| Texas | |
 | |
Location  | |
Coat of arms and flag   | |
| State | United States of America |
|---|---|
| Capital | Austin |
| Surface | 696,241 km² |
| Inhabitants | 27.695.284 (2015 estimate), 25.145.561 (2010 census) |
| Tourism site | |
| Institutional website | |
Texas it is a federated state USA.
To know
Its called Lone Star State (Status of the lone star) and its motto is Friendship (friendship), in fact the word Texas derives from táysha, which in the language spoken by the Hasinai Indians means "allies" or "friends".
Texas is the second state of the United States of America by extension and number of inhabitants. It is a country with its own cultural features, as well as historical ones due above all to the obstinate sense of independence of its inhabitants. Few other American states make such frequent use of their flag as the Texans; they are also able to print it on their own business cards. Texas originally knew the domination of Spain and later Mexico. In 1836 its inhabitants waged a revolt against the central government which led to the establishment of a free state. Independent Texas survived until 1845, when it became part of the United States.
Texans are known for their generosity and hospitality as well as the unusual way in which they pronounce English. Conversing with them is generally a pleasant experience as pleasant is a visit to their varied country: in the area of the hills (Hill Country) live Germans who have preserved typical traditions; going south along the Rio Grande valley we find the Chicanos, passionate Flamenco dancers and these are just two examples of the many cultures that meet in this extraordinary country.
Given the large territorial extension of the state (Texas is a little larger than France), a private car is generally necessary to travel the enormous distances that separate one city from another but also to travel within large cities Texans.
Geographical notes
It is located in the southern part of the country; it borders to the south with the Mexico, to the east with Louisiana is Arkansas, to the north-east with theOklahoma and to the west with the New Mexico.
It features a wide variety of natural landscapes including river plains, deserts, coastal swamps, subtropical forests, grasslands, mountains and arid regions. The reliefs are placed longitudinally and the maximum elevation is Guadalupe Peak (2,667 m a.s.l.). However the plains, hills and plateaus constitute the dominant landscape, taking into account that the average altitude is 520 m.
The coasts of the Gulf of Mexico are low and indented by bays and estuaries. They are lined with several large islands, the largest of which is Padre Island.
South Texas is occupied by part of the coastal plain extending from Florida to the Mexico, relatively flat or slightly undulating, with altitudes below 300 meters and conducive to human activities.
Central Texas is made up of flat plateaus bordered by escarpments and forms a transition zone between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.
Texas is bathed by approximately 3,700 rivers and 15 river systems, with the Rio Grande the main one both in length and in importance. Caddo Lake is the largest natural lake in Texas and is located in the Eastern region.
When to go
Due to its size, Texas is characterized by a remarkable climatic variety, and both rainfall and temperatures vary with latitude and altitude above sea level.
Southeast Texas has a humid temperate climate and vegetation similar to that of its neighbor is found in it Louisiana. The average annual temperature is above 15 ° C. Summers are hot and humid, winters cool. Between May and September, these regions are hit by storms and hurricanes that often cause severe property damage.
The west is more arid, with a somewhat moderate temperature due to the altitude.
The northern area has a continental-type climate in which snow covers the ground throughout the winter.
Another typical element of the Texan climate is represented by tornadoes, violent and punctual phenomena concerning this part of the Tornado Alley; they arise from the union of tropical air with colder air from the north.
Texas is a vast territory and therefore different climates can be found. Very hot during the summer (even above 38 ° C), in West Texas and Panhandle the summers are dry with the possibility of storms. North Texas (in the Dallas / Fort Worth area) has a more unstable climate (Hence the saying "If you don't like the weather in Texas, wait 10 minutes and it will change", although 10 minutes after the change you may not like it) . Thunderstorms are common, sometimes resulting in tornadoes and hailstorms. It is often cooler near the coast, although the humidity during the summer can be unbearable. In contrast, spring, autumn, and winter are relatively pleasant in most of the state. In winter it rarely drops below zero degrees except in the Panhandle region where winters can get quite cold (Lubbock is Amarillo have suffered devastating storms in the past). Snow has also been seen in the south near San Antonio and Houston, but in those places it melts quickly.
