Texas Almanac, 1945-1946 Page: 132
[610] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
TEXAS ALMANAC.-1945-1946.
The vertical cross section of the geologic
structure of Texas in different parts of the
state is as varied as the map of surface out-
croppings indicates. Probabl a vertical
cross section along a surface line extending
from the Gulf Coast at Galveston northwest-
ward through the Burnet-Llano Mineral Re-
gion, thence to Hobbs in the southeast cor-
ner of New Mexico and on to the eastern
ranges of the Rocky Mountains, gives as
nearly typical picture of the subsurface of the
Greater Texas region as is possible. (See
figure showing structural geologic section
from New Mexico to Galveston, p. 131.)
Along this line the earth structures above
the Burnet-Llano Mineral Region dip down-
ward to the northwest into or under the old
Permian Basin. Beyond the center of the
Permian Basin, about Midland County, the
strata bend upward and rise toward the
eastern ranges of the Rockies in New Mexico.
East of the Burnet-Llano area, the earth
structures dip toward the southeast to a point
under the Gulf just beyond the coast line,.
and then turn upward.
Major Geologic Features.
In the Memorial Museum at the University
of Texas is a collection of exhibits* showingcross sections of Texas earth structure. A
bulletin issued to accompany the exhibits
presents the following brief statement of the
earth structure beneath the surface of Texas:
"All the features of Texas in ancient days
can be seen directly or indirectly In the
structure of Texas today.
"The major structural features of Texas
are: First, the West Texas Permian Basin;
second, the Gulf Coastal Plain with its coastal
geosyncline (see right-hand part of chart, p.
131) and its subordinate East Texas Embay-
ment and Rio Grande Embayment, third, the
mountains of the Rocky Mountain system,
framing the west edge of the Permian Basin
(west edge of the chart on p. 131) and of the
Coastal Plains of northern Mexico, fourth,
the Amarillo- Wichita -Muenster Mountains,
and, fifth, the broad, complicated zone which
lies between the Permian Basin on the north-
west and the Gulf Coastal Plain on the south-
east. This zone comprises the Marathon and
associated mountains, the Bend Arch, the
Central Mineral Region, and in part the
Ouachita (Pennsylvanian) geosyncline and the
folded roots of the Llanorian Mountains in it.
(See center section of chart, p. 131.)Physiography of Texas-Natural Regions
Above the complex geologic structure, de-
scribed in the preceding chapter, the surface
of Texas rests like a great, slightly tilted
amphitheater, extending from the Gulf Coast
north, northwest and west across the Coastal
Plains into the region of the Low and High
Western Plains and into the Trans-Pecos
across the" eastern ranges of the Rocky Moun-
tains. Naturally, the surface above the com-
plex geological structure is itself diversified
with a consequently diversifyin effect upon
the industries and manner of living of the
people.
In the foregoing chapter Dr. Robert T. Hill
was quoted as saying that Texas "is at the
geologic crossroads of North America." Simi-
larly it is the meeting place of four great
physiographic regions, as follows: (1) the
Coastal Plains which extend into the state
from the east; (2) the Lower Great Western
Plains which cross the border from the north;
(3) the Higher Great Western Plains which
extend into the state in the Panhandle and
continue into Southwest Texas, and (4) the
Rocky Mountain region which traverses the
Trans-Pecos area. (See p. 130.)
Not merely is there diversity of geologic
and physiographic structure and feature in
the make-up of Texas. The warm waters of
the Gulf of Mexico converging toward moun-
tain chains of the western part of the conti-
nent, combined with the varying elevations,
give it a wide diversity of climatological
conditions. From this diversity of soils and
minerals and weather conditions has come a
corresponding diversity of native plant and
animal life and, as man has developed the
resources of the region, a naturally following
diversity of pastoral and industrial pursuit
and product. From the moist, wooded Sabine
Valley to the high, arid Diablo Plateau, and
from the subtropical Lower Rio Grande Val-
ley to the briskly middle temperate Panhan-
dle Plains, Texas has variety in climate, soil
and mineral resources, industry and way of
life of its people, not merely because Texas
is big, but also because natural conditions
have added to the average share of variety
that would be entitled by such bigness.
Physical Dimensions of Texas.
The area of Texas consists of 263,644 square
miles of land and 3,695 square miles of water
surface, a total of 267,339. (See p. 102.)
The longest straight-line distance in a gen-
*Prepared by the Humble Oil & Refining Com-
panyfor the Texas Centennial Exhibition at
alas and later presented to the university.eral north-south direction is 801 miles from
the southern tip near Brownsville to the
northwest corner of the Panhandle. The
greatest general east-west distance is 773
miles from the extreme eastward bend of
the Sabine in Newton County to the extreme
westward bulge of the Rio Grande in El Paso
County.
The extremes of latitude and longitude are
as follows: From Long. 931 31' W. at the
extreme eastward point of the Sabine River
on the east line of Newton County to Long.
106' 38' W. at the extreme westward bulge
of the boundary on the west line of El Paso
County; and from Lat. 25 50' N. at the
extreme southern turn of the Rio Grande on
the south line of Cameron County to Lat.
36 30' N. along the northern boundary of
the Panhandle.
In elevation above mean sea level the state
varies from sea level to 8,751 feet, altitude
at the top of Guadalupe Mountain in Culber-
son County.
Texas Boundary Line.
The boundary of Texas by segments, in-
cluding only larger river bends and only the
great arc of the coast line, is as follows:
Miles.
Rio Grande......... ...................... 889.0
Coast line ... ........ ................. 370.0
Sabine River, Lake and Pass............. 180 0
Sabine River to Red River ............... 106.5
Red River ....................... 480 0
East Panhandle line..................... 133.6
North Panhandle line .................... 167.0
West Panhandle line ...................... 310.2
Along 32d parallel....................... 2090
Total ... ..... ....... .... . 2,8453
Following the smaller meanderings of the rivers
and the tidewater coast line, the following are the
boundary measurements:
Miles.
Sabine River, Lake and Pass .............. 292
Red River ............................... 726
Rio Grande .... .......................1,569
tCoast line (tidewater) .................. 624
The five line segments given above ......... 926
Total including line segments given in
table above ... .... . .. ... 4,137
REGIONS AND SUBREGIONS
In the introduction above it is stated that
Texas is the meeting place of four great
physiographic provinces, or regions, the
tWhile the tidewater coast line is given as 624
miles, the entire coast hline measured in steps of
one mile is 973 miles for the mainland and 709
miles for the islands.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Texas Almanac, 1945-1946, book, 1945; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117166/m1/134/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.