470 likes | 485 Views
Discover the diverse landscapes, climates, cities, and economies of the Coastal, Central Plains, and Great Plains regions of Texas. Learn about the unique features of each region and the importance of industries such as oil, gas, ranching, and farming. Explore the flora and fauna that call these areas home.
E N D
You will have a quiz on Thursday so study • 25 questions • You will need to know - Texas Rivers ( no word bank for everyone!!!) - Physical geography vocabulary (Geography geoterms/ Types of Maps/borders) - U.S. and Mexican States surrounding Texas ++ Advanced classes (5th/6th will have no word banks) ++ Pre-AP classes (will have a word bank for the vocabulary and states section)
9/13 Warm-up: What is the difference between absolute and relative location? ++ Have your Geography Geoterms we worked on yesterday out and your green Texas Regions map
Absolute Location The exact location of a place (the address, or longitude/latitude). Ex. Murchison MS is at 3700 North Hills Dr. Austin, TX 78731 Relative Location The location of a place in relation to other places (where it is relative to other things). Ex. Murchison MS is down the street from HEB and across from Starbucks
Four Regions of Texas The Escarpments help make up the NATURAL BORDERS for the Four Regions of Texas
Major Texas Landforms Escarpment a long steep slope, esp. at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights CAPROCK ESCARPMENT High Plains Permian Basin Edwards Plateau Coastal Plains BALCONES ESCARPMENT
BALCONES ESCARPMENT TX Landforms South
CAPROCK ESCARPMENT TX Landforms
Central Plains (Central Lowland) Region Mountains & Basins Region Great Plains Region Coastal Plains Region
The regions of Texas are… Gulf Coastal Plain Central Plains (Central Lowland) Great Plains Mountains and Basins
Location of Coastal Region • 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
Coastal Cities…… • Austin (on the border) • Houston • Dallas (on the border) • Waco (on the border) • Texarkana • Corpus Christi • Brownsville
Coastal Climate……. • Hot and damp, humid • Tornadoes, hurricanes • 30-55 inches of rain per year
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. • The port of Houston is one of the 10 busiest ports in the world.
Economy: 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..
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 Animals…. • Many kinds of animals live in the coastal region… To name a few… • Hundreds of birds-Bald eagle, Quail, Hawk, Owl, etc • White tail deer • Foxes • Skunks • River otters • Bobcats • Alligators in the marshes!!! Some weigh up to 500 lbs!!!
The real road runner….. Can you name other coastal animals……
North Central Plains NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
Location of North Central Plains • The North Central Plains is bordered in the north by the Red River. In the west, it includes a small piece of the Panhandle. • 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 Plains Cities….. • Fort Worth • Abilene • Wichita Falls • San Angelo
Central Plains Climate • Central Texas is shaped by its many rivers and hills. The climate is subtropical- similar to the coastal plains • 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.
CENTRAL PLAINS ECONOMY • RANCHING • COTTON AND WHEAT FARMING • NATURAL GAS FROM THE BARNETT SHALE
Central Plain - Plants • Blue bonnets • Indian Paintbrush • Oak Trees • Mesquite Trees
Indian Blanket OakTree Blue Sage
North Central Plain - Animals • Bobcat • Turkeys • White-tailed deer • Screech Owl • Mexican Freetail Bat • Cliff Swallow
THE GREAT PLAINS GREAT PLAINS
Location of Great Plains • Caprock Escarpment separates Great Plains from North Central Plains in the east. • In the north the border is the state of Oklahoma and in the west the border is the state of New Mexico. • The Southern border of the Great Plains is the Edwards Plateau • In the North lie the High Plains which rises in elevation as you move west. • Edwards Plateau which is hilly and is a part of the Texas Hill Country.
Great Plains Cities • Amarillo • Lubbock • Abilene • Midland • Odessa
Great Plains Climate • Dry air • Tornadoes • Little rain 20-30 inches of rain per year
Great Plains Economy • Farming - fruits, vegetables, watermelons, oats • Ranching - cattle, angora goats (mohair) • Cedar trees - fenceposts • Oil and gas
Great Plains Plants • Prickly pear • Yucca • Indian Paintbrush • Cactus
Animalsof the Great Plains • Pronghorn • Prairie Dog • Snakes • Horny Toad
Location of theMountains andBasins • Far west Texas • East border near Pecos River • South border is the Rio Grande • North border is New Mexico
Cities of theMountainsand Basins • El Paso • Pecos • Presidio
Climate of theMountains and Basins • Driest part of state • 8 inches of rain per year, 20 in mountains • Hot days, cool nights
Mountains and BasinsEconomy • Ranching - cattle, sheep, goat • Farming - cotton, fruits, vegetables, cantaloupes (irrigation in El Paso and Pecos River Valley) • Oil and gas - part of Permian Basin
Plants of theMountainsand Basins • IT IS FLAT!!!!! • Some sagebrush
Animals of the Mountainsand Basins • Rattlesnakes • Armadillos
Texas Regions Stations Activity • You will now complete a stations activity to determine which stations are associated with which Texas regions. You may circle more than one answer, but you should be able to explain them. • Make sure to use complete sentences and explain your answer. • Station 1: Bluebonnet • Which region? (Circle one) Coastal Plains Central Plains Great Plains Basin and Mountains • Explain: Bluebonnets are native to the Central Plains.
Stations Expectations • No more than one or two to a station • Work with your group to answer the questions • Do not move on to the next station until you hear the timer • Rotate even if you are not finished when you hear the timer; there may be time at the end to complete missing stations • If you get done early; wait until you here the time to rotate with the next station. • Don’t forget- write in complete sentences!! Have fun and be productive
Middle Latitudes: this means we have a warm, mild climate High Plains (Panhandle) Mountains Grasslands Edwards Plateau Desert Plants (Hill Country) Coastal Plains Barrier Islands Caprock Escarpment Forests (in East TX) Basins Savannas – shrubs (smaller trees) and grasses Ogallala Aquifer Balcones Escarpment Edwards Aquifer Flat land and Rolling hills Grass - (in the Gulf Coast Plains) Gulf of Mexico Oil & Natural Gas In Texas, as you travel from east to west, the LAND gets HIGHER and the CLIMATE gets DRIER!! Oil & Natural Gas West East