultivated vegetation (agriculture): Corn, rice, soybeans, citrus, cotton, wheat

11. Natural resources: Oil, natural gas, coal, fish, rich soil

12. Economy: Highest population & economic activities Fishing, Farming, Oil Industry, Ranching, Education, Medicine

13. Animals…. • Largest variety of species in the state • Hundreds of birds including: quail, hawks, owls, and bald eagles • Freshwater fish including: catfish, trout, and bass • Sea life found in the Gulf of Mexico:oysters, crab, shrimp, dolphins, sharks • White tail deer • Armadillos • Foxes • Beaver • Skunks • River otters • Bobcats • Alligators in the marshes!!! Some weigh up to 500 lbs!!! River Otters Alligator

14. Special Attractions: Alamo, Reliant Stadium, Astrodome, Johnson Space Center,Schlitterbahn, Moody Gardens, Kemah Boardwalk, Texas State Fair

15. North Central Plains NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS

16. North Central PlainsClimate • 12 – 36 inches of rain per year • Tornadoes • Dry air

17. North Central Plains Physical Characteristics: -Rolling Prairies with Fertile Soil - Mesquite, small shrubs, timber -Limestone -Caprock Escarpment

18. Wildlife (animals) found in the North Central Plains Bobcat White-tailed deer Turkeys Screech Owl

19. Central PlainsMajor Cities: • Major Cities: • Wichita Falls • Abilene • Ft. Worth Economy: Farming, ranching, Computers, Healthcare companies in Ft. Worth

20. NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES • RANCHING • COTTON AND WHEAT FARMING • FRUIT & VEGETABLE CROPS • NATURAL GAS • ROCK AND MINERAL QUARRIES

21. Great Plains Great PLAINS

22. Great Plains This Region extends north all the way to Canada. It is also known as the _________, because of all the grains grown here

23. Great Plains Climate • Hot and Dry seasons • ‘16-’20 inches of rain a year • Cold Winters • Dust Storms are common • Tornadoes

24. Great Plains Wildlife Bison Pronghorn Prairie Dogs PhysicalCharacteristics • Canyons • Plateaus • Plains • Basins

25. Great Plains Cities Lubbock Amarillo Midland Odessa Special Attraction: Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo

26. Great PlainsEconomy • Ranching - cattle, angora goats (mohair) • Farming – cotton, fruits, vegetables, watermelons, oats • Oil and gas • Energy farming (wind)

27. Great Plains Cities • Amarillo • Lubbock • Midland • Odessa

28. Mountains and Basins

29. Mountains and Basins This region is the furthest West in Texas.

30. Climate • Driest part of state • 8 inches of rain per year in the basins • 20 inches of rain per year in the mountains • Hot days, cool nights

31. Physical Geography: • Mountain Ranges: Chisos, Davis Mountains, Guadalupe • Guadalupe Peak • Plateaus • Basins • Desert • Pecos River • Rio Grande River

32. Mountains and Basins Cities: El Paso and Fort Davis Lowest population of all regions

33. Mountains and Basins Tourist Attractions McDonald Observatory Ft. Davis Big Bend National Park

34. Economy • Ranching - cattle, sheep, goat • Oil and gas - part of Permian Basin • Coal mining • Farming - cotton, fruits, vegetables, cantaloupes (irrigation in El Paso and Pecos River Valley) • Tourism: Big Bend National Park, McDonald Observatory, etc.

35. Your regions chart should now be complete. Be sure to turn it in for a daily grade You will use it again for your regions letter

37. Remember, The regions of Texas are… Coastal Plain North Central Plains Great Plains Mountains and Basins Label them on your map just like the picture on the next slide

38. Great Plains Central Plains Coastal Plains Mountains & Basins

40. Items you may want to add to your map North Central Plains Farming Quarries Ranching Coastal Plains Seafood along Gulf of Mexico Forrest from Houston on north Cotton, Cattle, Grain Citrus near Brownsville Oil near Houston Great Plains Farming Ranching/ Cattle/ Sheep/ Oil near Midland/Odessa Windmills Mountains & Basins Mountains/Mining Ranching Windmills Tourist Attractions

41. Let’s move on to your rivers map (back page) Texas has many rivers, but for now we will focus on the 3 rivers that form a large part of the Texas border. Can you name them? Rio _________ separates Texas from Mexico R__ River separates Texas from Oklahoma S_______ River separates Texas from Louisiana Label the rivers on your map Next, highlight them or use a blue pencil to trace them.

43. RIO GRANDE • Separates Texas and Mexico • 2nd longest river in the United States • Its headwaters (beginning) is in Colorado

44. RED RIVER • Boundary between Texas and Oklahoma • A menace to travelers because of quicksand and strong currents, often with disastrous results (loss of life or property)

45. SABINE RIVER • Eastern boundary between Texas and Louisiana

46. Now you will add major cities to your rivers map Hint: Look at the map on the next page. Can you identify what many of these cities have in common? Most cities are located near water (rivers). Use this fact to help you place the cities in the correct location.