Background
Texas was initially a Spanish colony and later became part of the Mexico. Throughout history France, Spain is Mexico they all claimed the Texas as its own territory. After a brief period of independence as the Republic of Texas starting in 1836, it became part of the United States in 1845. The most famous battle during the War of Independence was that of the Alamo. Although it was a tragic event, the sacrifice of many soldiers allowed the bulk of the Texas army to buy time and strength to defeat the Mexican army led by General Santa Anna. Between 1861 and 1865 he participated in the American Civil War alongside the Confederates. Texas later joined the United States of America and became the 28th State of the Union.
Culture and traditions
The culture reflects numerous influences from Amerindian, African-American, Anglo-Saxon and Hispanic and the identity of the state is based on a lively folklore (rodeo, western, country), associated with the now mythical image of the cowboy.
The dynamism of Texan culture manifests itself with many events and festivals throughout the year. On the sidelines of sports competitions like it Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo numerous concerts are held that attract tens of thousands of spectators and constitute a real cultural event. The most famous festival, however, is there Dallas State Fair of Texas, which in 2002 attracted over three million visitors. Since 1886 it has been held annually from late September to mid-October and gives rise to multiple events, including games and car shows. Since 1952 in each edition there is a 16 meter high inflated puppet, called Big Tex, which has become the symbol of the party.
Austin has been dubbed "the live music capital of the world" (The Live Music Capital of the World); the city has over 200 concert halls, disco bars and nightclubs, many of which are concentrated on 6th Street. The city hosts a large number of music festivals each year, the best known being South by Southwest.
The ethnic background of Texas is extremely diverse. A third of the population has Hispanic origins but there are also many settlements of origin German how (Fredericksburg is New Braunfels, as well as other settlements that originate Norwegian, Polish, Czech, Swedish is French.
Suggested readings
- (EN) Rupert Richardson, Adrian Anderson; Cary Wintz; Ernest Wallace, Texas: the Lone Star State, 10th ed., New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 2009, ISBN 0-205-66168-8.
- (FR) Jacques Binoche, Histoire des États-Unis, Paris, Ellipses, 2003, ISBN 2-7298-1451-5.
- (EN) Donald Chipman, Spanish Texas, 1519–1821, Austin, University of Texas Press, 1992, ISBN 0-292-77659-4.
- (EN) Martha Manchaca, Recovering History, Constructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White Roots of Mexican Americans, Austin, University of Texas Press, 2001, ISBN 0-292-75253-9.
- (EN) Josefina Zoraida Vazquez, et al., The Roots of Conflict in U.S. – Mexican Relations, The Colonization and Loss of Texas: A Mexican Perspective, Wilmington, Scholarly Resources Inc, 1997, ISBN 0-8420-2662-2.
- (EN) Alwyn Barr, Black Texans: A history of African Americans in Texas 1528-1995, Norman, University of Oklahoma Press, 1995, ISBN 0-8061-2878-X.
- (EN) John Folse, Encyclopedia of Cajun and Creole Cuisine, Chef John Folse & Company Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-9704457-1-7.
Territories and tourist destinations
Urban centers
- Austin - Capital of the state of Texas.
- Dallas - One of the most visited destinations in Texas.
- El Paso - The largest city on the border with Mexico.
- Houston - The largest city in the state. Headquarters of NASA mission control center.
- Laredo - The largest port of the United States located in the hinterland.
Other destinations
- Palo Duro Canyon
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Big Bend National Park - A landscape made of mountains, desert, wild nature crossed by the river Rio Grande. There are snakes, deer, javelina (wild pigs) and many other species. At the west entrance it is located Terlingua an old ghost town where the annual is held International Chili Cookoff. Further down the scenic route El Camino Real(The River Road) for Presidium lies the city of Lajitas where for a long time the mayor was a goat.
- Big Thicket National Reserve (Big Thicket National Preserve)
- South Padre Island
How to get
The Texas it borders Mexico to the south and has a coastline of almost 1000km. To the north it borders the State ofOklahoma, to the west with the New Mexico, and to the east with Arkansas is Louisiana. As part of the United States of America all the rules regarding visas and permits apply.
By plane
The international airport of Dallas-Fort Worth it is the largest in the state, the second in the USA and the fourth in the world. It serves 135 destinations domestically and 40 overseas and serves as the primary hub for the airlines of AMR Corporation and American Eagle. The Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport of Houston it is the second in the state. It is also the American airport that offers more connections with the Mexico.
