If you look beyond the apparent emptiness of the landscape, you will learn that the High Plains ecosystem, like all ecosystems, contains its own unique riches.
Many native animals live underground as a way to adapt to the harsh arid climate.
The eastern boundary of the High Plains is often cited as the 100th meridian or the 600-m contour or elevation line. But prairie vegetation boundaries are flexible, advancing or retreating in response to the weather. Located in the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains, the High Plains is semi-arid, with precipitation averaging less than 50 cm per year. Because of its location, the High Plains is subject to climatic extremes. Rivers are few, and the waters they contain are high in demand.