Chapter 2: A Land Called Texas

Section 1:The Physical Landscape of Texas

Landforms of Texas

How many states border Texas? 4

1

23

4

Landforms of Texas

•Major Landforms of Texas–Plains–Hills–Plateaus–Mountain ranges

Landforms of Texas

•Plains- areas of flat or gently rolling land without a sharp rise or fall in elevation.

Landforms of Texas

Landforms of Texas

•Plateaus-are areas of flat elevated land that drop sharply on one or more sides.

Landforms of Texas

•Texas “Hill Country”

•Located in Central Texas

Texas Hill Country

Landforms of Texas

•Ranges-groups of mountains.

Guadalupe Peak—highest point in Texas.

Photos from the Guadalupe Mountains

The Texas River System

The Texas River System

•All rivers and streams in Texas eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico!

•Most Texas Rivers are located in East Texas!

The Texas River System

•Tributaries—any smaller stream or river that flows into a larger stream or river.

Which river is a tributary to the Rio Grande?

The Texas River System

• Major River Systems– Tributaries of the Mississippi

• Red River• Canadian River

– Flow directly into Gulf of Mexico• Brazos• Colorado• Nueces• Sabine• Trinity

– Rio Grande and Tributaries• Rio Grande• Pecos

Texas Lakes & Aquifers

•Few natural lakes.

•Caddo Lake: largest natural lake in state.

•Hundreds of artificial lakes.

Texas Lakes & Aquifers

•Reservoirs- artificial lakes that store water and are often used as a source of water by towns and cities.

Texas Lakes & Aquifers

•Reservoirs also used for irrigation.

•Irrigation-supplying of water to crops by artificial means.

Texas Lakes & Aquifers

•Aquifer-natural formations of underground gravel, rock, or sand that trap and hold rainwater.

Texas Lakes & Aquifers

•Refilling/Recharging is usually a slow process.

•Provide water for farms, homes, & industry.

Texas Lakes & Aquifers

•Ogallala Aquifer

–largest underground aquifer in the state.

–stretches from Texas and New Mexico all the way to South Dakota.

Texas Lakes & Aquifers

•Edwards Aquifer

–underground water source for Central Texas.

–water source for Austin and San Antonio.