The Great Sand Hills Come climb to the top of a Great Sand Hill and see the 1900 square km of a desert landscape of drifting sand. Drifting east about 4 metres per year, because of winds from the west and northwest, the Sand Hills serve as a great tourist spot for all ages. The Sand Hills hosts such wildlife as small clumps of aspen, birch, and willow trees scattered about the fine sand held together by native prairie grasses. You can also find low brushes such as rose, chokecherry, and sagebrush, a favorite oif the antelope in the area.
Farmers take advantage of the grasses by grazing their cattle during a seven-month grazing period.
Recently, the Sand Hills have seen an increase in the exploration of oil and gases, and has been found to be a great site for the industry. However, the companies must be careful not to damage the plant and animal life in the ecosystem, and therefore use special equipment when looking for oil and gas in the winter season. The Great Sand Hills are open all year. For more about the Sand Hills' history, read The Sand Hills by Earl Dewar. This page has been prepared by the staff and students of Hazlet School.