Great Plains
Great Plains High, extensive region of grassland in central North America. The Great Plains extend from the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, through w central USA to Texas. The plateau slopes down and e from the Rocky Mountains. It is a sparsely populated region with a semi-arid climate, prone to high winds. The chinook wind warms the bitter winter. Most of the land is prairie. Cattle-ranching and sheep-rearing are the main economic activities; wheat is the principal crop. Native Americans roamed the Great Plains before Europeans destroyed the bison. The railroads brought settlers in the late 19th century. In the 1930s, drought and soil mismanagement resulted in the dust bowl.
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Great Plains
