The southwest region of the United States includes western Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. The landscape in the region is marked by both breath-taking beauty and arid wilderness. Several unique landforms characterize the southwest, including the The Colorado Plateau, Rio Grande river and the white sand dunes of the Tularosa Basin.
The Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau is a collection of plateaus that extends across the four touching corners of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. The Grand Canyon and the Wave rock formation are located therein. The Grand Canyon was created by the Colorado river snaking through the rocks over millions of years. Swirling in hues of rust and vanilla, the Wave looks like rippling sand across the desert. Indeed, the Wave was created when desert sand turned to sandstone millennia ago.
Rio Grande River
The Rio Grand River stretches from its origin in Colorado through New Mexico and along the southwestern border of Texas out to the Gulf of Mexico. The river is one of the demarcations for the United States-Mexico border, notably separating the twin cities of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
White Sand Dunes
The white sand dunes of the Tularosa Basin are the remnant of an ancient lake and comprise 275 square miles of desert. The sands are made of gypsum crystals which absorb water and support different species of flora and fauna, including lizards and Yucca plants.
The Rocky Mountains
The southern portion of the Rocky Mountains is located in Colorado and northern New Mexico. The "Rockies" are home to elk and coyotes.
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