Those notorious deserts. How Texas became notorious for its nearly nonexistent deserts (Lubbock: movies, living in)

[Yenisey]

Not so far ago I learned that not only in Europe evidently false statement that Texas is composed mostly of deserts is popular.

From what does Texas derives its reputation as the deserted land? From its geographical location in Southwestern United States which is, by the way, disputable? From its proximity to New Mexico and Arizona, at least on the Contigous United States map?

Thing that is even more commonly associated with Texas is cowboy. How to graze and pasture all those Texan cows on deserts?

Logic fails when popular image starts?

[Midessan]

It mostly comes from old westerns set in Texas but filmed in places like Utah.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Most people don't have a clue as to the definition of desert but as Midessan stated, Hollywood is the blame for Texas being thought of by those who have never visited it as mostly desert.

My favorites old westerns supposed set in early Texas have always been those where the cowboy in a white hat chases the bandits always in black hats by a eucalyptus tree or a saguaro cactus.

[eddie gein]

A lot of Texas is classified as semi arid steppe which means that it gets a little more rain than a desert, but in the grand scheme of things doesn't look much different. Midland Odessa isn't a desert but to someone who didn't know better it looks like one. Same with Lubbock. Same with Amarillo. Same with Laredo. Probably 1/4th to 1/3rd of Texas looks similar enough to deserts that it could be mistaken for one.

Officially though, only the trans pecos region (roughly) is 'desert'.

[texasdiver]

Yeah well....we had an exchange student from Germany who expected to see indians living in teepees on the plains.

It's all those old Hollywood western movies that were filmed in the Mojave desert east of LA or monument valley Arizona.

[TamaraSavannah]

Originally Posted by Yenisey

Not so far ago I learned that not only in Europe evidently false statement that Texas is composed mostly of deserts is popular.

From what does Texas derives its reputation as the deserted land? From its geographical location in Southwestern United States which is, by the way, disputable? From its proximity to New Mexico and Arizona, at least on the Contigous United States map?

Thing that is even more commonly associated with Texas is cowboy. How to graze and pasture all those Texan cows on deserts?

Logic fails when popular image starts?

Everything is relative.

In the mid 70's, my father was posted to Saudi Arabia and was flying over the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) of the country. He was asked what he thought.

"Makes West Texas look like the %#$*** Garden of Eden!".

[Midessan]

Now that I think about it, it's not just westerns. Movies like Tin Cup, Swordfish, and many others that are not westerns portray Odessa as mountainous desert.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

Most people don't have a clue as to the definition of desert but as Midessan stated, Hollywood is the blame for Texas being thought of by those who have never visited it as mostly desert.

My favorites old westerns supposed set in early Texas have always been those where the cowboy in a white hat chases the bandits always in black hats by a eucalyptus tree or a saguaro cactus.

Or....they're supposedly standing on the banks of the Rio Grande/Bravo.....and you see Monument Valley across the river.

I choked on my beer.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

I choked on my beer.

Hope it was either Lone Star or Shiner's!

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by joqua

Hope it was either Lone Star or Shiner's!

LOL! Probably LS.