Chapter 11: Gulf Coastal Plains and Mississippi Valley

Santa Clarita and Gulf Coastal Plains/Mississippi Valley

Louisianna, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama are all part of the Gulf Coastal Plain.  The population lost 379,032 people because of Hurricane Katrina. It's southern border is the Gulf of Mexico.  The Gulf Coastal Plains are characterized by the dominance of pine as well as the southern tropical and subtropical climates that allow for moist wetlands, marshes, and swamps.

Santa Clarita Climate and Gulf Coastal Plains Climate

Both areas have completely opposite climates.  The Gulf Coastal Plain's climate is is a result of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.During Growing season, thunderstorms and lightning storms are daily occurrences. The regions warm humidity in combination with its nearness to the ocean create the hurricanes that characterize the region, the worst and most notable of these being hurricane Katrina.

  Santa Clarita's naturally dry climate makes it so these two are very distinguishable from each other.  While the Gulf Coastal Plains main natural threat is the hurricane influenced by its nearness to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, Santa Clarita is only at danger because of its nearness to the San Andreas fault (earthquakes).  The average precipitation of the Gulf Coastal Plains during the winter and spring can be as high as 90 inches.

Santa Clarita Population and Gulf Coastal Plains Population

As with all of the other regions, it is very difficult, almost unfair to compare the populations of a large region with that of a city in a state, but it can be assumed that the Gulf Coastal Plains population is very high.  Coming in at one of the most populous regions in the US, the Gulf Coastal Plains and Mississippi Valley have a population that exceeds 10,000,000!