REGIONS OF TEXAS The 4 Regions of Texas

REGIONS OF TEXAS

The 4 Regions of Texas • Gulf Coastal Plains • North Central Plains • Great Plains • Mountains and Basins

GULF COASTAL PLAINS REGION

Gulf Coastal Plains Physical Characteristics *Largest region in Texas *varies from flat land in east to rolling hills in the west *low elevation *trees are abundant

Gulf Coastal Plains Climate *Mild climate *Humid *Abundant rainfall (because region is located close the Gulf of Mexico) *Hurricanes

Gulf Coastal Plains Economy *Farming *Ranching *Timber *Ports *Oil Industry

Gulf Coastal Plains Major Cities *Houston *Dallas *San Antonio *Austin

Gulf Coastal Plains Subregions Piney Woods Gulf Coast Plain Post Oak Belt Blackland Prairie South Texas Plain

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS

North Central Plains Physical Characteristics *Part of larger central plains region that stretches from Canada to Texas *Higher in elevation than Coastal Plains region *Land covered with grass and brush

North Central Plains Climate *Colder in winter and hotter in summer than Coastal Plains *Receives less rainfall than East Texas *Area is part of Tornado Alley

North Central Plains Economy *Large cattle ranches *Farming *Oil and Gas

North Central Plains Cities *Forth Worth is largest city in this region *Abilene *San Angelo

North Central Plains Subregions Cross Timbers Grand Prairie Rolling Plains

GREAT PLAINS

Great Plains Physical Characteristics *Caprock Escarpment divides Great Plains from North Central Plains *Higher in elevation than the Coastal Plains and North Central Plains *Flat land *Few trees

Great Plains Climate *Dry climate (far from Gulf of Mexico) *Droughts are often a problem *Cool summers and winters are cold

Great Plains Economy *Farming- Cotton and Wheat main crops *Ranching- Cattle, Goat, and Sheep *Oil & Gas

Great Plains Major Cities *Amarillo *Lubbock

Great Plains Subregions Edwards Plateau Llano Basin High Plains

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS

Mountains and Basins Physical Characteristics *Part of the Rocky Mountain system *Plateaus and basins *Highest and Driest Region *Mostly desert area

Mountains and Basins Climate *Driest part of state (little rainfall) *Hot days and cool nights

Mountains and Basins Economy *Farming (along the Rio Grande River) *Cotton is main crop *Tourism *Oil and Gas

Mountains and Basins Major Cities *El Paso is the largest city in the region

Mountains and Basins Subregions No subregions