In this article, we will talk about the interesting Facts about the Great Plains. The Great Plains are defined as the broad expanse of flat land located in west of the Missouri River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. Most of the Great Plains is covered in prairie, steppe and grassland. To know more facts about the Great Plains check the list below.
Facts about the Great Plains 1: Term
In the United States, the term “Great Plains” is used to describe a sub-section of the even more vast Interior Plains physiographic division, which covers much of the interior of North America. In Canada, the term prairie is more generally used based on human geography. The region is known as the Prairie Provinces or easily called “the Prairies.”
Facts about the Great Plains 2: Ten Physiographic Subdivisions
The United States Geological Survey divides the Great Plains in the United States into ten physiographic subdivisions. Those are Glaciated Missouri Plateau, Unglaciated Coteau du Missouri, Black Hills, High Plains, Plains Border, Colorado Piedmont, Raton, Pecos Valley, Edwards Plateau and Central Texas.
Facts 2 (Ten Physiographic Subdivisions)
Facts about the Great Plains 3: The Ancient Great Plains
In the Great Plains, paleontological finds numbers bones of woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers and other ancient animals. They also find the other Megafauna’s bone such as giant sloths, horses, mastodons and American lion. Millions years ago, these faunas dominated the area of the ancient Great Plains. Check out facts about the Great Gatsby here
Facts about the Great Plains 4: Climate
There are various weather through the year in the Great Plains. Extreme cold of harsh winters and extreme hot and humid summers can be found in this area. In winter, the high speed of wind happens frequently. Many thunderstorms occur in the plains in the spring through summer.
Facts 4 (Climate)
Facts about the Great Plains 5: American Tribes
In the past, there are many Plains Indians tribes lived in the Great Plain such as Blackfoot, Crow, Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Comanche and so forth.
Facts about the Great Plains 6: European Contact
The first recorded history of encounter between Europeans and Native Americans in the Great Plains occurred in Texas, Kansas and Nebraska from 1540-1542. It was noted by the arrival a Spanish conquistador named Francisco Vásquez de Coronado.
Facts 6 (European Contact)
Facts about the Great Plains 7: New Railroads across the Plains
After the opening of the new railroads across the Plain, the hunters killed almost all the bison for their hides. The effects of railroads made the European and American farmers took advantage of the homestead laws to obtain free farms.
Facts about the Great Plains 8: Homestead Act
The US passed the Homestead Act of 1862 to allow for agricultural development of the Great Plains and house a growing population. The Act allowed a settler to claim up to 160 acres (65 ha) of land, provided that he lived on it for a period of five years and cultivated it. Check out facts about the Gold Rush here
Facts 8 (Homestead Act)
Facts about the Great Plains 9: Great Plains Art Museum
This fine arts museum located in Lincoln, Nebraska which is dedicated to the arts of the Great Plains in the United States.
Facts about the Great Plains 10: Wind Power
The Great Plains contribute important wind power in the United States. Wind power brought jobs to local residents, along with royalty payments to landowners who leased sites for turbines, reversing the town’s population decline.
Facts 10 (Wind Power)
Hopefully those interesting Facts about the Great Plains will enrich your knowledge about the Great Plains.
