The landscapes that define Texas

Texas does not have one defining landscape. Rainfall decreases dramatically from east to west, elevation rises toward the Trans-Pecos, major river systems cut across the state, and changing geology creates everything from black-clay prairie to limestone karst and desert mountain ranges.

This guide treats Texas as a connected physical landscape. Each page explains where a landscape occurs, what the terrain is made of, what grows there, how water behaves, and where to go if you want to experience it in person.