Section 4: The Mountains and Basins

Section 4: The Mountains and Basins

The Dry Environment

The mountains and Basins region is part of the Rocky Mountain system that begins in Canada and extends into Mexico. It is the westernmost natural region in Texas. It is also the highest and driest of the regions.

Of the few people who live in the region, nearly two-thirds live in El Paso. Farming is done mainly along the Rio Grande and in a few areas where springs or wells irrigate the land. Cotton Is the main crop, but many farmers have pecan trees as well. Pecos is an area famous for its cantaloupes.

Water—or lack of it—is the single most important factor affecting life in this region. It is mostly a desert area, and so little rain falls here that trees will grow only along the few scattered streams. The region’s natural vegetation includes desert plants such as cactus, yucca, and creosote bush. Harsh extremes of climate are softened by its great natural beauty. Canyons and mountain plateaus contrast with saucer shaped depressions called basins.

Many people in the Mountains and Basins region live near the Rio Grande where industries provide work. Towns have grown here around the trade with Mexico. The region has strong economic and cultural ties to Mexico, partly because the area is so far from the rest of Texas. The landforms, climate, and culture that make this area quite different from any other region in Texas also make it a favorite with tourists from other parts of the state and nation.

Mountain Ranges

El Paso

All of Texas’s true mountains are found in the Mountains and Basins region. The highest range, the Guadalupe Range, extends into New Mexico. The highest mountain in Texas, Guadalupe Peak at 8,749 feet stands tall in this range. El Capitan, at 8,085, is another Texas mountain in this range.

Most of the Mountains and Basins region is very sparsely settled. The region, however, does have one of the state’s largest cities—El Paso. El Paso is located at the far western tip of Texas. It is situated where the boundaries Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico join. El Paso is far from Texas’s other large cities. Many of the city’s commercial ties are with New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Mexico.

Much of the Mountains and Basins region is very dry. Cacti, yucca, and small desert shrubs are common in this region. Yet, a few mountain areas catch enough rainfall to support forests and meadowlands.

One important farming area lies in the extreme western part of this region. This area, the Upper Rio Grande Valley, is a narrow strip of irrigated land that runs east of El Paso for 75 miles and north into New Mexico. Cotton is the most important crop grown here.

Petroleum and natural gas resources lie in the Mountains and Basins region. Other minerals include limestone, shale rock, and clay used in the production of cement. Copper, sulphur, salt, and talc can also be found here. Talc is used in the production of ceramics, paint, and artificial rubber.

El Paso has a strong Hispanic tradition. A popular tourist spot, it is located just across the Rio Grande from the large Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez. The combined population of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez is larger than that of any other urban center on the United States-Mexico border.

The Davis Mountains are located close to the center of the Mountains and Basins region. The highest peak here, Mount Livermore, stands at 8,378 feet. South of the Davis Mountains is a part of Texas called the Big Bend Country, which gets its name from a sharp bend in the Rio Grande. The Chisos Mountains make up the most important mountain group in the Big Bend area. Steep canyons with spectacular scenery can be seen along the Rio Grande. The extreme southern part of this area consists of the Big Bend National Park, a popular area for tourists.

El Paso is the commercial center of the Upper Rio Grande Valley. Increased manufacturing has followed the establishment of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Many maquiladoras, which are often called “twin factories,” have been built in Juarez and El Paso. These factories in Mexico serve as sources of labor with large corporations from the United States, Japan, Germany, and other industrialized nations. El Paso also has oil refining facilities, diverse factories and businesses, and important military installations. The University of Texas at El Paso is located here as well.

NAFTA took effect in 1994. The goal of this agreement is to stimulate economic growth between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Because of Texas’s relative location, El Paso and other border cities are greatly affected. Since 1994, increased trade has helped companies along the United States-Mexico border grow. As a result, many new jobs were created in all three NAFTA countries, but especially in Mexico. On the negative side, some U.S. and Canadian companies moved their factories to Mexico, where wages are lower. Because of this, many U.S. and Canadian workers lost their jobs. The economic futures of border cities are closely related, and the effect of NAFTA on Texas cities such as El Paso is already being seen.