The high plains of Texas (or the Llano Estacado) are flat, semi-arid, and the view is not even broken by trees. But there is a really big ditch–the Palo Duro canyon.
How does such a landform impact the surrounding environment? There may be water flowing along a canyon floor, or pools of an ephemeral stream. If not, the water table is closer to the surface.
Either way, there is more vegetation, and a greater diversity of vegetation. The land may support trees that provide shade for mammals and nesting habitats for birds. Wildlife will congregate there for shelter and water.
It is where hunters find game and trappers find pelts.
Getting to the bottom of the Palo Duro canyon is not terribly difficult, nor is it as simple as walking to the supermarket but building a road through this terrain (and a bridge at the bottom) is expensive. Switchbacks will be involved, making the road longer, and still there will need to be accommodations–fill and culverts–for rough, sloping terrain and drainage.
Until a road is built through a canyon, commerce on either rim will be affected. Bulk transport will be unavailable.
And let us not forget the wind. The bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas, but the wind turbine might as well be the state tree. At the bottom of the canyon there may not be much wind, but it will be a different experience on the rim.
