Geographic Regions of Texas

Coastal Plains

• Climate: Hot and damp, humid. Tornadoes and hurricanes. Average annual rainfall is 20-58 inches.

• Landforms: Mostly flat and low prairies, very few hills. Coastal sands and good soil along rivers.

• Vegetation: A lot of trees and grass, many different types of crops.

• Economic Resources: Farming, fishing, ranching, oil & gas, factories, and ports.

Mountains & Basins• Climate: Very hot summers and cool winters. Driest part of Texas. Average

annual rainfall is 8-12 inches.

• Landforms: Hills, 150 mountains, plateaus, canyons, basins, deserts, and Pecos

& Rio Grande Rivers.

• Vegetation: Trees and grass are scarce; it’s mostly cactus and desert plants.

• Economic Resources: Ranching and oil and gas. Cotton, fruits, and vegetables

can grow through irrigation systems in the El Paso & Pecos River.

Great Plains

• Climate: Dry air and dust storms. Hot summers and cold winters

(snow in the Panhandle). Average annual rainfall is 15-31 inches.

• Landforms: Prairies, hills, canyons, and escarpments.

Escarpment: a long, steep slope at the edge of a plateau.

• Vegetation: Mostly grass with few trees. Some types of cactus and

tumbleweeds.

• Economic Resources: Farming (cotton & wheat), ranching, oil & gas.

Central Plains

• Climate: Dry air and tornadoes. Hot summers, cold winters

(some snow). Average annual rainfall is 30-50 inches. Drought.

• Landforms: Rolling, thick grassy lands and lakes. Higher

elevation.

• Vegetation: More grass than trees. Fruit, vegetable and oat

crops.

• Economic Resources: Farming, ranching, cedar trees, and oil &

gas.

Take a Stand on the Big Idea

• “The Central Plains would be the

best region to live in if you wanted

to grow fruits and vegetables.”