Caprock Escarpment
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009) |
| Caprock Escarpment | |
| Landform | |
 Caprock Escarpment, Garza County, Texas
|
|
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| States | New Mexico, Texas |
| Region | Llano Estacado |
| Highest point | |
| - elevation | 1,647 m (5,404 ft) |
| - coordinates | 34°54′35″N 104°04′08″W / 34.90972°N 104.06889°W |
| Geology | Caliche |
| Period | Quaternary |
 The Caprock Escarpment marking the edge of the Llano Estacado is clearly visible in this shaded relief map.
|
|
| Website: Handbook of Texas: Caprock | |
The Caprock Escarpment is a term used in Texas and Eastern New Mexico to describe the geographical transition point between the level elevated plains of the Llano Estacado and the surrounding rolling terrain.[1] In Texas, the escarpment stretches around 320 km (200 mi) south-southwest from the northeast corner of the Texas Panhandle near the Oklahoma border. The escarpment is especially notable in Borden, Briscoe, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, and Motley counties. In New Mexico, there is a prominent escarpment along the northernmost extension of the Llano Estacado, especially to the south of San Jon and Tucumcari, both in Quay County, New Mexico. Along the western edge of the Llano Estacado, the portion of the escarpment that stretches from Caprock, New Mexico to Maljamar, New Mexico is called the Mescalero Escarpment.[2][3]
Contents |
[edit] Description
The escarpment is made of Caliche — a layer of calcium carbonate that resists erosion very well. In some places, the escarpment rises around 305 m (1,000 ft) above the plains to the east. The escarpment's features formed by erosion from rivers and streams, creating arroyos and highly diverse terrain, including the large Palo Duro Canyon southeast of Amarillo, Texas.
-
Northwest escarpment of the Llano Estacado overlooking Alamogordo Valley of Quay and Guadalupe Counties, New Mexico.
-
The Caprock Escarpment along Texas State Highway 207 between Post and Ralls, Texas.
-
Escarpment that defines the northern edge of Llano Estacado, 14 km south of San Jon, New Mexico.
[edit] Parks
The Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is located near Quitaque and opened in 1982. A large, 105 km (65 mi) trail was developed within the park in 1992. Along the trail is Clarity Tunnel, home to a large colony of Free-tailed Bats.
[edit] See also
- List of geographical regions in Texas
- Yellow House Canyon
- Palo Duro Canyon
- Caprock Canyons
- Double Mountain Fork Brazos River
- Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River
- Mount Blanco
[edit] References
- ^ Carroll, H.B.. "Caprock". Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/rxc1.html. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
- ^ Price, A.P. 1977. Mescalero Sandhills of Cochran and Yoakum Counties, Texas. Master's thesis, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, 253 pp.
- ^ Henderson, D. 2006. An Introduction to the Mescalero Sands Ecosystem. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University, 42 pp.
- Landforms of Texas
- Landforms of New Mexico
- Geology of New Mexico
- Geology of Texas
- Landforms of Quay County, New Mexico
- Geography of Borden County, Texas
- Geography of Briscoe County, Texas
- Geography of Crosby County, Texas
- Geography of Dickens County, Texas
- Geography of Floyd County, Texas
- Geography of Motley County, Texas
