Texas Physical Map

About Texas Physical Map

Explore physical map of Texas state of United States showing geographical / physical features with rivers, landforms, mountains, plateau, peaks, lakes, etc.

Facts about Texas

Category	Fact	Details
Location	Continent	North America
	Country	United States of America
	Region	South Central U.S.
Boundaries	North Border	Oklahoma
	East Border	Louisiana and Arkansas
	West Border	New Mexico
	South Border	Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico
Coordinates & Size	Latitude	25°50′ N to 36°30′ N
	Longitude	93°31′ W to 106°38′ W
	Total Area	268,596 square miles (695,662 km²)
	Rank by Size (US)	2nd largest state
Geological Features	Major Geologic Provinces	Gulf Coastal Plain, Edwards Plateau, Llano Uplift, Basin and Range
	Oldest Rocks	Precambrian rocks over 1 billion years old (Llano Uplift)
	Oil & Gas Basins	Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, Barnett Shale
	Major Faults	Balcones Fault Zone
	Karst Regions	Edwards Plateau and Hill Country (caves and sinkholes)
Topography	Highest Point	Guadalupe Peak – 8,751 ft (2,667 m)
	Lowest Point	Gulf of Mexico – Sea level
	Major Mountain Ranges	Guadalupe Mountains, Davis Mountains, Chisos Mountains
	Major Plateaus	Edwards Plateau, Llano Estacado
	Major Plains	Great Plains, Gulf Coastal Plains
	Hill Country	Transition zone with rugged hills and limestone terrain
Rivers & Water Bodies	Longest River	Rio Grande – 1,896 miles (forms southern border)
	Other Major Rivers	Colorado, Brazos, Trinity, Red, Sabine, Nueces, Guadalupe
	Major Lakes	Lake Texoma, Toledo Bend, Lake Travis, Lake Amistad, Falcon Lake
	Coastline	367 miles (Gulf of Mexico)
Climate	Climate Zones	Arid west, humid east, semi-arid central
	Temperature Extremes	Recorded highs over 120°F (49°C), lows below 0°F (-18°C)
	Rainfall Variation	8 inches (west) to 60+ inches (east) annually
	Storm Risk	Tornado Alley, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast
Natural Resources	Major Resources	Oil, natural gas, coal, helium, limestone, gypsum
	Renewables	Leading US state in wind power generation
	Fossil Fuels	One-third of US crude oil reserves are in Texas
	Water Aquifers	Ogallala Aquifer, Edwards Aquifer, Gulf Coast Aquifer
Unique Geological Features	Enchanted Rock	Pink granite dome near Fredericksburg, part of the Llano Uplift
	Palo Duro Canyon	Second-largest canyon in the US, located in the Texas Panhandle
	Caprock Escarpment	Geologic transition between High Plains and Rolling Plains

Major Rivers

River	Length (km)	Length (miles)	Origin (Source)	Mouth (Where it Empties)	Major Cities / Landmarks	Forms Border?	Notes
Rio Grande	3,051	1,896	San Juan Mountains, Colorado	Gulf of Mexico	El Paso, Laredo, Brownsville	Yes (Texas–Mexico border)	Longest river in Texas and forms international boundary with Mexico
Red River	2,190	1,360	Texas Panhandle via Prairie Dog Town Fork	Mississippi River	Wichita Falls, Texarkana (nearby)	Yes (Texas–Oklahoma border)	Major tributary of the Mississippi River; carries red sediment
Brazos River	2,060	1,280	New Mexico (Blackwater Draw)	Gulf of Mexico	Waco, Bryan, Freeport	No	One of the longest rivers entirely in Texas
Colorado River (Texas)	1,387	862	Dawson County, Texas	Gulf of Mexico (Matagorda Bay)	Austin, Bastrop, La Grange	No	Longest river with both source and mouth in Texas
Trinity River	885	550	Northern Texas (near Red River)	Galveston Bay	Dallas, Fort Worth, Liberty	No	Flows through Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex
Sabine River	925	575	Hunt County, Texas	Gulf of Mexico	Longview, Orange	Yes (Texas–Louisiana border)	Forms most of the eastern boundary of Texas
Neches River	669	416	Van Zandt County, Texas	Sabine Lake	Beaumont, Port Neches	No	Important for commerce and shipping in southeast Texas
Guadalupe River	370	230	Kerr County, Texas	San Antonio Bay	New Braunfels, Seguin, Victoria	No	Popular for tubing and recreation
San Antonio River	400	250	San Antonio Springs	Guadalupe River	San Antonio, Floresville	No	Famous for River Walk in downtown San Antonio
Lavaca River	137	85	Fayette County	Lavaca Bay	Edna	No	Short coastal river in southeast Texas
Canadian River	1,458	906	Colorado (Rocky Mountains)	Arkansas River (Oklahoma)	Amarillo (nearby)	No (but passes through Texas Panhandle)	Major tributary of the Arkansas River
Devils River	160	99	Sutton County	Rio Grande	Del Rio (nearby)	No	Known for pristine, clear waters and rugged terrain

