A physical feature common to both the Great Plains and the Coastal Plains regions of Texas is the presence of relatively flat to gently rolling land suitable for grasslands and prairies. Both regions have extensive plains, though the Great Plains are generally higher in elevation and drier with more grasslands and shrublands, while the Coastal Plains have rolling hills and coastal prairie lands with more forested areas in the east
. More specifically:
- The Great Plains in Texas, including the High Plains or Llano Estacado, consist of broad, flat to gently rolling plains covered mostly by grasslands and prairies, with some areas of escarpments and canyons like Palo Duro Canyon
- The Coastal Plains region is characterized by nearly level to gently rolling plains and coastal prairies, with a mix of grasslands, oak mottes, and forests, extending inland from the Gulf of Mexico to the Balcones Fault escarpment
Thus, the common physical feature is the broad expanse of plains-flat or gently rolling terrain-supporting grassland ecosystems in both regions, despite differences in elevation and vegetation types
