What are some unifying characteristics of each New Mexico four provinces?

* Arid to semi-arid climate

* High elevation, averaging around 7,000 feet

* Rugged terrain, including canyons, mesas, and buttes

* Sparsely populated

* Economy based on ranching, mining, and tourism

Basin and Range:

* Arid to semi-arid climate

* Lower elevation than the Colorado Plateaus, averaging around 5,000 feet

* Basin-and-range topography, with alternating basins and mountain ranges

* More densely populated than the Colorado Plateaus

* Economy based on agriculture, manufacturing, and mining

Great Plains:

* Semi-arid climate

* Low elevation, averaging around 4,000 feet

* Flat to gently rolling terrain

* Most densely populated region of New Mexico

* Economy based on agriculture, manufacturing, and government

Rio Grande Rift:

* Arid to semi-arid climate

* Lowest elevation in New Mexico, averaging around 3,000 feet

* Rio Grande flows through the center of the rift

* More densely populated than the Colorado Plateaus or Basin and Range

* Economy based on agriculture, tourism, and government