Major Lakes

Lake Name	Surface Area (acres)	Max Depth (ft)	Type	Inflow / Outflow	Location	Primary Uses	Notes
Toledo Bend Reservoir	181,600	110	Reservoir	Sabine River	Texas–Louisiana border	Hydroelectric, Water Supply, Recreation	Largest man-made lake in Texas by surface area
Sam Rayburn Reservoir	114,500	80	Reservoir	Angelina River	Deep East Texas	Flood Control, Hydroelectric, Recreation	Popular for bass fishing
Lake Livingston	90,000	55	Reservoir	Trinity River	East Texas	Water Supply, Recreation	Provides water to Houston
Lake Texoma	89,000	100	Reservoir	Red River	Texas–Oklahoma border	Recreation, Flood Control	Formed by Denison Dam
Lake Amistad	64,900	217	Reservoir	Rio Grande	Del Rio (Texas–Mexico border)	Water Storage, Recreation	Managed jointly by the U.S. and Mexico
Possum Kingdom Lake	17,700	145	Reservoir	Brazos River	Palo Pinto County	Recreation, Water Supply	Known for scenic cliffs and clear water
Lake Travis	18,930	210	Reservoir	Colorado River	West of Austin	Flood Control, Recreation, Water Supply	Part of the Highland Lakes chain
Lake Buchanan	22,333	132	Reservoir	Colorado River	Central Texas	Water Supply, Recreation	Oldest of the Highland Lakes
Canyon Lake	8,240	134	Reservoir	Guadalupe River	Comal County	Flood Control, Recreation	Popular tubing and boating destination
Lake Ray Hubbard	22,745	40	Reservoir	East Fork Trinity River	Dallas County	Water Supply, Recreation	Managed by the City of Dallas
Lake Lewisville	29,592	67	Reservoir	Elm Fork Trinity River	Denton County	Recreation, Water Supply	Popular for boating and party coves
Lake Tawakoni	37,879	70	Reservoir	Sabine River	Hunt / Rains County	Water Supply, Recreation	Also serves Dallas water needs
Lake Whitney	23,500	108	Reservoir	Brazos River	Hill / Bosque County	Flood Control, Recreation	Managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lake Austin	1,599	75	Reservoir	Colorado River	Austin	Recreation, Urban Scenic	Popular urban lake with residential development
Caddo Lake	25,400	20	Natural / Swamp	Big Cypress Bayou	Texas–Louisiana border	Ecotourism, Fishing	Only naturally formed major lake in Texas

