Great Plains
OF TEXAS
Summary of the Great Plains
The Great Plains is located in Central Texas between the North Central Plains and the Mountains and Basins and they extend from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande River. The rainfall can range any where from less than 20 inches to over 30 inches of rain per year. The Great Plains is split up into three subregions called the High Plains, the Edwards Plateau, and the Llano Basin. The High Plains is known as one of the flattest places on Earth and makes up the northern part of the Great Plains. This is a major farming area that is very dry with as little as 20 inches of rain per year. The Edwards Plateua on the other hand is made up of lime stone and takes up the southern part of the Great Plains. When the limestone dissolves, it forms caves and underwater streams. The Edwards Aquifer supplies San Antonio's water. The Llano Basin is made up of granite, and the vegetation is made up of mesquite, live oak and post oak trees. The economic resources include oil, natural gas, farming and ranching, cotton, wheat, and rail road shipping.
Major City: Amarillo
In 1887, Rail road shipping was put across the Panhandle, and soon after, a tent city near Amarillo Creek became a city. Eventually the city was named Amarillo which is now located in the northern part of the Great Plains also known as the Panhandle.
State Park: Palo Duro Canyon
Palo Duro Canyon conists of 20,000 acres of land in Armstrong and Randall counties. This is south of Amarillo, and the state park opened July 4, 1934. The land in the Great Plains varies a lot because of how big the region is, so the major differences between canyons and flat lands is normal.
Geographic Feature: High Plains
The High plains is known as one of the flatest places on Earth. And recieves more rainfall that the rest of the region. Like mentioned earlier, the land ranges and varies a lot so this is normal depending on where it is.
Sources
Texas History Text Book
http://heisetexashistory.blogspot.com/2011/09/websites-for-regions-project.html
http://www.amarillo.gov/?page_id=1715
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-amarillo.html
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon/park_history
http://jefflynchdev.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/sunset-over-the-texas-high-plains/