The 4 Natural Regions of TexasThe 4 Natural Regions of Texas

Natural RegionsNatural RegionsAre determined by physical geography features Are determined by physical geography features such as landforms, climate, vegetation. such as landforms, climate, vegetation.

The 4 natural regions of Texas are:The 4 natural regions of Texas are:

North Central PlainsNorth Central Plains-Just to the west of Dallas, includes Ft. Worth-Just to the west of Dallas, includes Ft. Worth

Coastal PlainsCoastal Plains– This region is along the Gulf of MexicoThis region is along the Gulf of Mexico

Great PlainsGreat Plains– Mostly the northern part of the state or the Mostly the northern part of the state or the

PanhandlePanhandle

Mountains and BasinsMountains and Basins– West Texas where the Mountains are.West Texas where the Mountains are.

SubregionsSubregionsEach Natural Region of Texas is divided into Each Natural Region of Texas is divided into smaller subregions. There are 11 in allsmaller subregions. There are 11 in all

Coastal Plains RegionCoastal Plains Region

The largest of all the four regions. The largest of all the four regions. Makes up nearly 1/3 of Texas Makes up nearly 1/3 of Texas 2/3rds of all Texans live in the Coastal Plains2/3rds of all Texans live in the Coastal PlainsIndustries include oil, natural gas, and Industries include oil, natural gas, and seafood. seafood. Cities in the Coastal Plains:Cities in the Coastal Plains:– DallasDallas– AustinAustin– HoustonHouston– San AntonioSan Antonio

Subregions of the Coastal Plains:Subregions of the Coastal Plains:

Piney WoodsPiney Woods

Post Oak BeltPost Oak Belt

Gulf Coastal PlainGulf Coastal Plain

Blackland PrairieBlackland Prairie

South Texas PlainSouth Texas Plain

-Piney Woods-Piney Woods

A Pine forest that A Pine forest that stretches from the stretches from the Louisiana border west Louisiana border west 125 miles.125 miles.

North-East TexasNorth-East Texas

It is the rainiest It is the rainiest portion of the state. portion of the state. 45-60 inches45-60 inches

Important due to its Important due to its Timber Industry. Timber Industry.

-Post Oak Belt-Post Oak BeltAn area of oak, hickory, An area of oak, hickory, and other trees, with a and other trees, with a scattering of prairie scattering of prairie grassesgrasses

Just east of Dallas Just east of Dallas includes the city of Austinincludes the city of Austin

-Blackland Prairie-Blackland PrairieVery narrow but long Very narrow but long in Central Texas, it in Central Texas, it is mostly flat and is mostly flat and with small trees.with small trees.Dallas is located in Dallas is located in this subregionthis subregion

-Gulf Coast Plain-Gulf Coast PlainAn area that An area that follows the coast follows the coast of the Gulf of of the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico and inland about 30-inland about 30-60 miles60 miles

-Includes the City of Houston

-South Texas Plains-South Texas PlainsSouth of San Antonio to South of San Antonio to the Mexican border.the Mexican border.

An area 270 miles long An area 270 miles long and 250 miles wide.and 250 miles wide.

The climate is warm year The climate is warm year round.round.

North Central PlainsNorth Central Plains

The North Central Plains is an area of The North Central Plains is an area of plains covered by small oak trees, brush, plains covered by small oak trees, brush, and scattered grasses. and scattered grasses.

The Region gets higher in elevation and The Region gets higher in elevation and dryer the farther the west you godryer the farther the west you go

Cities:Cities:

-Ft. Worth-Ft. Worth

-Abilene-Abilene

-Wichita Falls-Wichita Falls

Subregions of the North Central Subregions of the North Central Plains:Plains:

Grand PrairieGrand Prairie

Rolling PlainsRolling Plains

Cross TimbersCross Timbers

-Grand Prairie-Grand PrairieWest-Central Texas. West-Central Texas.

The vegetation The vegetation consists mostly of tall consists mostly of tall grasses and scattered grasses and scattered trees.trees.

--Cross TimbersCross TimbersDivided into Eastern Divided into Eastern and Western parts as it and Western parts as it wraps around the wraps around the Grand PrairieGrand Prairie

Soil allows it to grow Soil allows it to grow trees such as oaks, trees such as oaks, hickories, pecans, and hickories, pecans, and elms.elms.

Ft. Worth is in this Ft. Worth is in this SubregionSubregion

--Rolling PlainsRolling Plains

This area is largely a This area is largely a steppe. A vast steppe. A vast treeless plain.treeless plain.Elevation of the Elevation of the region varies from region varies from 900 feet in the east to 900 feet in the east to 2,000 feet in the west2,000 feet in the westAbilene is in this Abilene is in this subregion. subregion.

Great PlainsGreat Plains

The Great Plains lies in the northern and The Great Plains lies in the northern and central part of the state. central part of the state.

It includes the panhandle and the hill It includes the panhandle and the hill country (near Austin) country (near Austin)

Cities:Cities:– AmarilloAmarillo– LubbockLubbock– OdessaOdessa– MidlandMidland

Subregions of the Great PlainsSubregions of the Great Plains

Llano Basin

Edwards Plateau

High Plains

-Llano Basin-Llano BasinLies in almost the center Lies in almost the center of Texas.of Texas.

Known as the hill country Known as the hill country because of its huge because of its huge granite hills. Just west of granite hills. Just west of AustinAustin

--Edwards PlateauEdwards PlateauSouthern part of the Southern part of the Great PlainsGreat PlainsThe Edwards Aquifer The Edwards Aquifer supplies water for supplies water for much of the areamuch of the area..

--High PlainsHigh PlainsAlso called the Also called the Llano Estacado or Llano Estacado or the panhandle of the panhandle of TexasTexasOne of the flattest One of the flattest areas in the worldareas in the worldLarge farming areaLarge farming area

Palo Duro Canyon

PALO DURO CANYON

PALO DURO CANYON

Mountains and Mountains and Basins RegionBasins Region

Has NO Has NO SUBREGIONSSUBREGIONS

Has highest point of Has highest point of Texas, Guadalupe Texas, Guadalupe Peak at 8,749 feet.Peak at 8,749 feet.

Cities:Cities:

El PasoEl Paso

Tall mountains separated Tall mountains separated by large basins and by large basins and valleys.valleys.

Trees grow in the Trees grow in the mountains. Cactus, mountains. Cactus, shrubs, and short grasses shrubs, and short grasses grow in the basins and grow in the basins and valleys.valleys.

Very little rain.Very little rain.

Texas EscarpmentsAn escarpment is a transition between different geographic regions.

-Usually a steep elevation increase, like a cliff or steep slope.

Balcones Escarpment is a geologic fault zone several miles wide between the Coastal and Great Plains

The Caprock Escarpment is a geographical transition point in Texas between the High Plains to the west and the North Central Plains to the east.