The eastern boundary was developed using general landform boundaries and the separation of northern hardwoods presettlement vegetation and dominantly coniferous or aspen-birch presettlement vegetation. Steep slopes, high hills and lakes formed in glacial end moraines and outwash plains characterize this subsection. Presettlement vegetation included maple-basswood forests interspersed by oak savannas, tallgrass prairies, and oak forests. Much of this region is currently farmed. Where lakes are present, tourism is common.
Parent material is primarily calcareous glacial till and outwash sediments.
There is 100 to 500 feet of glacial drift covering most of the bedrock in this subsection. Bedrock underlying the subsection is diverse. Loamy soils are prevalent. Growing season precipitation ranges from 10.5 to 11.5 inches. The growing season ranges from approximately 122 days in the north to 140 days in the south.