Chapter 2 – A Land Called Texas

Section 1 – The Physical Landscape of

Texas

The Borders of Texas

Gulf of Mexico – Southeast

Mexico – South

New Mexico – West

Oklahoma – North

Arkansas – Northeast

Louisiana - East

Landscape of Texas

Four major types of landforms

Hills – spread throughout the plains, mostly in Central Texas and the Hill Country to the west of Central Texas

Mountains – mostly located in West Texas, several ranges in Texas, highest peak is the Guadalupe Peak in the Guadalupe MountainsRanges – groups of mountains

Landscape of Texas

Four major types of landformsPlains – areas of flat or gently rolling land

without a sharp rise or fall in elevationCovers most of the Gulf Coast, Panhandle,

North Texas, South Texas, and West Texas

Plateaus – areas of flat elevated land that drop sharply on one or more sides Largest Plateau is Edwards Plateau located west of Hill

Country and rises in elevation from east to west.

Texas River Systems

All rivers and streams eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico

First System: All the rivers and streams in North Texas that flow into the Mississippi River Includes Red River and Canadian River

Second System: Flows parallel to one another directly into the Gulf of Mexico Includes the Brazos, Colorado, Neches, Nueces,

Sabine, and Trinity Rivers

Texas River Systems

Third System: Rio Grande and its tributariesIncludes the Pecos RiverTributaries – any smaller streams or rivers

that flow into a larger stream or river

The Rio Grande is the boundary between Texas and Mexico

Texas Lakes and Aquifers

Most of the lakes in Texas are man-made via dams to create reservoirs for drinking water, recreation, and irrigation

Reservoirs – artificial lakes

Irrigation – watering of crops

Texas Lakes and Aquifers

Water is also found in aquifers, which are filled by rainwater

Aquifer – formation of natural gravel, rock, and sand that trap and hold rainwater underground

Texas Lakes and Aquifers

Ogallala Aquifer – largest underground water source in the state. Stretches from West Texas to South Dakota.

Edwards Aquifer – provides water for San Antonio, Austin, and the rest of Central Texas