The Southern Sand Plains

Geography

The Southern Sand Plains is a desert covering a large part of south Ghynzua. Its landscapes consist of stone plateaus, sand dunes, sand seas, gravel plains, dry valleys and salt flats. In the east, south and west the landscape gradually changes from desert to coastal plains. To the north the Sand Plains border a belt of tropical savanna. Various oases can be found throughout the desert. The most important ones lay along the Dream Road and are vital to the various trading caravans traveling the road. Most of the oases are natural, while some were man made by making wells in places where underground rivers are close enough to the surface.

Climate

The weather in the Southern Sand Plains tends to be sunny, dry and stable with a minimal chance of rainfall. The sky is usualy clear. Average temperatures range from 32 to 40 °C nearly everywhere in the desert except at very high altitudes. During the nights the temperatures drop to 12 and 19 °C.

Flora and fauna

In the most central part of the Sand Plains there is little vegetation to be found outside the oases. The coastal areas have enough humidity to sustain a variety of lichens, succulents, and shrubs. To the north winter rains sustain shrublands and dry woodlands. In many of the oases date palm groves can be found. Also some fruit trees and vegetables are grown, as well as certain cereals. Another plant native to the oases in the Sand Plains is the Hira Osu. A succulent cultivated for medicinal purposes.

Alternative Name(s)

Great Sand Sea, Sand Plains

Type

Desert

Included Locations

• Elsawu Oasis
• Nagali
• Ohsawu

Owner/Ruler

Empress Shiinu of Ghynzua

Owning Organization

Ghynzua

Related Ethnicities

• Nagal Civilization

Inhabiting Species

• Ghynzuan Desert Goats

Related Flora
Hira Osu

The Great Plateau

The Great Plateau is the largest plateau in the Sand Plains. It stretches from the center of the desert to the north and east. The Dream Road follows the western cliffs for a while.

The Dream Road

A network of trade routes which runs through the Southern Sand Plains. It starts in Sawu at the southern edge of the desert. The road then crosses the desert, following a string of oases it leads northwest until it eventually leaves the desert behind. The road then continues towards Miraiy, its final stop.