Artillery Testing Zone

Geography

An area that has undergone heavy testing of large and dangerous weapons and devices. Littered with parts of destroyed and spent munitions', filled with craters, this environment only allows for the most hardy of creatures to survive, and is a hotbed for scavengers trying to reclaim the salvageable parts.

Ecosystem

The Artillery Testing Zone is a natural Badland, a dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. There is minimal vegetation, steep slopes, and a high drainage density. Adding to this, the testing and shelling from the Artillery Tests can significantly disrupt the landscape, from both a destructive and seismic level. The quakes from testing can disturb wildlife from their homes, leaving them to wander for weeks before returning home, or dying due to the dry and hot environment.

Localized Phenomena

Sandstorms are an occurrence that travelers need to watch out for. Large portions of sand can be kicked up in the air from different landmasses being weakened from artillery rounds, and when carried by the wind can cause violent sandstorms. Further development is being done by various organizations such as Forgegrog Munitions and Big Bob's Fireworks Corporation to better understand how to focus targeting of munitions to avoid causing further damage to the region. 
A very real concern, though not natural, is semi-activated shells being buried in the sand. These are explosives and artillery rounds that did not detonate, but still contain active compounds, and could be set off by those who travel too close. The main roads are generally considered safe, as The Engineer's Navy actively clears and diffuses explosives along all major paths, so it is strongly encouraged to stay on the beaten trails. Generally these paths are out of the way of where shells might land, but it is always a risk, so travel during active testing is extremely discouraged, and oftentimes illegal.

Fauna & Flora

Animals that inhabit the Artillery Testing Zone include: bighorn sheep, bison, bobcats, camels, constrictor snakes, coyotes, elk, flying snakes, giant poisonous snakes, giant wolf spiders, lions, mule deer, poisonous snakes, spiders, swift fox, vultures, and Vunlodir Beetle.

History

Once a flattened dessert, difficult to grow crops or sustain life, the region seemed perfect for testing rockets, cannons, missiles, and other weapons without endangering citizens or wildlife. Over the years various organizations have tested their products there, including:

• Big Bob's Fireworks Corporation 
• The Engineer's Navy 

Tourism

There is very little tourism to this area, as it is extremely dangerous within the actual Artillery Testing Zone. There is a large music venue to the south east of the Artillery Testing Zone, known as Badull Artillery Concert Valley , with a stage nestled in a canyon that provides excellent acoustics.

Type

Badlands

Location under

Badull

Owning Organization

The Engineers

Inhabiting Species

• Vunlodir Beetle