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THE BARRENS By Hersius and Xerxex INTRODUCTION This Geography Department discusses the Gorean landscape in terms of geography and its underlying geologic structures. Areas are identified, described, showcased with a scenic description, and then discussed regarding some aspect in detail. General concepts, such as latitude, longitude, and plate tectonics, are likewise discussed and applied to the virtual landmass of the Gorean supercontinent. With an eye to accountability for my interpretations and to help you come to your own conclusions, book and page references are often given. As this series progresses, reference is made to archived TGV articles, not as some ego trip but as a space saving shortcut for new TGV readers to find more background detail for statements made. In this article, Xerxex provides amazing views of the Barrens. THE BARRENS These articles treat the midline of the Thentis and Voltai chains as the prime meridian, since those chains run north and south with the Thentis range slightly north of the Voltai and since that combination covers most of the continental latitudes. TGV February 2004. The Barrens therefore begins a few degrees east and extends eastward for an unknown distance. Book 17 Page 65. The action in Books 17 and 18 occurs in the western portion of the Barrens east of the Thentis Mountains. Book 17 Pages 5, 65, Book 18 Pages 220, 271, 338, 466. The Barrens is bounded on the north by the Northern Forests. This scene shows a place near the border of the Barrens and the Northern Forests where the earth is not as rich, being mostly composed of sandy soils. Click here to view. Analogy with Earth geohistory at these latitudes suggests that glaciers might have once covered this northern terrain. Glaciermelt would leave the landscape softly rounded with gently sloping broad valleys. The southern boundary is thus far in the Books assumed to be the Tahari. These articles therefore locate the Barrens between 60 N and 32 N. Culturally, the Barrens begins at a line of wands with feathers, called the Ihanke, a short distance east of the town of Kailiauk at the foot of the Thentis Mountains. Book 17 Page 77, Book 18 Pages 7, 144, 465. The Barrens is a misnomer term since it is not barren. The majority of its terrain is variously described as rolling grasslands, prairie, or plains. Book 17 Page 5, Book 18 Pages 93, 96, 133, 375. The grasses may reach nearly waist high. Book 18 Page 5. The landscape is uneven. Small hills and valleys are common. Major rivers and innumerable streams water the barrens. The grasslands are interrupted by lines of trees bordering watercourses and by stands of thick timber, thickets, and brush. Patches of the landscape are covered in flowers. Temwood trees and a tree similar to the polar grow in the Barrens. Book 18 Pages 10, 26, 29, 33, 34, 35, 49, 50, 123, 191, 238, 300, 309. This scene depicts a flower field in summer near the Northern Forests. Click here to view. Comparing the Barrens terrain to similar terrains on Earth, one can predict that the Barrens probably contains some of the richest soil on the planet. Farms and ranches thrive near the town of Kailiauk. Book 18 Page 13. Within the Barrens proper, farms produce an array of vegetables, fruits, and berries, with some production being above that needed for subsistence. Book 17 Pages 233, 291, 292, Book 18 Pages 5, 21, 22, 124, 128, 131, 148, 149, 151, 153, 156, 290. This picture shows grassland with small mixed forests. To us this is the core area of the Barrens. Click here to view. The Barrens is also dotted with outcroppings of bare rock. Book 18 Pages 308, 394. At least some of these are red, earthy, iron oxide rocks. Book 18 Page 37. The outcroppings can reach hundreds of feet high, such as the one known as Council Rock. Book 18 Page409. The Barrens has no known large bodies of water. The Thentis Mountains and the Northern Forests act as moisture barriers for the prevailing winds, which are generally from the north and west. The result is an extreme of seasonal climate changes with very cold winters characterized by blizzards and high snowdrifts and very hot summers complete with droughts. Tornados, hailstorms, and sudden rainstorms are common. Book 17 Page 65. The seasons are definitely distinct. Book 17 Page 143, Book 18 Pages 5, 23, 46, 50, 96, 126. This view shows small hills and a river in winter from the perspective of a high place. Click here to view. The major rivers appearing in the Books are the Kaiila and the Snake. The Kaiila leaves the Northern Forests and flows toward the southwest, then branches into the Northern and Southern Kaiila. In contrast to some online interpretations which show the Snake emerging from the Northern Kaiila and proceeding south, the Snake leaves the Northern Forests west of where the Kaiila leaves the Northern Forests and flows southward until it joins the Northern Kaiila. Book 18 Pages 24, 35. SCENIC DESCRIPTION Half as high as a man, the grass shimmers in the sunlight as the first blast of wind rushes past. As if shaken awake by the wind, the grass stretches and leans and begins to reel and dance and then parties wildly with the wind. The grass seems to rejoice in revelry, bumping its fellows and encouraging loose behavior The sweet pungent grass hurls its dry perfume high into the wind for more grass to catch and bat around and pass along. Then the party moves elsewhere, And the moment passes. The grass waves, no longer shoved by the wind, jostle back into shape, but perhaps they only stifle their laughter, waiting for the next gust of wind to free them to their hilarity. BACKGROUND The Barrens appears to have been part of a continent that collided with an existing supercontinent, forming the Voltai range and the present Gorean landmass. TGV February 2004. No information is given as to where the major rivers end. The rise created by the Thentis and Voltai ranges would certainly turn any rivers southward were any rivers to reach their foothills. It is also clear that the Tahari is not watered by rivers from the Barrens, as discussed in TGV July, August 2003. Flint appears in the Barrens. Book 18 Page 10. Flint is quarried locally. The presence of flint suggests a limestone underground foundation for at least parts of the Barrens. Gold, silver, and copper are also mentioned. Book 18 Pages 10, 27, 28, 33. No indication is provided as to whether these are mined locally or imported or as to whether the jewelry made from them is made locally or imported. Shells are also mentioned. Book 18 Page 33. The assumption is that the shells are imported. The Barrens are largely unexplored. The list of white explorers is given without detail. Book 17 Page 148, Book 18 Page 6. CALL FOR WRITERS AND RESEARCHERS Future articles will highlight other areas. People
who wish to work with me to provide Book research, heartfelt
descriptions, and important background information relating to the
area are encouraged to contact me at
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