The Great Plains and the Bay Area

The Great Plains region is very different than the Bay Area. The first and most obvious difference is the environmental setting. The Great Plains are relatively flat, with a gentle slope from about 1000 feet above sea level in the east to 5000 feet in the west. On the other hand, the Bay Area is a region with multiple terrains including lowlands, hills, and even a few mountains. The Great Plains hydrologic system is also very different from that of the Bay Area. Many rivers run through the Great Plains including the Missouri, Platte, Arkansas, Canadian, and Red rivers. Also, groundwater is found ans stored in underground reserves called aquifers. Although there are a few rivers in the Bay Area including the Napa and Russian river, there aren't any rivers comparable to the size and scale of the Mississipi for example. Instead, the biggest bodies of water are the San Francisco bay, the Pacific ocean and Half Moon bay located on the coast in the South Bay. Half Moon Bay is where the Mavericks surf competition is held. Surfers from around the world come to compete here and ride waves up to 50 feet tall. Lastly, the Great Plains are susceptible to tornadoes which virtually never occur in California. The biggest hazard to the Bay Area is earthquakes, which also virtually never occur in the Great Plains.

Although the Great Plains and the Bay Area have little in common, there are some similarities. The most notable similarity is the importance of agriculture. The Great Plains are the world's leading exporter of wheat providing 60 percent of the U.S. total wheat crop. Other important cash crops produced in the region include cotton, oats, and sunflowers. Being that the Bay Area is located in California, agriculture is also important to the region. Here, tomatoes, almonds, and grapes thrive in the mediterranean climate.