How were the Great Plains formed?
The Great Plains form a broad, flat area in the center of the map of the U.S., according to the U.S. Government’s National Atlas. The Great Plains extend from the southern border of the U.S. with Mexico north into Canada.GeologyThe geology of the Great Plains is described by North Dakota State University as being the least complicated within the U.S. Ocean sediment collected on what is now the Great plains between 570 million years ago and 70 million years ago. This sediment became rock of around 5,000 to 10,000 feet in thickness.OceanUntil around 70 million years ago the Great Plains was covered by a shallow ocean. The uplift of the North American continent from beneath this ocean exposed the Great Plains as the almost flat ocean floor.TiltThe National Atlas explains the Great Plains tilt to the east. This slight slope was caused by the rising of the Rocky Mountains causing the sedimentary rock to erode about 65 million years ago.RockThe rock formations of the Great Plains reflects th
