#biomes

[pickerwheelpolls]

You are forced to live in only one type of biome for the rest of your life, how do you react? You can leave and visit other countries or places, but only if they are in the same biome:

Spin the wheel to find out your biome.

[johnomow]

minecraft biomes

(ps: these are being made into keychains, stickers and prints too!)

[kiragecko]

The Canadian Shield

Apparently, the Canadian Shield is a “geologic province”. That just means a large area with a lot of geology in common. I like it because it’s really WEIRD.

The Shield was created by glaciers sliding through. They scraped off all the topsoil and softer rock, and messed up all the watersheds. What developed in the ruins was a maze of endless rivers and lakes, large rocks covered in mosses and lichens, and trees. Lots of trees.¹

There are several things that I think are cool:

the rocks, moss, and lichen

the deranged drainage system

the endlessness

Rocks, Moss, and Lichen

Much of the Canadian Shield is covered in boreal forests (also called taiga). At least, wherever there’s enough dirt. But there is a LOT of exposed rock. And growing on those rocks are the coolest plants/animals in the world – lichens.

Lichens are a symbiosis of algae, fungi, and yeast! Some look like moss – all soft branched stalks. Some look like crunchy fungi or seaweed – growing off the rocks in weird ruffles. Others look like … paint? You know how some rocks will have coloured crusty spots that can be peeled off? Those are lichen! (Some are even powdery, but we don’t get many of those in the Shield.)

Then there’s ACTUAL moss. And moss is almost as cool as lichen! All wet and squishy and ridiculously complex if you look at it closely. Gorgeous stuff!

And finally, there’s the rocks themselves. If you live in an area with rocks, possibly you do not find them breathtaking. But I remember excitedly talking to my parents for SEVERAL MINUTES after seeing a rock in a field, because here in the prairies, you don’t see them.

And these are COOL rocks. Bedrock. Super hard igneous rock that doesn’t wear quickly. It forms cliffs and ravines, despite the fact that the area is quite flat on the macroscale. Canoeing under a cliff face that leans over you is an awe-inspiring experience. Staring down into the depths of the lake below you, seeing that it goes straight down, and then a few feet later the water is shallow. The rocks are big, and full of neat cracks, and pretty coloured, and … they’re good rocks.

Deranged Drainage System

Since the land is made of super hard rock that weathers slowly, and all the watersheds got messed up by the glaciers dumping rocks around the edges of the Shield, water struggles to form normal drainage systems. Rather than starting as small rivers and then combining  as they flow downstream, water just collects in every lowpoint. Thousands of small lakes form, connecting to each other at odd, sometimes hidden, points, with very little predictability. Rapids and waterfalls are common. Shorelines are very irregular, with all sorts of hidden coves. It becomes difficult to figure out what is an island, and what is the mainland.

Looking down from the air, the landscape seems fractal. Sitting on a rock, staring at the opposite shore, it’s obvious that this is true.

Navigating these waterchannels takes a LOT of skill. Mapping them barely helps – the maps are complex enough that it’s hard to absorb the correct information. The Nîhithaw (Cree) navigate by attaching stories to the landmarks, which makes it fun to travel with a guide.

Endlessness

The Canadian Shield is HUGE. It covers over half of Canada! The features that make it up are small, and complex. Most of it is sparsely inhabited. There are few roads; and a lot of areas, travel is either by boat or float plane.

The effect is that of an endless landscape. By plane, you can see more lakes than you can count, all difficult to identify. They stretch to the horizon in every direction.

By boat, you can see many, many interesting  and unique-seeming features. But half an hour later you’ll discover yourself in a spot that looks identical. You’re frequently slipping around blind corners and into narrow, hidden channels, which increases the sense of covering ground. But because you’re rarely going in a straight line, it’s difficult to figure out how far you’ve actually gone. It’s a maze, and it’s possible to travel it for days without seeing a single other human.

(Or you can see multiple groups of people over an hour long trip. It’s very unpredictable.)

