They are mostly in a fairly arid part of the country--basically on the border between the mid west and the mountain states. The parts of the grasslands that are flat have grass growing on them, and little else (hence "Grasslands"). But among these flat areas are dirt mountains and gullies--what are termed badlands. The soil is not rich, which, in addition to inadequate rain, is why the farmers couldn't make a go of it in these areas.
Badlands are defined as "extensive tracts of heavily eroded, uncultivable land with little vegetation." Badlands National Park is not the only badlands--it is just a place where there is the largest concentration of them.
Yesterday we hiked in one of these badlands next to our camper. Our camping spot is right above this area:
The geography is fascinating. As can be seen in the above photo and in the next photo (which is the view we see outside our window when we are drinking our morning coffee) , it consists of flat mesas of golden grass surrounded by areas where the land just seemed to have sunk. Along with these flat mesas are small mountains that consist of dirt, not rock like we are accustomed to. The rocks that are present appear to be sandstone, not the hard rocks of the desert southwest.
And they can create other-worldly patterns and shapes. We felt like we were on another planet at times.
Both of us had the thought that this next spot could have been a set for The Lord of the Rings. It looks like a castle from Middle Earth, doesn't it?
And mixed with these other-worldly rock/dirt formations were more of our fields of gold:
Sometimes we would follow paths made many years ago by cattle, and probably deer and antelope.
In some areas there is mesquite, in addition to grass. Vicky got a great photo of me walking through a mesquite patch, with a deer watching us from on top of the butte:
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