Northern Barrens The Northern Barrens encompass all the lands north of the Great Divide , created when the Barrens were split in two by the Cataclysm . It is a massive savanna , with a few oases in the south region around the Crossroads . Before the upheaval , several large kaldorei cities stood here . Now , those brave few willing to scrape out a life on the arid plains inevitably run afoul of centaur warbands or quilboar raiding parties . Despite its often uninviting terrain and hostile inhabitants , the Northern Barrens receive a good deal of interest from Alliance and Horde alike , as well as races native to Kalimdor . Trade routes crisscross the landscape leading to and from more inviting regions , and the most notable route is the Gold Road that runs north - to - south through the Northern Barrens and beyond . Rumors suggest that precious minerals and treasure - filled ruins await those with the courage to investigate . Aesthetically , the Northern Barrens bear a close resemblance to an African savannah , including the beasts residing there . There are also three small Oasis ; the Forgotten Pools , the Wailing Caverns and the Stagnant Oasis . History . Though the Northern Barrens in and of itself is a new zone due to the devastating Cataclysm , the areas within contain a rich history : The Barrens , both north and south , was once a thriving forest under the protection of the night elves and their kind . Several kaldorei settlements dotted the land , and there was no ocean for miles . Then came the Burning Legion and the Great Sundering , which shook ancient Kalimdor to the bedrock . This forested landscape transformed into a scorched plain , battered each day by the sun ' s rays . The Northern Barrens remains a sprawling and arid savanna to this day that stretches between Stonetalon Mountains to the west and Durotar to the east . When the orcs under the Warchief Thrall landed on the Barrens many years ago , it saw civilization anew . The Horde built new settlements among the dry grasses and arid hills , and placed the Barrens solidly into the heart of Horde territory . The Horde set up numerous outposts in this barren land , the largest being the Crossroads at the intersection of two major roads . The area is also dotted with numerous farms populated by orcs and their families , and guard towers manned by orcish and tauren guards . Centaur warbands are most often seen in the canyons , though they roam as far as the river that forms its eastern border with Durotar . Fearlessly aggressive , the centaur are known for their savagery , especially against tauren and night elves . They are not above attacking trade caravans also , for the goods or just for the sake of violence . Travelers who survive the centaur ’ s battle lust are used as slave labor in the hardscrabble mines the centaur carve into the hard - baked earth . Displaced from Durotar by orcs , quilboar have built crude villages along the river that separates the orc nation from the Northern Barrens . From there , they strike out across the river to raid settlements or deeper into the Northern Barrens to attack caravans along the Gold Road . The caravan raids have hurt the goblin trade princes ’ profits , so they have started negotiations to pay the quilboar gold and goods to protect caravans against centaur warbands . Other dangers include harpies who watch from perches atop mesas in the north and large beasts such as lions and thunder lizards - though these creatures tend to avoid the Gold Road . The Cataclysm ripped the Barrens asunder , resulting in the Great Divide . The majority of the northern region remains firmly in the hands of the Horde , though the Alliance currently hold much of the Merchant Coast and wage constant attacks against the Mor ' shan Rampart in the north on the Ashenvale side . Quilboar , a constant enemy , have burrowed out a deep cave up in the hills near the Southfury River and burned down the buildings close to the Horde outpost of Far Watch Post . Emboldened by that minor success , they have also sent waves of warriors against Grol ' dom Farm , but to no avail . Geography . The majority of the region consists of vast plains . Mountains to the west hold in heated air , creating the swirling winds that rage across the plains . These windstorms stir up dust devils and tear apart anything larger than the small , tenacious scrub trees . Water is more valuable than gold in the Northern Barrens , and the locations of hidden watering holes are the residents ' most closely held secrets . Dry riverbeds and a never - ending spider web of canyons make any journey a dangerous and winding trek . The Great Divide has ripped the Lushwater Oasis in two . Additionally , strange happenings have caught the attention of Jerrik Highmountain near the Stagnant Oasis , flora and fauna both affected by unusual energies , and not all for the better , as the turtles within have become quite hostile . Travel . Getting there . Alliance : From Forest Song in Ashenvale , take the road south to the Mor ' shan Rampart . Be sure to enter through the unoccupied section , then step into the Northern Barrens . Notable characters . At the Crossroads , Sergra Darkthorn sends promising young adventurers to prove their worth to the Horde by hunting local wild creatures . And at his fortified camp west of the Crossroads , the beleaguered Regthar Deathgate fights a one - man battle to keep the savage centaur from breaking through the Horde defenses . Quests . Of particular note are the hunting quests given by Sergra Darkthorn at the Crossroads , which lead to similar quests in other zones . Many quests in the Barrens deal with fighting back the centaur and the quilboars . In addition , the Venture Company has taken a foothold in the northern Barrens and several quests involve investigating and causing trouble for them .