That combination of isolation, scale, constantly changing view (that still stays the same TYPE of view), lets me truly  FEEL the vastness. Everything about me gets quiet in the Shield. I’ll suddenly find my face aching from smiling so big for so long. The world is endless and peaceful and not designed for me in the slightest.

It’s exhilarating.

-

¹ There are a few different biomes in the Shield. But the main one, and the one I’ve mostly experienced, is the boreal forest. So that’s the part I’m focusing on. Especially the landscapes of the Whiteshell and northern Saskatchewan.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

[tellioari]

the Static Dunes!

This biome is not like your normal desert, with dark skies and tubes of neon sticking up out of the sands, illuminating the darkness. A new type of fire can be found here - Static Fire - which does not do you damage, but instead incurs bizarre status effects and completely muddles your vision with static when engulfed.

Occasionally when mining the sand, a static clod can be dropped. This functions similarly to coal, able to smelt items, but it is also how you can craft the static fire items.

No ordinary hostile mobs spawn at night in this biome. Instead, a two dimensional figure made of pure static stalks you and only moves when you are not looking - slowly getting closer to you. Do not let it touch you. It cannot be damaged by conventional means, either. It does not like to be near static fire, avoiding it when possible, and bathing it in static fire can remove it temporarily.

I should also note that this is not content that will be in the base dye mod! these are concepts for a future biome mod that used the blocks added in the dye mod as a base.

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

I tried to be thorough I'm sorry

[ahb-writes]

Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions (Geography)

Geographical Worldbuilding Questions:

What is the terrain like for key setting regions – which regions are coastal, mountainous, arid, or have dense vegetation?

What effect does geography have on other aspects of world, such as transportation, trade and industry, environmental challenges, clothing, food and drink?

Who lives in each geographical region and how have they adapted to it?

Who prefers which regions or biomes, and why?

Where are the world's borders and boundaries? Are there separate nations or kingdoms? What distinguishes the geography of each?

Where are the largest metropolises or wilds? Or is everything undeveloped (e.g., if your story features extra-terrestrial exploration)?

When was this world first mapped? Are there regions people know little about or tell legends about ('There be dragons')?

When has landscape changed, due to natural causes or development? What effects did this change have?

Why is this world's geography interesting or unusual?

Why is any region in this world habitable or uninhabitable? What are its dangers, threats, or quirks?

❯ ❯ ❯ Read other writing masterposts in this series: Worldbuilding Questions for Deeper Settings

[future-dregs]

🌲 The forest never leaves you unchanged 🌲

[selitoxicmoon]

Dragon Kingdom Map - Main Lands

From my current project linked to my dragon adopts, I did the Dragon World Map! I'm gonna give some summary of each region, not one per name bc that would take forever :> Still there'll be a second map which would show the floating islands, where Wind Dragons Region resides plus other kind of dragons!

FIELDS OF GAIA: Mostly all the lands and forest of the "PURE LANDS" which separate the "DARK LANDS" with the Shield of Helios (built by the Light Empire and enchanted by the Arcane Dragons under their command). The Fields of Gaia is the center where all connect and of course, the reign of Nature Dragons... which have some issues with the Fire Region.

SNOWMOUNTS: The high mountains of the lands, with ice peaks and snowy forests. Where Ice Dragons reside... and share a bit with some Electric Dragons in Storm Tops.

BLAZING CRATERS: A burning warm crater, close to the Sun Apex and conquering part of the forests (where Nature Dragons are in argument with Fire Dragons), with a ring of fire around the biome to stop the forests to burn. This biome is shared with Metal Dragons, Creek of Steel and Crystal Caves are a place for them... while there are also Metal Dragons sharing land with Electric Dragons in Prism Islands.

