Natural Resources of Texas Created By Carmen Phillips Krimmel Intermediate

Texas is the 2nd largest state in the U. S. behind Alaska Texas is the 2nd largest state in the U.S. behind Alaska. The area of Texas is 267,277 square miles. #2

Texas makes up 7% of the total land area of the United States.

Natural Resources In the south we are mostly on a level plain and along the coast are barrier islands and protected bays. Padre Island

Cutting across Texas is an escarpment, or a great curving arc or cliff, named the Balcones Escarpment. It was formed by a long ago earthquake. This marks the beginning of the Hill Country. This is a plateau, or tableland. Balcones Escarpment

As you travel northwest the land gets flatter and higher with an abrupt change at the Caprock Escarpment along with the Palo Duro Canyon and Tule Canyons. Palo Duro Canyon Caprock Escarpment http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/texas/palo-duro-canyon-state-park.php

In the west is the only place where mountains can be found in Texas In the west is the only place where mountains can be found in Texas. The highest point is the Guadalupe Peak. Guadalupe Peak 8,749 feet

Texas Water Resources Texas’s Water Resources include the Gulf of Mexico, bays and rivers. Rivers of Texas are called the wrong way rivers because they take needed water away from the dry areas of the state due to the higher elevation in the northwest.

To control floods and keep needed water from flowing into the Gulf, rivers have been dammed to form lakes. Proctor Dam – Courtesy US Army Corps of Engineers

The only natural lake in Texas is Caddo Lake. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/parkguide/rgn_pw_003.phtml

Aquifers are underground water reservoirs used for irrigation.

Edwards Aquifer in the Hill Country supplies water for San Antonio and for farms to the west and is refilled by rainfall. Barton Springs Guadalupe River

Cotton Farmers of the Texas High Plains Ogallala Aquifer in the Texas High Plains has declining water levels and can not be refilled easily, but it irrigates 5 million acres. Cotton Farmers of the Texas High Plains Optional Ogallala Video Clip. First 30 seconds ONLY. http://www.depts.ttu.edu/communications/news/stories/videos/ogallala-video.php

Can you guess how many gallons of water it takes to grow ONE pound of cotton? = That’s about 20 water coolers!

Soil is a valuable resource for both farming and ranching.

3 Vegetation Regions of Texas Grasses and small shrubs of the Savannas grow in Central and West Texas. Forests located in the East provide one of the top cash crops in Texas. Stretching from Dallas to San Antonio and around Houston, the Grasslands are the most heavily settled regions.

Texas’s Natural Economic Resources $ $ Main Minerals are: Natural Gas Petroleum Sand and Gravel Coal

Building Stones Gypsum (Drywall) Some of Texas’ natural materials are used in building. Do you have any of these natural stones in YOUR home? Granite (Countertops) Limestone (Floors)

Texas Energy 1/4 of all the energy in the history of the United States has been produced in Texas.

Come in quietly and open your INB: In your Interactive Notebook Pg 11 create a Postcard of ONE Natural Resource we visited today! Front and Back! You must use COLOR! Palo Duro Canyon Wishing you were here…

Interactive NB Page 10: Brainstorm: Create a bubble map of Natural Resources found in Texas and explain how the resources are used. You must have 6 resources! Pre AP Assignment