The Great Plains States: A Complete List
The Great Plains span ten U.S. states (wholly or partially), stretching from the Canadian border to Mexico:
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Kansas
- Oklahoma
- Texas (northern/western portions)
- Montana (eastern)
- Wyoming (eastern)
- Colorado (eastern)
- New Mexico (eastern)
Canadian Extension
The Prairie Provinces—Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba—are the northward continuation of the same physiographic region.
Defining Features
- Flat to rolling grassland (shortgrass/mixed-grass prairie).
- Semi-arid to sub-humid (rain shadow of Rockies).
- Deep, fertile Mollisol soils—breadbasket for wheat, corn, soy.
- Extreme continental climate: blizzards, tornadoes, hail, drought.
Ecologically, the Plains transition to Midwest tallgrass prairie eastward (~97th meridian) and to Rocky Mountain foothills westward.
Wanderlust World