SUN APEX: Where the Light Empire reside as well their god Solar Dragon, Helios. High mountains with cliffs of paradise where there can't snow due to the light of sun warming the grounds, between Light Passage and Solar Kingdom there is a city where all dragons share, walk, work and more. Phoenix's Judgement is a killing cliff where traitors, heretics and corrupted minded souls are thrown, killed or judged... while Helios presence the acts and begs of the unlucky. The Toxic Islands, right down them, are unreachable and forbidden to get into or if you get spotted you will be judged or killed in sight; Toxic Islands are a place where nobody knows what's going on in there, only Light Dragons know, besides... they do not recommend it either due to "safety" as the islands have a toxic fog around them (not even Water Dragons can get close as the waters are toxic as well).

OASIS: The country lands of the Desert Dragons, a place way too hot but they feel is kinda comfy. They've got a little lake of warm waters in the middle, full of cactus and palm trees, some sandy mountains, and an archipelago full of caves (Skull Caves). Slider Peak is a mountain which river falls as a spiral, so as the name slider... you can guess what they tend to do. STONE TOWN: Where Earth Dragons reside, their region takes place mostly close to the ocean. They share lands with Desert Dragons, Fire Dragons, Water Dragons and Honey Dragons (as their biggest house hive is on Amber Isle). Pacific Beach is the place where all dragons decide to go to the beach to refresh themselves and be social with each other, a good trip there is sure a worth it.

DARK WILDS: Outside the Shield, the exiliated grounds, the dark lands (too many names). From a green valley, turns into a grey forest where there are 3 paths, the Ledge of Choice (where a tribe of exiliated dragons reside in hope for a choice of keep surviving or end their hopeless lives) or the Moonlight Bay (where resides the goddess Lunar Dragon, Selene). Whispering Fields are a foggy wilderness where you might hear screams, whispers and echoes close by... yeah, Fear Dragons. Close from the Ledge of the Choice, the Shadow Forest, a black forest with night creatures and infested of shadows, you might think it's dangerous... but appearances lie.

JUNGLE MAZE: Center of the Dark Lands, this is a foggy tropical maze, a jungle of poison and disgrace, one of the most dangerous places to be in. Some old ruins reside around... maybe from the Forerunner era? Also, the Silent Swamp, the name isn't like that for fun, the most dangerous creatures sleep under those waters and ya better be around once they're awake. Close by there is part of the river leaving to a different direction and turned into a blood river, Blood Twist, a place where Blood dragons reside and share a vampiric tribe with some dragons. South of them, the Aether Strike, a crater from the second Aether thunder strike which created a mini biome of purple grounds and flora. In the opposite side, the Phantom Mountain, a place where is not recommended to pass through as well some paranormal events happen in there. Then, the Snake's Throat, a place where are the most "sane" Tropical Dragons sharing place with a Mystical Dragon under the waterfalls (river's end).

ASH LANDS: Also named as Burning Lands, a place with Hot Springs zones and lava rivers. Vulcano is the name of the volcano that resides there which is mostly awake, but Magma Dragons and Smoke Dragons do not mind that at all. In difference with Blazing Craters, there is only sleeping craters. Beach of Ashes is how the name is, a beach which sand is actually cinders and ashes from the volcano biome. Left to them, Obsidian Mountain, a pure mineral island, explorers tend to go there for minerals, usually Metal Dragons; above 'em the Petrified Islands, a desertic place where there's no color and only skeletons and dead flora, nobody knows how or why but looks like the place is haunted as the name says.... there are petrified dragons and creatures... is there a ghost? But what all brave visitors had in common, and neighbours (Magma and Smoke Dragons) is that there are strange creatures, shadows lurking by... just when there is only one looking.

DESTINY'S REACH: Where Time Dragons and Arcane Dragons reside, a place of peace, performance and knowledge share (also guarded by the Kronos Gates and enchanted). They are ready for anything, a beach of white sand (just like in the Moonlight Bay) to share with Water Dragons, The End's Refugee (a big cave under the mountain as a bunker if something happens but also for homeless dragons in search of need and care) and the Library of Existence where a big temple full of books remains (the most important place in the whole planet). They share land with the Sound Dragons in the Top of Rhythm and the Harmony Islands, a glowy archipelago of shiny waters due to the glowing plankton living in there. As well, the Night Light Reef, a glowing dark paradise where usually Hidden Light Dragons hide, but they are accepted in the Destiny's Reach as well.

