The 4 Natural Regions of Texas
Natural Regions
Are determined by physical geography features
such as landforms, climate, vegetation.
The 4 natural regions of Texas are:
North Central Plains
-Just to the west of Dallas, includes Ft. Worth
Coastal Plains
– This region is along the Gulf of Mexico
Great Plains
– Mostly the northern part of the state or the
Panhandle
Mountains and Basins
– West Texas where the Mountains are.
Subregions
Each Natural Region of Texas is divided into
smaller subregions. There are 11 in all
Coastal Plains Region
The largest of all the four regions.
Makes up nearly 1/3 of Texas
2/3rds of all Texans live in the Coastal
Plains
Industries include oil, natural gas, and
seafood.
Cities in the Coastal Plains:
– Dallas
– Austin
– Houston
– San Antonio
Subregions of the Coastal Plains:
Piney Woods
Post Oak Belt
Gulf Coastal Plain
Blackland Prairie
South Texas Plain
-Piney Woods
A Pine forest that
stretches from the
Louisiana border west
125 miles.
North-East Texas
It is the rainiest
portion of the state.
45-60 inches
Important due to its
Timber Industry.
-Post Oak Belt
An area of oak, hickory,
and other trees, with a
scattering of prairie
grasses
Just east of Dallas
includes the city of Austin
-Blackland Prairie
Very narrow but
long in Central
Texas, it is mostly
flat and with small
trees.
Dallas is located in
this subregion
-Gulf Coast Plain
An area that
follows the coast
of the Gulf of
Mexico and
inland about 3060 miles
-Includes the City of Houston
-South Texas Plains
South of San Antonio to
the Mexican border.
An area 270 miles long
and 250 miles wide.
The climate is warm year
round.
North Central Plains
The North Central Plains is an area of
plains covered by small oak trees, brush,
and scattered grasses.
The Region gets higher in elevation and
dryer the farther the west you go
Cities:
-Ft. Worth
-Abilene
-Wichita Falls
Subregions of the North Central
Plains:
Grand Prairie
Rolling Plains
Cross Timbers
-Grand Prairie
West-Central Texas.
The vegetation
consists mostly of tall
grasses and scattered
trees.
-Cross Timbers
Divided into Eastern
and Western parts as it
wraps around the
Grand Prairie
Soil allows it to grow
trees such as oaks,
hickories, pecans, and
elms.
Ft. Worth is in this
Subregion
-Rolling Plains
This area is largely a
steppe. A vast
treeless plain.
Elevation of the
region varies from
900 feet in the east to
2,000 feet in the west
Abilene is in this
subregion.
Great Plains
The Great Plains lies in the northern and
central part of the state.
It includes the panhandle and the hill
country (near Austin)
Cities:
– Amarillo
– Lubbock
– Odessa
– Midland
Subregions of the Great Plains
Llano Basin
Edwards Plateau
High Plains
-Llano Basin
Lies in almost the center
of Texas.
Known as the hill country
because of its huge
granite hills. Just west of
Austin
-Edwards Plateau
Southern part of the
Great Plains
The Edwards Aquifer
supplies water for
much of the area.
-High Plains
Also called the
Llano Estacado or
the panhandle of
Texas
One of the flattest
areas in the world
Large farming area
PALO DURO CANYON
Palo Duro Canyon
PALO DURO CANYON
Mountains and
Basins Region
Has NO
SUBREGIONS
Has highest point
of Texas,
Guadalupe Peak at
8,749 feet.
Cities:
El Paso
Tall mountains separated
by large basins and
valleys.
Trees grow in the
mountains. Cactus,
shrubs, and short grasses
grow in the basins and
valleys.
Very little rain.
Texas Escarpments
An 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.