The Dust Bowl
During the 1930s, extreme drought and high winds made life incredibly difficult in the Great Plains region of the United States. In
many areas, rainfall was forty percent less than normal. The soil became extremely dry, and when strong winds blew, they created
tremendous dust storms. These so-called "black blizzards" were so thick that they made daylight seem like dusk. During this
terrible period, the Great Plains region of the United States was named the "Dust Bowl." Over the next few years, the drought
continued, and the winds created more dust storms. In some places, the drought and high winds lasted for eight years. Many people
wondered if the black blizzards would ever end.
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