Major Mountain Ranges

Mountain Range	Highest Peak	Elevation (ft)	County	Location	Part of Larger System	Geology	Notes
Guadalupe Mountains	Guadalupe Peak	8,751	Culberson	West Texas	Rocky Mountains	Permian limestone reef (Capitan Reef)	Highest point in Texas; Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Davis Mountains	Mount Livermore	8,378	Jeff Davis	Trans-Pecos	Interior Highlands (isolated)	Volcanic (Tertiary)	Home to McDonald Observatory; cool climate
Chisos Mountains	Emory Peak	7,825	Brewster	Big Bend National Park	Chihuahuan Desert	Volcanic (Oligocene)	Only mountain range fully within a national park in Texas
Franklin Mountains	North Franklin Mountain	7,192	El Paso	El Paso area	Trans-Pecos	Fault-block mountains	Franklin Mountains State Park is within El Paso city limits
Hueco Mountains	Hueco Mountain	6,703	El Paso / Hudspeth	East of El Paso	Basin and Range	Limestone, dolomite	Home to Hueco Tanks State Historic Site
Delaware Mountains	Delaware Peak	6,890	Culberson	Just south of Guadalupe Mountains	Capitan Reef Complex	Limestone, dolomite	Important for oil geology studies
Eagle Mountains	Peak 1 (unofficial)	7,484	Hudspeth	East of Sierra Blanca	Basin and Range	Volcanic and sedimentary	Remote and rugged; limited access
Bolin Draw Mountains	Unnamed High Point	~6,100	Pecos	North of Fort Stockton	Edwards Plateau margin	Permian limestone	Minor range; rarely referenced
Santiago Mountains	Santiago Peak	6,510	Brewster	Near Big Bend Ranch	Trans-Pecos	Volcanic	Less developed than nearby Chisos
Van Horn Mountains	Van Horn Peak	~5,900	Culberson	South of Van Horn	Trans-Pecos	Volcanic	Low prominence range
Barrilla Mountains	Unnamed	~5,300	Presidio	Between Fort Davis and Marfa	Interior Highlands	Volcanic	Sparsely explored
Christmas Mountains	Christmas Mountain	5,728	Brewster	North of Big Bend NP	Trans-Pecos	Volcanic	Privately owned conservation area

Major Mountain Peaks

Mountain Peak	Elevation (ft)	Elevation (m)	County	Mountain Range	Prominence (ft)	Coordinates	Geology	Notes
Guadalupe Peak	8,751	2,667	Culberson	Guadalupe Mountains	3,029	31.8910°N, 104.8605°W	Limestone (Capitan Reef)	Highest point in Texas
Bush Mountain	8,631	2,631	Culberson	Guadalupe Mountains	951	31.8820°N, 104.8700°W	Limestone	Second-highest peak in Texas
Shumard Peak	8,615	2,626	Culberson	Guadalupe Mountains	535	31.8883°N, 104.8678°W	Limestone	Named after geologist George Shumard
Bowl Mountain	8,235	2,510	Culberson	Guadalupe Mountains	315	31.8954°N, 104.8650°W	Limestone	Located in a natural depression ("The Bowl")
Mount Livermore	8,378	2,554	Jeff Davis	Davis Mountains	2,124	30.6870°N, 104.1170°W	Volcanic (Tertiary)	Highest peak in Davis Mountains
Emory Peak	7,825	2,385	Brewster	Chisos Mountains	2,400	29.2671°N, 103.3051°W	Volcanic	Highest peak in Big Bend National Park
North Franklin Mountain	7,192	2,192	El Paso	Franklin Mountains	2,660	31.9182°N, 106.5044°W	Fault-block	Highest point in El Paso area
Eagle Peak	7,484	2,281	Hudspeth	Eagle Mountains	1,000+	31.2210°N, 105.2495°W	Volcanic	Remote and difficult to access
Delaware Peak	6,890	2,100	Culberson	Delaware Mountains	1,200+	31.8250°N, 104.7100°W	Limestone	East of Guadalupe Mountains
Chalk Mountain	5,360	1,634	Terrell	Stockton Plateau	400	30.2522°N, 102.0001°W	Chalk/Limestone	Notable local high point
Christmas Mountain	5,728	1,746	Brewster	Christmas Mountains	800+	29.5283°N, 103.1620°W	Volcanic	Private conservation area
Signal Peak	8,114	2,473	Culberson	Guadalupe Mountains	434	31.8937°N, 104.8394°W	Limestone	On El Capitan Trail
El Capitan	8,085	2,464	Culberson	Guadalupe Mountains	600	31.8860°N, 104.8110°W	Limestone	Iconic sheer cliff visible from miles away