Other important stopovers are those of San Antonio, El Paso ed Austin. However, it should be remembered that almost all the major cities of the state have some type of airport.
By car
Texas is well served by the highways of the United States Interstate Highway system, and the highways are generally in excellent condition. There are several roads coming from Mexico, the most important being a Laredo ed El Paso. Given the huge traffic coming from the south, waiting times can be very long, especially in the Laredo area.
The coast of the Gulf of Mexico is home to over a thousand seaports. They are connected to other US Atlantic ports via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, a section of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The most important ports in Texas are those of Houston, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Beaumont, Port Arthur is Brownsville. Many cruise ships depart and finish their trips in the Houston area.
On the train
There are three Amtrak trains operating in Texas: The Texas Eagle, Sunset Limited, and Heartland Flyer. They are expensive and the journeys are quite long, but traveling by train offers a truly unique perspective on the landscape and can be an interesting alternative for those interested.
How to get around
Texas has the longest network of freeways and railways in the United States and the largest number of airports. The lack of public transport, the distances between cities and the spatial separation between residential areas and workplaces explain why Texans mainly use their own cars.
By plane
Texas is home to several airlines such as American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Continental Airlines. American and Continental serve several Texas locations from the Dallas and Houston hubs respectively. Southwest is a low-cost airline of sorts and operates throughout Texas. Dallas and Houston airports also offer numerous intercontinental connections.
By car
The road system is excellent and even the most remote areas of the state can be reached by car. Motorways often have parallel roads and U-turn points at most exits. Petrol stations are plentiful and speed limits are carefully enforced especially in more rural areas as the resulting fines are often a major source of income for smaller communities. Texas Map is a useful site for road maps.
On the train
The first railroad was completed in 1872: the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad which marked the end of the great cowboy-led animal transhumance.
Because Texas cities are geographically dispersed, traveling by train is expensive and often uncomfortable. Passenger service is no longer an option for Panhandle or South Texas cities. Again, the size of the state is astonishing: traveling across the width of Texas (from Orange on the east end near Houston to El Paso on the west end) you travel roughly the same distance as you would on a trip from El Paso to Los Angeles or from Houston to Jacksonville, Florida. Texarkana, in the northeastern corner of the state, is closest to Chicago than it is at the southern tip of Texas.
By bus
Greyhound buses are present and connect numerous cities. Other bus services are offered by TNM & O, Kerville & Americanos.
Be Dallas that Houston they own a subway.
What see
The state has about 11,500 historical sites and monuments, more than 700 local history museums, 40,000 archaeological sites (including Alibates Flint), 46 sites of national historical interest and 2000 places registered on the National Register of Historic Places (National Register of Historic Places).
You cannot miss the Alamo to San Antonio, where the former Republic of Texas has seen its most tragic hour.
Fort Davis National Historic Site is a partially restored fort, home of the Buffalo soldiers. It is located in the town of Fort Davis north of Big Bend National Park. Fort Davis is also home to the MacDonald Observatory, Ft. Davis State Park and a scenic drive through the Davis Mountains and the prairie where you can see deer, pronghorn (a kind of antelope), eagles and some very beautiful landscapes.
The Fort Worth Stockyards offers a glimpse into the past, when cattle and cowboys were the fashion.
TO Houston the main museums are located in the Museum District, founded in 1997. Among the many cultural institutions located here, the Museum of Fine Arts is the largest in the southern United States. The Museum of Natural Sciences has about one million specimens and objects from the most varied collections (minerals, fossils, Egyptian and pre-Columbian finds, objects related to astronautics and African and local stuffed animals) and a remarkable planetarium.
TO Dallas the most important are the Dallas Museum of Art (works of art from antiquity to today), the Kimbell Art Museum (European painting) and the Nasher Sculpture Center (contemporary sculpture).
As for the other cities, the Museum of Modern Art of Fort Worth is the oldest Texan museum (it was founded in 1892), while the San Antonio Museum of Art presents works from Antiquity to the present day from different parts of the globe.
Drive through the Chihuahuan Desert or the Texas Panhandle to understand the vastness of the Texan territory.
The King Ranch, on the Gulf Coast, is a larger ranch in the Rhode Island.
