History of North America

Why were the great plains and basin major obstacles to wagon trains journeying west?

Great Plains

* Vast and open: The Great Plains stretched for hundreds of miles with few landmarks to help travelers navigate. This made it easy to get lost or turned around.

* Lack of water: The Great Plains were semi-arid, and water sources were often scarce. This meant that travelers had to carefully plan their route to ensure they had access to water.

* High winds: The Great Plains were often subject to high winds, which could make travel difficult and dangerous.

* stampeding herds of bison: The Great Plains were home to vast herds of bison which could be dangerous to travelers if they were startled or threatened.

* Native American attacks: The Great Plains were also home to various Native American tribes, some of which were hostile to white settlers. This meant that travelers had to be constantly on guard against attack.

Basin and Range

* Mountain ranges: The Basin and Range Province is characterized by numerous mountain ranges, which could be difficult and dangerous to cross.

* Canyons: The Basin and Range Province also contains many deep canyons, which could be difficult to cross.

* Deserts: The Basin and Range Province is also home to several deserts, which could be hot and dry, making it difficult to travel through.

* Lack of water: The Basin and Range Province is also semi-arid, and water sources were often scarce. This meant that travelers had to carefully plan their route to ensure they had access to water.