Gulf Coast Characteristics

5171 Words21 Pages
Gulf Coast- The Gulf Coast stretches along the Gulf of Mexico for hundreds of miles. Cities such as Corpus Christi, Galveston, and Houston are in the Gulf Coast region. Near the gulf waters you can see marshes, barrier islands, estuaries (where salty sea water and fresh river water meet), and bays. As you travel west, you can see prairies and grasslands. The Gulf Coast is home to many wildlife and plants. People from many cultures have enjoyed living in the Gulf Coast region. Learn more about its wildlife and history. Topography and Characteristics Major Rivers: San Jacinto, Trinity, Brazos, Nueces, San Antonio Major Aquifer: Gulf Coast, Carrizo-Wilcox Size: 21,000 sq mi. The Gulf Coast is a nearly level, slowly-drained plain. It…show more content…
Where it flows through South Texas is called the lower Rio Grande valley. The Rio Grande Valley is an ecosystem found nowhere else in the United States. It is a subtropical environment, which lies further south than any other part of the United States except Hawaii and part of Florida. It is very humid. Many tropical birds from South America can be found here. Palms, subtropical woodlands and even citrus trees grow here. The Rio Grande delta (the land at the mouth of the river, where it flows into the ocean) once had an extensive palm forest. The Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda first named the river the Rio de las Palmas, "River of Palms," in 1519. The fertile land along the Rio Grande River has given rise to many farms. Presently, there are only 37 acres of protected palm forest compared to approximately 40,000 acres that once covered the delta…show more content…
Big Bend Country is also known as the Trans-Pecos. It covers the extreme western part of the state east to the Pecos River. The different soils and elevations in this region support diverse habitats and vegetation, from desert valleys and plateaus to wooded mountain slopes. Mountain outwash materials formed the soils of the Trans-Pecos. Surface textures vary. The soil is generally alkaline. Elevations range from 2,500 feet to more than 8,749 feet at Guadalupe Peak. Although most of Texas is located on flat plains or rolling plains, there are mountains in far West Texas. The highest point in the state is Guadalupe Peak at 8,749 feet above sea level. Elevation naturally rises from the east to the west and from the south to the north. Major Cities - Rainfall / Elevation Regional Average Rainfall: 8-20 inches per year Regional Average Net Evaporation rate: 52-68 inches Data source: National Climate Datat Center, U.S. Dept of Commerce. Alpine - 17.19 in. / 4,530 ft. Balmorhea - 14.19 in. / 3,220 ft. Castolon (Big Bend National Park) - 9.80 in. / 2,169 ft. Chisos Basin (Big Bend National Park) - 19.17 in. / 5,300 ft. El Paso - 9.43 in. / 3,918 ft. Fort Davis - 15.86 in. / 4,880

More about Gulf Coast Characteristics

Open Document