Texas

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Texas, the 28th state of the USA, encompasses over 268,000 sq. miles (696,000 sq. km.) and is located in the south central part of the country. A land of diversity there are deserts, mountains, prairie, coastal dunes, and sub-tropical river delta.

The Big Bend and Trans-Pecos

Located in the western part of the state the southernmost chain of the Rocky Mountains runs through this area. There are two national parks consisting of Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. These two parks preserve a vast portion of the Chihuahua Desert. The highest peak in the state, Guadalupe Peak at 8,717 ft. (2,656 m.) can be found at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Along the Trans-Pecos region (the general area between the Pecos and Rio Grande rivers) there is Monahans Sandhills State Park, Caprock Canyon State Park, and Dalo Duro Canyon State Park.

Prairie and Hills

A large portion in the center of the state is dominated by low rolling limestone hills and vast prairie. Noted for spectacular spring wildflower displays there are miles and miles of roadways to explore during the spring months in search of large stands of Texas bluebonnets, Indian paint brush, and Texas primrose. These flowers, although small, carpet large meadows and can resemble a huge paint spill of red, violet, gold, and pink. In the late fall the woodlands of the Texas Hill Country exhibit fall colors in varying degrees of intensity.

The Coast and Bayous

In the southern and eastern parts of Texas you will find a long coastline fronting the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Here there are tropical and sub-tropical ecosystems supporting an enormous bird and waterfowl population. The endangered Whooping Crane winters along the coastal bend in the many bays created by the barrier island known as Padre Island. Farther north are bayous where cypress trees survive in the shallow brackish waters where sea water and the run-off of fresh water meet. This area of the state is in the central fly zone of North American migratory birds and is known the world over as a birding mecca. There is a high concentration of state parks and wildlife refuges in this area where the wildlife photographer can spend days capturing rare bird species.