1. Texas EcoRegions

2. Can you name the Regions of Texas?

3. The regions of Texas are…
Gulf Coast
Piney Woods
Prairies and Lakes
Panhandle Plains
Big Bend
Hill Country
South Texas Plains

4. Gulf Coast Region

5. PLANTS
The land along the Gulf Coast is very near sea level. It is hard for water to drain off the land, since there is nowhere lower for the water to go. Much of the coast of Texas is made up of marshes----wetlands where a variety of tall grasses grow.

6. Description of Region
Area is dissected by streams and rivers flowing into Gulf of Mexico
Soils are acidic sands and sandy loams
Plains and marshes experience large amounts of weathering, erosion and deposition

7. Description of Region cont.
Physical weathering: breaking down of rock into smaller pieces
Sediments from rivers deposited along coast forming sand dunes and/or barrier islands over time

8. Piney Woods

9. Piney Woods Description
Thick forest of pines
Part of a larger forest that extends east into other states
“Big Thicket”: low lying wetlands (swamps) in southern part of region

10. Piney Woods Terrain Rolling hills with wetter lower areas
Hardwood trees such as elm, mesquite and ash present in wetter areas
Mature vegetation holds soil in place preventing erosion

12. Panhandle Plains or Great Plains

13. High Plains Cities
Amarillo
Lubbock
Abilene
San Angelo
Wichita Falls

14. Geographic Features Rolling grassy lands Thick grasses Limestone rock
Higher elevation because limestone doesn't wear down easily

15. Climate
Dry air
Tornadoes
Windiest in u.s.a.

16. Plants
Prickly pear
Yucca
Indian Paintbrush
Cactus

17. Animals
Pronghorn
Prairie Dog
Snakes
Horned Toad

18. Big Bend Region or Trans Pecos Region

19. Location Far west Texas East border near Pecos River
South border is the Rio Grande
North border is New Mexico

20. Cities El Paso Pecos Kermit & Monahans in Permian Basin area
Fort Davis, Marfa, & Alpine in Mountain area

21. Climate Driest part of state
8 inches of rain per year, 20” in mountains
Hot days, cool nights

22. Trans Pecos / Big Bend Description
Wide open spaces
Rugged plateaus
Desert mountains
Only mountains in Texas

23. Big Bend Erosion Soil eroded due to decline of grassland
Flash flooding and rapid run-off cause erosion
Erosion of limestone cliffs due to acid rain. (chemical erosion)

24. Plants
Short grasses
Some sagebrush
Forests grow on mountain slopes

25. Hill Country Region Edwards Plateau / Llano Uplift

26. Hill County Region Rolling to hilly grassland Plateau: high, flat land
Many springs and canyons
Edwards Aquifer
Many caves and rocks erode due to chemical weathering

27. South Texas Plains Region Brush Country

28. South Texas Plains Also known as Brush Country
Plants are grasses, thorny brush and cacti
High temperatures = high evaporation

29. Prairies and Lakes Contains both Oak trees and grasses
28 to 40 inches of rain
Varies from gently rolling hills to nearly level land
Many native grasses destroyed for agriculture leaving land vulnerable to erosion
Contains cities such as Dallas and Fort Worth