The Llano Estacado

This map portrays west Texas and eastern New Mexico as a distinct geographic region based on the topography of the Llano Estacado. The Llano Estacado is a relatively flat tableland that marks the southern extent of the High Plains in North America. The high plateau forms a distinct physiographic province that covers an area of more than 30,000 square miles. The flat terrain slopes gently from northwest to southeast with elevations ranging from approximately 5,000 to 3,000 feet.

Sometimes referred to as the "Island-in-the-Sky," the Llano Estacado is well-defined by prominent escarpments on the north, east, and west. The northern boundary is defined by the escarpment of the Canadian River, the eastern boundary by the Caprock Escarpment, and the western boundary by the Mescalero Escarpment. The southern boundary grades gently into the Edwards Plateau.

The Llano Estacado is a unique, semiarid landscape characterized by thousands of ephemeral playa lakes and few streams. The playas serve as a water source and critical habitat for local wildlife and migratory birds on the Central Flyway. Although Lubbock, Amarillo, and Midland-Odessa are significant urban centers, most of the region is sparsely populated, and the rural economy is strongly tied to cotton, cattle, and oil production.

To create this map, shaded relief was used to highlight the escarpments that define the spatial extent of the Llano Estacado. More important, the map was specifically designed to portray the region based on the physical landscape rather than political boundaries. Most maps at this scale are individual state maps, with the Llano Estacado being split along the Texas-New Mexico border. Yet, the residents of west Texas and eastern New Mexico are closely aligned, and the Llano Estacado is perceived as a distinct and unique geographic region.