Houston travel guide — Houston tourism and travel information

Houston travel guide

about Houston

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Houston geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1,558.4 km² (601.7 mi²). 1,500.7 km² (579.4 mi²) of it is land and 57.7 km² (22.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.70% water.

Houston's climate is classified as being humid subtropical. The city is located in the gulf coastal plains biome, and the vegetation is classified as a temperate grassland. Much of Houston was built on forested land, marshes or prarie, all of which can still be and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

In summertime, daily high temperatures are in the 90 to 105 °F (32 to 41 °C) range throughout much of July and August. The air tends to feel still and the humidity (often 90 to 100% relative humidity) makes the air feel hotter than it really is. To cope with the heat, people use air conditioning in nearly every car and post-war building in the city.

Summer thunderstorms sometimes bring the moderately common tornadoes to the area. Afternoon rains are not uncommon, and Houston meteorologists are not given to predicting a zero percent chance of rain on most days.

Winters in Houston are cool and temperate. The coolest period is usually in January, when north winds bring winter rains. Snow is almost unheard of, and typically does not accumulate when it is seen.

Houston has four bayous passing through the city. The Buffalo Bayou, which runs into downtown, the Brays Bayou, which runs along the Texas Medical Center, White Oak Bayou runs through the Heights and near northwest area and the Sims Bayou in the south of Houston merge in downtown Houston into the Houston Ship Channel. The Ship Channel goes past Galveston, Texas into the Gulf of Mexico.

Most of Houston is very flat and is about fifty feet above sea level in elevation; the Houston Heights area has the highest elevation in the city. The city once relied on groundwater for its water needs. Land subsidence forced the city to turn to ground-level water sources such as Lake Houston.

Hurricanes have slammed into the Texas Gulf Coast on numerous occasions; several have passed through Houston, causing death and destruction. The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 led to Galveston losing its status as the major port city and economic power in Southeast Texas; development of the Ship Channel and its port refineries shifted the honor to Houston. The last hurricane of consequence to hit Houston was Hurricane Alicia in 1983, but Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 caused billions of dollars in damages.

Flooding has proved to be an increasingly serious problem in Houston. Houston's worst contemporary flood was Tropical Storm Allison which passed through the city in June, 2001. Many neighborhoods have changed since the storm; older houses in some afflicted neighborhoods have been torn down and replaced with larger houses with larger foundations.

Houston's climate is often compared to that of Dallas, Texas. Dallas has a hot and dry climate while Houston has a hot and humid climate. While Dallas gets hotter temperatures, Houston's heat index is often higher.

Like many areas of Texas, Houston suffers from the Red Imported Fire Ant.

Houston history

Main article: History of Houston

Near cities to Houston

• Pasadena travel guide 17 km
• Baytown travel guide 37 km
• Galveston travel guide 75 km
• Beaumont travel guide 130 km
• Port Arthur travel guide 140 km
• Lake Charles travel guide 210 km
• Nacogdoches travel guide 220 km
• Austin travel guide 240 km
• Waco travel guide 260 km
• Tyler travel guide 290 km

Near webcams to Houston

• Housten webcam 3.7 km
• Housten webcam 3.7 km
• Housten webcam 3.7 km
• Houston - Museum of Natural Science webcam 5.8 km
• Austin webcam 230 km
• Corpus Christi webcam 290 km
• San Antonio webcam 300 km
• Dallas webcam 360 km
• Dallas webcam 360 km
• Garland webcam 370 km

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Houston travel services

cheap flights to Houston

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Houston real estate

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City Travel Guide comes with Houston real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Houston property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in USA, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Houston.

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Houston travel books

Houston travel guide books

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Houston maps and atlases

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