Red River Valley The Red River Valley takes up the eastern portion of the state, with the
Red River of the North forming the border with
Minnesota. The Valley is the remnant lake bed of the ancient
Lake Agassiz. It is very flat, and is quite fertile. This area of North Dakota is mostly farm country, with
wheat,
sugarbeets, and
maize as staple crops, and along with other crops and livestock, cover the area. The valley contains the lowest point in North Dakota which is the Red River at
Pembina, at 750 feet (230 m) above
sea level.
Missouri Plateau and Drift Prairie To the west of the Red River Valley is the Drift Prairie and the Missouri Plateau (or Missouri Coteau). The Drift Prairie is bordered on the north by the
Turtle Mountains and separated from the Red River Valley by the Pembina Hills. This area rises from 200 to 2,000 feet over the Red River Valley. The Drift Prairie is covered in lakes, stream valleys, and rolling hills. This region suffers moderate to severe flooding from the Red River almost annually, caused by the heavy snowfall in this region every winter.
Great Plains About half of North Dakota is covered by the Great Plains. The Great Plains, in the southwestern section of the state, are hilly and rich in mineral deposits. This area rises about 300 to 400 feet above the Drift Prairie east of the Missouri River. Along the Missouri River, the land is lower. This area is called the Missouri Break. To the south and west of the river is an area of rugged valleys and buttes called the Slope.
Badlands The Badlands lie in southwestern North Dakota. The Badlands are exposed surfaces of stone and clay that
erosion has shaped into striking formations; many shades of browns, reds, grays, and yellows appear in
buttes, pyramids, domes, and cones. They stretch for about 190 miles (305 km) and are from 6 to 20 miles (10 to 30 km) wide. In some areas of the Badlands the rocks contain
lignite coal that has been burning for many years. The clay above these coal beds has turned bright pink and red. White Butte, the highest point in North Dakota, is located in the Badlands, and stands 3506 feet (1069 m) above sea level. ==Climate==