Welcome to the Southwest

Characteristics of the Southwest

History: The Southwest is the home of the Navajo and Pueblo Indians, who arrived in the year 1300. Most of the Southwest was settled by the Spanish around 1600.

Population: The population of the Southwest is about 27 million. Most of the people live in the large cities where they have access to water and more comforts than found in the desert areas.

Landforms: The Southwest has four landforms: plains, plateaus, highlands, and mountains. There are two deserts in the Southwest. One of the most beautiful scenic spots is the Grand Canyon, which was carved out by the Colorado River. Major cities in the Southwest are Dallas, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona.

Business: The Southwest is a center for the oil industry. Mining is also important because of the rich deposits of copper, lead, and zinc. Some Southwest industries also make computers and robots.

Natural Resources: The most important natural resource in the Southwest is oil. Goods produced from oil include gasoline, plastic, and heat.

Climate: The Southwest is hot and warm in the summer and cold to warm in the winter. It is mostly a dry climate with little moisture.

The States of the Southwest

Arizona

New Mexico

Oklahoma Texas

Landforms of the Southwest

MESA – A mesa is a flat-topped hill with steep sides.

GRAND CANYON – The Colorado Plateau also has hundreds of deep canyons. The most famous canyon is the Grand Canyon.

Climate of the SouthwestThe eastern edge of the Southwest is part of HUMID AMERICA (Humid means damp or wet).

More than 20 inches of precipitation falls in this part of the country every year.

Most of the Southwest lies in ARID AMERICA (Arid means dry) where less than 20 inches of precipitation falls each year.

The soil is sandy and rocky. There is more cactus and sagebrush here than forests or grasslands.

Changes in the the Southwest

The 3 A’s brought change to the Southwest:

• Air Conditioning

• Automobiles

• AqueductsAqueducts are pipes or canals that are used to carry water longs distances from lakes and rivers.

Water, Energy and New Industry in the Southwest

The future growth of the Southwest depends on water and energy. People need water to live and energy to run their factories, air conditioners, and cars.

• Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico have large deposits of oil and natural gas.

• New Mexico is also rich in uranium that nuclear power plants use to make electricity.

• Mining is important in New Mexico and Arizona. The natural resources of cooper, lead, and zinc are all found in the Southwest.

• Some Southwest industries make computers and robots.

- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is located in Houston, TX.

• Other industries make lifesaving equipment for hospitals or rockets to explore space.