Texas

Northern Texas is a land of ranching and agriculture. The life zones in the region belong to those of the semiarid desert. A rock formation, known as the Caprock Escarpment, leads north-south through this region separating the high plains from the low lands of central Texas. This area contains a number of state parks as well as Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and the Rita Blanca National Grassland.

Central Texas contains the Colorado River Valley and is split between the Edwards Plateau, Hill Country and lower plains. The region produces cotton and pecans as well as livestock. San Antonio and Austin lie within this region. It contains many state parks with natural and historical resources.

Eastern Texas is the most populated area of the state, containing Fort Worth, Dallas and Houston. This is the greenest area of the state receiving up to 50 inches of rain in some communities. Man-made lakes dot the landscape and provide recreation opportunities. Also within this area are several state parks and four National Forests.

Southern Texas is comprised of the Rio Grande Valley and Plain and the Gulf Coast Coastal Plain. The area is bordered by water in the east and Mexico in the west. Mexican culture is a distinct part of this region from San Antonio, in the north, to the Rio Grande in the south. The Gulf Coast, and its barrier islands, provides a large recreation area, that includes Padre Island National Seashore. The region also includes several state parks, International Falcon Reservoir, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site.

Recreation - Recreation opportunities in Texas mirror the vast land and diverse environments of the state. Highlights within the state include water sports along Padre Island National Seashore and backcountry experiences in Big Ben National Park. Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and camping are popular in the National Forests of eastern Texas.

Climate - Texas is a huge state with varying climates but generally the climate could be said to be primarily hot and humid in the summer months and mild to cool in the winter. Western Texas receives very little rainfall with the exception of the higher elevations. This is the driest area of the state having a relative humidity of 50 percent and an annual rainfall average of eight inches.

Northern Texas is infamous for its quickly changing weather. This is the area of the state that receives remarkable tornadoes and hailstorms. This is also the only region of the state to accumulate snow. An average of 15 inches falls each year along with 20 inches of rain.

Eastern Texas experiences hot and humid summers. Temperatures in the metro areas of Fort Worth and Dallas often reach 100 degrees in July and August. This makes for a dangerously high heat and uncomfortable for traveling. Winters are pleasant in this region, where the temperatures rarely dip below 32 degrees. Average rainfall in eastern Texas reaches 25 inches or more.

Location - Texas lies in the south-central United States.

LAT: 32.1756124785
LONG: -98.4814453125