There is some steeper topography along drainages and adjacent to Lake Traverse. Glacial drift is underlain by Precambrian bedrock in the east. There are bedrock exposures along the shores of Lake Traverse in the southwest. These are sedimentary bedrock and contain many fossils. Virtually all of the poorly drained soils have been ditched and drained for agricultural use.
Saline soils are present in localized areas.
Dry, sandy and gravelly soils are characteristic of beach ridges found throughout the unit. The growing season ranges from 111 to 136 days and is longer in the south. This subsection is drained by the Red River of the north, which forms the west boundary. The Red River flows north into Canada. The drainage network in this unit is minimally developed.