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I didn't know that Clark County, Nevada had an oceanic coast line, subtropical rainforests, and temperate prairies within its borders. Every single ecosystem found in Clark County can be found in Texas, but the opposite is not even close to being remotely true.
Easily proved incorrect. Try mountains with tree lines...
Then Texas and California are tied for most geographically diverse. If the question were to be changed to "which state has the quickest geographic transition between different ecosystems" California would then be a decisive victor over Texas. So on a technical note, yes Texas is the most geographically diverse state on that metric.
Then Texas and California are tied for most geographically diverse. If the question were to be changed to "which state has the quickest geographic transition between different ecosystems" California would then be a decisive victor over Texas. So on a technical note, yes Texas is the most geographically diverse state on that metric.
There is a huge leap of faith displayed here.
Kindly draw the logical argument that proclaims that "ecosystems" defined by a government agency define "geographically diverse".
Anyone who thinks Clark County Nevada is one ecosystem is probably not able to participate in this discussion.
And anyone who can find in TX 2 ecosystems within 250 miles of Dallas?
Then Texas and California are tied for most geographically diverse. If the question were to be changed to "which state has the quickest geographic transition between different ecosystems" California would then be a decisive victor over Texas. So on a technical note, yes Texas is the most geographically diverse state on that metric.
If one ignores the fact that California packs the same amount of geographic diversity into a significantly smaller area.
And if one also overlooks the fact that the following ecoregions:
Western High Plains
Southwestern Tablelands
Central Great Plains
Edwards Plateau
Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains
which collectively cover half of Texas -- are not overtly all that different from one another. Can anyone but a specialist explains what differentiaties the "Western High Plains" ecoregion from the "Central Great Plains" or the "Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains"?
By contrast, the eastern half (approximately) of California is taken up by the following:
Eastern Cascades
Sierra Nevada
Central Basin and Range
Mojave Basin and Range
Southern California Mountains
Chaparral & Oak Woodlands
Sonoran Basin and Range
among which there are some VERY significant differences in landscape, flora, weather, etc. Death Valley vs. the high Sierra being only the most obvious example.
Can anyone but a specialist explains what differentiaties the "Western High Plains" ecoregion from the "Central Great Plains" or the "Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains"?
They're clearly discernible by the defensive schemes employed by the respective local high school football teams.
Then Texas and California are tied for most geographically diverse. If the question were to be changed to "which state has the quickest geographic transition between different ecosystems" California would then be a decisive victor over Texas. So on a technical note, yes Texas is the most geographically diverse state on that metric.
CA is first for sure. The other Pacific States are also more diverse than TX.
TX lacks a prevailing ocean wind and the high mountains that make the Pacific States extremely diverse geographically. WA, CA, and OR all have active volcanoes, glaciers, the most biologically dense forests on the continent, hot springs, lakes in volcanic calderas, lava beds, and many other geographic features most states lack.
If one ignores the fact that California packs the same amount of geographic diversity into a significantly smaller area.
And if one also overlooks the fact that the following ecoregions:
Western High Plains
Southwestern Tablelands
Central Great Plains
Edwards Plateau
Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains
which collectively cover half of Texas -- are not overtly all that different from one another. Can anyone but a specialist explains what differentiaties the "Western High Plains" ecoregion from the "Central Great Plains" or the "Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains"?
By contrast, the eastern half (approximately) of California is taken up by the following:
Eastern Cascades
Sierra Nevada
Central Basin and Range
Mojave Basin and Range
Southern California Mountains
Chaparral & Oak Woodlands
Sonoran Basin and Range
among which there are some VERY significant differences in landscape, flora, weather, etc. Death Valley vs. the high Sierra being only the most obvious example.
What characterizes a "discernable difference"? I wouldn't say that the Texas Hill Country (Edwards Plateau) has a whole lot in common with the plains surrounding Dallas (Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains). Just because they're "plains" doesn't mean they are exactly the same.
On the flip side, one could make the argument that is there really that much of a difference between the Southern and Central California Chaparral and Oak Woodlands, Central California Valley, and Southern California Mountains since they all occupy the same climatic zone and have many of the same geographic features? Those three areas make up nearly half of California as well.
What matters most is they are differences of ecosystems, which is one of many measures of "geographic diversity" but a pretty compelling one.
Quote:
TX lacks a prevailing ocean wind and the high mountains that make the Pacific States extremely diverse geographically. WA, CA, and OR all have active volcanoes, glaciers, the most biologically dense forests on the continent, hot springs, lakes in volcanic calderas, lava beds, and many other geographic features most states lack.
And none of the Pacific States have subtropical rainforest (by definition it can't), none have the flat and sometimes marshy Gulf Coastal plains with subtropical islands there, none have the splendor of the Great Plains with the prevailing arctic winds coming down without being impeded. We can trade geographic features all day.
Quote:
Kindly draw the logical argument that proclaims that "ecosystems" defined by a government agency define "geographically diverse".
It doesn't but its a pretty good indicator of geographic diversity because the same flora and fauna can't be in all geographic features at once. Basic geography.
It doesn't but its a pretty good indicator of geographic diversity because the same flora and fauna can't be in all geographic features at once. Basic geography.
Thank you. However, as the list shows, Texas and California are in the same class far exceeding any other state, with California having the slight advantage (correlating with climactic differences). This also proves that California and Texas, again, are in a class of their own (Texas is MUCH closer to the #1 state than it is to the #3 state) However, what does area have to do with anything. The boundaries are what they are. You cannot change that.
This does not necessarily put a dagger into the statement that both Texas and California are tied or near tied as far as geographic diversity.
And none of the Pacific States have subtropical rainforest (by definition it can't), none have the flat and sometimes marshy Gulf Coastal plains with subtropical islands there, none have the splendor of the Great Plains with the prevailing arctic winds coming down without being impeded. We can trade geographic features all day.
Until Texas gets taller mountains and more precipitation in the areas of more varied topography, it will fall behind the Pacific states in geographical diversity.
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