Texas is the second largest US state in the south of the country. For residents of many other states, he is associated with the true image of a typical American. The origin of the name, according to the main version, is due to the fact that the tribe that once lived here called it that way. Translated from the Aboriginal language, the name means "allies, good friends."
Geographic location
The state of Texas (USA) has an area of 696.2 thousand square kilometers. As noted above, it is located in the south of the country, where it borders on the northern regions of Mexico. From west to east, it stretches for almost 1600 kilometers. Its western neighbor is New Mexico, its eastern neighbor is Arkansas, and its northern neighbor is Oklahoma. The largest rivers that flow through the state are the Colorado, Trinity, Red River, Rio Grande and Brazos. Most of Texas is on scrub-covered plains. In the west there are numerous deserts and steppes. Due to geological features, a significant part of the earth is covered with cracks. If you travel heredirection from east to west, you can see how pine forests and coastal marshes are replaced by undulating plains with hills, and behind them - desert and mountains.
Population and administrative structure
The largest metropolitan areas located in Texas are the cities of Houston and Dallas. It should be noted that the first of them is in fourth place in terms of size in the entire state. In addition to them, there are 22 large agglomerations. The capital of Texas is the city of Austin, which is located in the central region. It consists of 254 counties, each of which is administered by authorized assemblies. The population of the state is about 22 million people.
Economy
Texas is a state that is rightfully considered the world-famous American center of the developed chemical and oil industries, high educational level and agriculture. In addition, many financial institutions are concentrated on its territory. From ancient times to the present day, agriculture has been a very important sector of the economy in Texas. The locals are now earning fortunes by raising cattle. At the beginning of the last century, the region turned into a key oil-producing region in all of North America. The state of Texas produced more than 30 percent of the "black gold", and also controlled the lion's share of the import of this raw material. The level of development of light industry is also at the proper level, which is mainly represented by the cultivation of cotton andits processing. High-tech companies are located in major cities. It should also be noted that the Mission Control Center (NASA) is based in Houston.
Climate
Due to the fact that Texas is a state with a rather large area, two climatic zones dominate on its territory at once. Thus, the weather in different regions can vary significantly. If the central and northern parts are characterized by a continental climate with cool winters and warm summers, then a subtropical hot climate prevails in the south. The amount of precipitation is also not uniform. It greatly decreases in the direction from east to west. In the first case, they fall on average 1300 mm per year, and in the second - about 300 mm. In the central regions, strong tornadoes often occur, causing catastrophic damage to them. The ideal months to visit Texas are October and November. It is at this time that the temperature here is not very high, and the weather is calm and stable, so tourists do not have to be afraid of adverse weather conditions.
Attractions
Based on the number of attractions, one of the most interesting cities is Dallas. Despite the large number of skyscrapers and modern buildings, many historical monuments have been preserved here that date back to the nineteenth century (it was then that the future metropolis was founded). It is also associated with one of the most mysterious and tragic events in American history.stories. This is where John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The site where the shot was fired is now a museum. Another interesting city is Fort Worth.
Be that as it may, the Americans themselves believe that Texas is a state whose main attraction is its diverse nature. Anyone who wants to learn more about the local flora and fauna is advised to visit Big Bend National Park. The Royal Ranch, which is located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, has recently become quite a popular place among tourists.
