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A Rugged Land
A Rugged Land
What characterizes the landscape and climate of this region?
Imagine living in a place that is so hot and dry that few trees can grow there. The land is parched, and the air almost shimmers with an intense heat. Mountains arise from a cactus-studded landscape. Wide depressions, or dips in the land called basins, also cover the area. This part of Texas is known as the Mountains and Basins region. Located in West Texas and bordered by Mexico and New Mexico, most of the region lies to the west of the Pecos River. For this reason, the region is sometimes called the Trans-Pecos, meaning “across the Pecos River.”
Mountain Ranges and Peaks
The great eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountain system extend from Canada through Texas near the Pecos River, giving the Mountains and Basins region the highest elevations in the state. For an idea of how high some mountains are in the region, note that one mile is 5,280 feet. Texas has seven mountains standing over 8,000 feet—each well over one mile high. All seven peaks are found in the Mountains and Basins region.
The region includes several ranges and famously high peaks. The Guadalupe Range, which extends into New Mexico, is among the highest ranges in Texas. At 8,749 feet, Guadalupe Peak is the highest mountain in the state. The next highest in the range is El Capitán, at 8,085 feet.
Near the center of the Mountains and Basins region rise the Davis Mountains and Mount Livermore. Also called Baldy Peak, Mount Livermore stands at 8,378 feet. The Chisos Mountains are another significant range, and they are located near the southern tip of the region. The Chisos make up the largest range in an area to the south known as Big Bend Country.
El Capitan & Santa Elena Canyon
Hot, Dry Climate
Hot, Dry Climate
The Chihuahuan Desert sprawls across much of the Mountains and Basins region. Rainfall is not very common in this area, so it has an arid climate. Areas that are higher in elevation, or height above sea level, have slightly cooler temperatures and get more rain than the lower basin areas. Some parts of the region get from 14 to 18 inches of rain annually, while other parts get less than 14 inches. Summer temperatures average in the mid-90sºF in desert and basin areas, and slightly cooler, in the 80sºF in the mountains. Hot temperatures and a lack of rain affect all life in the region—plants, animals, and humans.
Plants and Animals
Plants and Animals
Although its climate is extreme, the Mountains and Basins region is blessed with a rugged, natural beauty. Flowering cactus plants lend a bright splash of color to the softer colors of the desert. Other desert plants, such as yucca and creosote bush, cover the ground. Plants suited to the desert require little water. In some cases, they store water in their leaves.
Animals of the mountains include cougars, mule deer, and black bears. The elk of the region, which had once become extinct, have been reintroduced into the Guadalupe Mountains. Snakes and paisanos, or roadrunner birds, make their homes in the desert areas of the region.
Identifying What types of plants thrive in the Chihuahuan Desert?
Natural Landmarks
Natural Landmarks
How can rivers and natural places affect life in a region?
Although the Mountains and Basins region is hot and dry, it is nearly bounded on two sides by rivers. The Pecos River runs from the north to the northeast of the region. The curving Rio Grande flows from the western edge of the region and around its southern border. Rivers and other natural features serve as landmarks both to residents and visitors.
The Rio Grande
Rivers provide an important resource necessary for all living things: water. Rio Grande is Spanish for “big river.” From its source of a mountain stream well above sea level in Colorado, through to New Mexico and into West Texas, the Rio Grande carries water used for raising crops and livestock into its valleys. The river allows farmers to raise mainly cotton, but also pecan trees. Cantaloupes are an important crop of Pecos in Reeves County.
Cities and towns tend to develop along big rivers, where water is available to serve large populations. Industries along the Rio Grande provide work for many people of the Mountains and Basins region. West Texas has strong economic and cultural ties to Mexico. The Rio Grande is also important because it provides a natural border with Mexico. Businesses on both sides of the border depend upon the river’s resources and their trade with one another.
Big Bend National Park
As the Rio Grande flows along the border of the Mountains and Basins region, it takes a turn at the southern end of West Texas before heading northeast. The curve in the river is known as Big Bend. Big Bend National Park, the state’s first national park, covers over 1,250 square miles at the very tip of the area.
Over time the Rio Grande has carved a path along the southern border of West Texas, creating the spectacular Santa Elena, Marsical, and Boquillas canyons. The scenery, wildlife, and recreation within the park draw many visitors.
Making Connections What is the importance of the Rio Grande to the region?
El Paso
Historic Fort Davis
Cities, Places, and Resources
Cities, Places, and Resources
How do location and available resources affect cities and places?
The Mountain and Basins Region is generally sparsely settled. However, it is home to El Paso, one of the state's largest cities.
El Paso
The most concentrated populations in the region are found in and around El Paso. El Paso sits on the Rio Grande at the far western end of the state. It has strong business ties with its border neighbors, Mexico and New Mexico. El Paso has strong features of Hispanic culture and traditions. Just across the river is the large Mexican city of Ciudad Juárez. Together, the populations of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez make it the largest urban center on the United States–Mexico border.
El Paso is the commercial center of the upper Rio Grande Valley. One factor contributing to trade here is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Its purpose was to lessen barriers to trade between the United States and Canada and Mexico. Border trade has grown since the agreement took effect in 1994. One result has been the building of maquiladoras, or factories, along the Mexican border. The factories in Mexico provide low-cost labor for items such as clothing, auto parts, electronics, and toys for businesses in the United States, Japan, and elsewhere. In El Paso, goods from Mexico’s maquiladoras can be shipped to other factories and warehouses in the city for distribution.
Another notable place in the Mountains and Basins region is Fort Davis. Tourists visit the village of Fort Davis to view the Davis Mountains and Fort Davis National Historic Site.
Small Towns and Populations
Small Towns and Populations
Further from the Rio Grande, very arid, or dry climate conditions in the Mountains and Basins region affect population size. On average, the region has fewer people than other parts of Texas.
Loving County is a sparsely populated county found along the border with New Mexico. The county gets about 10 inches (about 25 cm) of rain annually. Although the Pecos River marks Loving County’s western border, it does not provide enough water for farming in this area. Moreover, the river’s water is too saline, or salty, for drinking. The county seat of Mentone is the smallest in Texas, with only 19 people. The town has a well, but it does not have its own water system. A lack of good drinking water means that few people live in the desert region.
Resources
Although lack of water is a problem, the region has important natural resources, including petroleum and natural gas. In dry Loving County, oil and gas production are the main industry. The region's other mineral resources include limestone, shale rock, and clay, which are used in cement production. Talc, used to produce ceramics, paint, and artificial rubber, comes from the region, too. Copper, sulfur, and salt are also found here.
Explaining What factors make El Paso a strong commercial center?
Alpine, TX
mesas in the background
Balmorhea State Park
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