Plateau

Plateau Name	Elevation Range (ft)	Elevation Range (m)	Location (Region)	Geological Composition	Approx. Area (sq mi)	Notable Features / Facts
Edwards Plateau	1,000 – 3,000	300 – 900	Central Texas (West of Austin to Del Rio)	Limestone, Dolomite	~37,000	Includes Texas Hill Country; major aquifer recharge zone
Llano Estacado (Staked Plains)	2,500 – 4,000	750 – 1,220	Northwest Texas & Eastern New Mexico	Caprock, Caliche, Sandstone	~32,000	One of the largest tablelands in North America
Stockton Plateau	2,000 – 3,500	600 – 1,070	West Texas (Pecos to Devil’s River)	Limestone, Karst	~7,000	Characterized by dry, rugged terrain and sinkholes
Ozark Plateau (Extension)	500 – 1,500	150 – 460	Northeast Texas (Edge of Ark-La-Tex)	Shale, Limestone, Sandstone	Small (TX portion)	Only a minor extension of larger Ozark Plateau
Caprock Escarpment	2,500 – 3,000	750 – 915	Eastern edge of Llano Estacado	Sandstone, Caliche	~200 miles long	Dramatic geological transition from High Plains to Rolling Plains
Central Basin Plateau	2,200 – 3,300	670 – 1,000	Trans-Pecos (Jeff Davis & Brewster Counties)	Igneous rock, Volcanic ash	~5,000	Volcanic origin; surrounded by Davis Mountains
Delaware Plateau	3,000 – 6,000	910 – 1,830	Western Texas (Guadalupe Mountains region)	Limestone (Capitan Reef)	~3,000	Part of ancient marine reef complex
Chisos Plateau	4,000 – 6,000	1,220 – 1,830	Big Bend National Park (Brewster County)	Volcanic, Igneous rock	~1000	Elevated basin surrounded by Chisos Mountains

Deserts

Desert / Arid Region	Location	Climate Type	Average Rainfall (in/year)	Vegetation Type	Approx. Area (sq mi)	Notable Features / Facts
Chihuahuan Desert	West Texas (Trans-Pecos region including Big Bend)	Hot Desert (BWh - Köppen)	9 – 20	Creosote bush, agave, yucca, ocotillo	~20,000 (TX portion)	Largest desert in North America; covers parts of Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico
Trans-Pecos Arid Zone	El Paso to Big Bend (Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Presidio Counties)	Arid to Semi-arid	8 – 14	Scrub brush, mesquite, cactus	~25,000	Contains mountainous desert terrain; home to Guadalupe Mountains and Davis Mountains
Big Bend Desert Basin	Within Big Bend National Park	Arid Desert Basin	10 – 12	Sotol, lechuguilla, desert grasses	~1,250	Low-elevation desert valley between Chisos Mountains and Rio Grande
Devil’s River Desert	Val Verde County, North of Del Rio	Semi-Arid	15 – 18	Brush, prickly pear, acacia	~1,500	Unique spring-fed river ecosystem in desert environment
Hueco Bolson Desert	East of El Paso (Hueco Tanks area)	Hot Desert Basin	8 – 10	Desert grasses, yucca, creosote	~2,000	Important aquifer area and Native American rock art site
Delaware Basin	West of Guadalupe Mountains, TX/NM border	Hot, Arid Basin	8 – 12	Creosote scrub, gypsum flats	~6,000 (TX portion)	Part of ancient marine reef complex, oil-rich sedimentary basin
Salt Basin	West of Van Horn (Culberson County)	Arid Playa Basin	~8	Salt-tolerant shrubs, grasses	~800	Low-lying desert flats; contains gypsum dunes and dry salt lakes

National Parks

National Park	Location	Year Established	Area (acres)	Key Features	Main Activities	Managed By
Big Bend National Park	Brewster County, West Texas	1944	801,163	Chihuahuan Desert, Rio Grande River, Chisos Mountains	Hiking, rafting, camping, birdwatching, stargazing	National Park Service (NPS)
Guadalupe Mountains National Park	Culberson County, West Texas	1972	86,367	Guadalupe Peak (highest in TX), fossil reef, canyons	Hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, photography	National Park Service (NPS)
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park	Brownsville, South Texas	1992	3,400	First battle of U.S.–Mexican War site	Historic site tours, birding, educational programs	National Park Service (NPS)
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park	Johnson City and Stonewall, Central Texas	1969	1,571	LBJ’s boyhood home and Texas White House	Guided tours, history exhibits, cultural events	National Park Service (NPS)
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park	San Antonio, South-Central Texas	1978	829	4 Spanish colonial missions (UNESCO site)	Historic walks, cultural events, ranger tours	National Park Service (NPS)
Amistad National Recreation Area	Del Rio, Southwest Texas	1965	58,500 (lake surface)	Amistad Reservoir, Rio Grande, prehistoric rock art	Boating, fishing, swimming, camping	National Park Service (NPS)
Chamizal National Memorial	El Paso, Far West Texas	1966	54.9	Memorial to peaceful U.S.–Mexico border resolution	Museum, cultural performances, festivals	National Park Service (NPS)
Waco Mammoth National Monument	Waco, Central Texas	2015	108	Ice Age mammoth fossil site	Guided fossil tours, paleontology education	National Park Service (NPS)

