All Dried Up
What effects did prolonged drought have on the land, the animals, and the people?
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The drought of the 1930s lasted for almost eight years. Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico experienced the worst of it. The grasslands were over-farmed in many of these areas. The deep-rooted grasses that would normally have trapped soil and moisture were destroyed. Over-plowing exposed the soil underneath, and the lack of rain caused it to dry out.
Study the slides below to learn more about this longlasting drought.
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DroughtA drought is a long period with little to no rain. During the time of the Dust Bowl, areas didn't see rain for years at a time. Farmlands dried up, crops died, soil eroded, and livestock either died or moved with the farmers who left their homes to go west. 
WindWind erosion moves soil from one location to another. Besides causing an area to lose soil, it also further dries out the dirt. Because the soil was already dry from the drought, the winds caused enormous dust storms. These windstorms blew the dust miles away from the farmed areas, destroying land, farms, and houses. 
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