What is the High Plains?
Q: What is the High Plains?
A: The High Plains is a subregion of the Great Plains. It is located in southeastern Wyoming, southwestern South Dakota, western Nebraska, eastern Colorado, western Kansas, eastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma and south of the Texas Panhandle.
Q: What causes the geography of the High Plains?
A: The high plains are caused by the same process as caused the Rockies. This process is due to North America moving west away from Eurasia over 100 million years ago which has resulted in plates being subducted under its western side and stretching out its eastern side.
Q: What type of climate does the High Plains have?
A: The High Plains has a "cold semi-arid" climate—Köppen BSk—with an average annual precipitation between 10–20 inches (250–510 mm).
Q: How extreme can temperatures be in this region?
A: Temperatures can range from day to night by 30 °F (17 °C) and 24-hour temperature shifts of 100 °F (56 °C) are possible. In Browning, Montana from January 23, 1916 to January 24, 1916, there was a world record for greatest temperature change in 24 hours with a drop from 44 to −56 °F (7 to −49 °C).
Q: What are some other features associated with this region?
A: The region is known for steady and sometimes intense winds that come from the west which adds wind chill factor during winter months. Additionally it has one of lowest population densities in continental United States with Wyoming having second lowest population density after Alaska.
Q: How has economic development been impacted by this area?
A: One of latest areas of economic development for this region has been development of wind farms.
