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Llano Estacado ((:ˈʝano estaˈkaðo), (meaning Palisaded Plain) Texas/local pronunciation: (estaˈkaðo ), New Mexico/local pronunciation: (estaˈkaðo )) commonly known as the Staked Plain,〔(What Does "Llano Estacado" Mean? ) About.com, 2010-05-12.〕 is a region in the Southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas. One of the largest mesas or tablelands on the North American continent,〔 the elevation rises from in the southeast to over in the northwest, sloping almost uniformly at about .〔Wendorf, F., 1961. ''Paleoecology of the Llano Estacado,'' Vol. 1, Santa Fe: NM, The Museum of New Mexico Press, Fort Burgwin Research Center Publication〕 ==Geography and climate== The Llano Estacado lies at the southern end of the Western High Plains ecoregion of the Great Plains of North America; it is part of what was once called the Great American Desert. The Canadian River forms the Llano's northern boundary, separating it from the rest of the High Plains. To the east, the Caprock Escarpment, a precipitous cliff about high, lies between the Llano and the red Permian plains of Texas; while to the west, the Mescalero Escarpment demarcates the edge of the Pecos River valley. The Llano has no natural southern boundary, instead blending into the Edwards Plateau near Big Spring, Texas. This geographic area stretches about north to south, and east to west, a total area of some , larger than Indiana and 12 other states. It covers all or part of 33 Texas counties and four New Mexico counties.〔 Some years, a National Weather Service dust storm warning is issued in parts of Texas due to a dust storm originating from the area or from the adjacent lower part of the Southwestern Tablelands ecological region.〔Dust storm#Dust storm visibility of 1.2F4 mile or less.2C or meters or less〕 The landscape is dotted by numerous small playa lakes, depressions that seasonally fill with water and provide habitat for waterfowl. The Llano Estacado has a "cold semiarid" climate (Köppen ''BSk''), characterized by long, hot summers and cold winters. Rainfall is very low; the entire region receives fewer than of rainfall annually, and the western part receives as little as . High summer temperatures (average July temperature above 85 °F or 29 °C) mean most of the small amount of precipitation is lost to evaporation, making dryland farming difficult.〔 The Texas State Historical Society states it covers all or part of 33 Texas counties, six fewer than as depicted by a US Geological Survey map, and four New Mexico counties.〔 As depicted by a US Geological Survey map, the Llano Estacado includes all or part of these Texas counties: It also includes all or part of the following New Mexico counties: *Curry *Lea *Quay *Roosevelt 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Llano Estacado」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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