Physical Features of Texas

Texas stands as the second-largest state in America by both land area and population while covering 268,596 square miles. The state of Texas displays the most diverse physical landscape in the United States through its combination of coastal plains and rolling hills and high plains and rugged mountains and deserts and fertile river valleys. Texas displays all major continental United States landforms through its eastern pine forests and western desert basins and its mountainous Guadalupe Mountains.

Geographic Regions

Texas divides into four main geographic regions which include the Gulf Coastal Plains and the Interior Lowlands and the Great Plains and the Basin and Range Province. The four regions present separate landforms together with unique vegetation patterns and climate conditions and soil characteristics. The Gulf Coastal Plains extend from the Gulf of Mexico into the interior hundreds of miles with flat fertile ground that includes marshes and estuaries and barrier islands. The region combines agricultural activities with oil refinery operations and houses major urban areas including Houston and Corpus Christi.

The Interior Lowlands extend from the Cross Timbers and Grand Prairie into the rolling plains and hardwood forests of the region. The central regions of Texas lead to the Great Plains which cover most of northwestern Texas and include both the Llano Estacado and Edwards Plateau. The plains feature flat ground and deep canyons with limited vegetation which supports Texas's cattle and grain production.

The Basin and Range Province or Trans-Pecos region which extends as the westernmost part of Texas features among the most striking natural landscapes throughout the state. The desert basins in this area are enclosed by three major mountain ranges which include the Davis Mountains and the Chisos Mountains and the Guadalupe Mountains. The highest elevation in Texas stands at 8,751 feet as Guadalupe Peak exists within Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Elevation and Topography

Texas extends from sea level at the Gulf Coast to the highest point at Guadalupe Peak in the western part of the state. The eastern section of Texas maintains a flat or slightly sloping terrain but the western region transitions into a more mountainous landscape. The Balcones Escarpment functions as a geological fault zone which separates the Coastal Plains from the elevated regions of the Hill Country and Edwards Plateau.

The state features numerous river valleys which form productive bottomlands while serving as natural pathways for transportation. The Rio Grande functions as the longest river in Texas while serving as the international border with Mexico and providing essential irrigation and water supply services. The Red River serves as the northern border with Oklahoma while the Brazos, Colorado, Trinity and Sabine Rivers traverse various sections of Texas.

Climate and Vegetation Zones

The state’s physical geography also influences its climate, which ranges from humid subtropical in the east to arid desert in the west. The Gulf Coast region receives high annual rainfall and supports dense pine and hardwood forests, while central Texas experiences moderate precipitation and hosts a mix of prairie and woodland ecosystems. Western Texas receives less than 10 inches of rain annually, leading to desert-like conditions and xerophytic vegetation.

Texas experiences diverse climates which create different ecological zones that include piney woods and post oak savannas and blackland prairies and mesquite grasslands and desert scrublands. The different zones of Texas support distinct plant and animal communities which range from the loblolly pine forests of the east to the creosote bush and cactus habitats of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Geological Features and Natural Resources

Texas physical features strongly result from geological events of the past. Sedimentary processes have molded most of Texas terrain into limestone plateaus and fossil-rich rock layers which originated from ancient marine deposits. The Trans-Pecos region developed its mountain ranges through volcanic activity and tectonic uplift. The Llano Uplift in central Texas reveals some of the oldest North American rocks which date back more than one billion years.

Texas possesses abundant natural resources because of its diverse geological features. The state maintains the highest position in oil and natural gas production while holding significant reserves of coal and limestone and gypsum. The eastern and central regions of Texas have fertile soils which enable extensive agricultural production of cotton and corn and sorghum.

Water Bodies and Aquifers

Texas maintains a dry image yet it holds multiple natural and human-made lakes and reservoirs and aquifers which serve both water supply and recreational purposes. The urban areas and agricultural operations receive their water supply from major reservoirs including Lake Travis and Lake Texoma and Toledo Bend. The Ogallala and Edwards Aquifer systems beneath the surface supply essential groundwater resources to millions of people and agricultural producers.