Texas, the ‘
Lone Star State’, is the second-largest state in the USA. Claimed by Spain, then France and Mexico, the state finally gained its independence in 1836. Texas borders Mexico along the
Rio Grande and embraces vast
mountain ranges and
canyons to the west, l
akes and
pine forests to the east, and
broad plains to the north. To the south are Gulf of Mexico beaches and low-lying alluvial plains. Rolling hill country and clear natural springs are at its heart.
Its great wealth stems from its vast oil reserves. Houston
is both the center of the US oil industry, the
space headquarters of the USA, and a thriving international port, being connected to the Gulf of Mexico by the 80km (50-mile) Houston Shipping Channel.
Originally a trading post,
Dallas is now an important center for commerce and fashion. A sophisticated city with its glittering high-rise skyline, elegant stores, fine restaurants and a rich cultural life, it still possesses the much-renowned Texan hospitality and southwestern charm.
Much more ‘western’ in spirit,
Fort Worth started as a military outpost and then became a
cow town where cattlemen brought their herds to be shipped. Much of the
Old West is preserved in Fort Worth today and it continues to be a center for the cattle industry.
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