Don't miss the Texas Hill Country, with fields of wild flowers and countless ranches.
The theme park Six Flags which is located at Arlington.
What to do
Nightlife
In Texas, many cities have quite a lively nightlife. Dallas has the West End and Deep Ellum. West of Dallas, a Fort Worth, there is the famous Billy Bob 's, the largest Honky-Tonk in the world. Also located in downtown Fort Worth are Sundance Square and The Historic Stockyards. TO Houston you can go "Downtown" or "Uptown". Have fun in Austin on 6th Street and the Warehouse District, and don't forget that the capital of Texas is one of the music capitals of the world: along Main Street there are dozens of venues where you can listen to live music of all kinds. Don't forget the famous River Walk along the river in San Antonio.
At the table
Texan cuisine is similar to that of the southern United States, which in turn has several traditions: the soul food it is the traditional cuisine of the Afro-American community, based on fried food accompanied by rice and spicy sauce; that cajun it is instead typical of immigrants French of the eastern part of the state. The Hispanic influence is reflected on Tex mex cuisine, including foods such as chili con carne, a spicy stew of beef, peppers and beans.
The importance of breeding is reflected in the tradition of the barbecue, strongly rooted in the culture of Texas. There are different regional types of barbecues, cooked on different wood: in particular in the eastern part of the state, pork with tomato sauce is preferred. The barbecue was also influenced by the culture of German, Czech and Mexican immigrants, who reevaluated the use of beef. Finally, the cowboy barbecue, typical of the West, which mainly uses mutton.
The Barbecue it's the foundation of the true Texan diet (most Texans will come close to you if you call it BBQ). The International Barbecue Cookoff is held annually in Taylor, (northeast of Austin). Restaurant number one is Kreuz Market in Lockhart (also near Austin), although there are excellent restaurants all over Texas.
The Kilos is the official dish of Texas. There are several types, but the original Texan one does not have beans. If you are interested, do not miss the International Chili Cookoff held on the first weekend of November in Terlingua.
Tex-Mex indicates Mexican cuisine with Texan influences. Take typical dishes (like tortillas) and add beef, sauces, cheeses and spices and you get Tex-Mex. Nachos, crispy tacos, crispy chalupas, chili con queso, chilli with beef, chili gravy is Fajitas they are all authentically Tex-Mex dishes. A tortilla with hot sauce as an appetizer is one of the many typical Tex-Mex combinations that is served in practically all real diners Texans.
Down Home Cookin ' is a blend of American and German cuisine born from the need to cook in the back of a herdsman's wagon. Dishes include steaks, stews, breads, and cakes. There are many steakhouses throughout the state, most notably the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Bob's Steak and Chophouse in Dallas, the Fort Griffin General Merchandise in Albany, and the Taste of Texas steakhouse on Houston's west side.
Drinks
Wine is another typical Texan product: this state is in fact the fifth largest producer in the United States. The vine was introduced by the Spaniards in the 17th century and currently has many varieties. The Dr Pepper drink also originated in this state: it was created in 1885 by a pharmacist from Waco.
Safety
Due to the proximity of the state to the border with the Mexico, visitors should be cautious in areas close to the border.
Always know where you are, follow good safety practices and use common sense when making decisions.Don't give hitchhikers rides.
Keep valuables, money out of sight and lock the vehicle.
Avoid traveling on well-marked but unofficial trails.
Avoid hiking or camping in areas of greatest cross-border activity. If you are visiting a national or state park, consult with park staff to plan trips to less traveled areas in safer areas.
Report any suspicious behavior to the U.S. Border Patrol.
The crime rate in Texas is in line with the rest of the United States. In larger cities, if you stay in tourist areas, you will generally be safe (speak to your concierge or hotel manager if you are unsure of a certain area). Rural areas have a very low crime rate. Texans have a (largely nonexistent) reputation for carrying firearms or resolving firearms disputes, but such actions are no more common here than in other parts of the United States. Texas climatic conditions are rarely dangerous. However, check the weather during hurricane season on the coast and tornado season (spring and summer) if you are in the region of Dallas/Fort Worth. Plus, even though the Texas deserts are beautiful, the heat can be dangerous without the proper precautions. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen if you are traveling through desert areas.
Texas is located in "Tornado Alley", the area of the United States where tornadoes occur most frequently.