BEYOND KNOWN: Here is where we become... a bit darker. Passing the Astral Path (under water path broken underneath it into an abyss), we arrive to a land... where nothing but ruins and weird looking flora is around. No living creature is there, not even dragons... or is what you think, the cold and the silence chill your bones and can become a torture of loneliness out there, this place is a treasure of the past and Forerunner relics but... at what cost? Very few managed to come back... Only Ice Dragons could, as well, they can see the big island from their region, and those landscapes through the Icy Edge, is a shivering bad feeling (not even Astral Dragons wanted to get their paws into that land, what do they know that we don't?).

DARK SECTOR: Getting more far away from the white sands, comes the second most dangerous place (almost same danger level as the Hell Gates Abyss). The Dark Sector was named as such for the paranormal looking creatures and corrupted lands, who tried to go to the Dark Sector... couldn't come back in one piece (or not even come back). Some say is a place of evil, of souless creatures and cursed place. While others explorers that did had the bravery in group to search inside the place, slowly getting darker, and the world, the sky... is gone; only a gasp, a thin sound of your breath... and the rest is death, you become a part of the land, dead or alive. A quiet place... where the place curse your mind and your body slowly, corrupting you, consuming you until you die, or become part of this paranormal place.

FORBIDDEN ISLAND: The name says it, and the look of it curses and brings shivers to anyone who it looks at it. This island is completely unknown, nobody knows what resides, what happens, if there is life or not. Some name the island "The Curse" or "The Never Return", but only water dragons could reach the place, a place where the light of the sun never reaches, a place where only silence is there, everything is dark, black and slowly if you keep watching, eyes are gonna be looking at you, slowly approaching you on each blink... until you see nothing but your lungs collapsing from lack of oxygen. Nobody can go there, only if curiosity kills you in the act. A little fact, Magma and Smoke dragons are the ones that see most of the paranormal activities in the area of the islands nearby, as they report... it seem those cursed lands are slowly cursing the Ash Lands.

Thanks for reading, for any curious question you've got... comment! I'm enjoying so far this fun project of world-building :> I hope you do as well! There'll be more!

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[ryanthedemiboy]

Source: Dave McShaffrey, Marietta College Department of Biology and Environmental Science. Used with permission.

(Tap/click the image to view it in good resolution)

[script-a-world]

Submitted via Google Form:

Thinking of building a planet that is almost all desert except for the oceans? I'm saying something like 80% desert 20% ocean. Only the polar regions are oceans? But they're connected by rivers that join at the same source, as in one flowing north and the other south. The thing is, what kind of land needs to be at the source of the river then? I suppose those places might need to be a little less desert but that's fine I could have 75% desert, 20% ocean, 5% forest, etc... Anything else I might need to consider?

Tex: So the thing about water is that it’s capable of being in multiple phase states and moving around as a major aspect of a planet’s weather system (Wikipedia 1, Wikipedia 2). It’s not actually possible to isolate water unless it’s manipulated in some way by its environment to, primarily, stay in one state - think planets too cold to defrost, or too hot for humidity, or all the water is compressed underground with a non-porous material preventing its escape, or the water is bonded with something else to otherwise restrict its movement. Have you found any non-Earth planets to model your planet off of? There’s a variety of planets - Mars included, but not the only body on the list - that have different ratios of water to not-water according to a variety of characteristics (Wikipedia).

Wootzel: What you’re proposing probably isn’t realistically possible. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t do it, but I don’t think there’s a plausible natural explanation for this kind of water system.

River/stream sources are always precipitation-fueled in some way. Usually, streams form as rainwater or snowmelt travels downhill. Some have a spring at their source, but the water from this stream is also just rainwater that hung around in an aquifer and traveled underground for a bit before coming up through some kind of crack in the earth (sometimes fueled by volcanic activity). Prevailing winds are mainly caused by the planet’s rotation, so most of your winds won’t be north/south. That more or less gives your evaporated water no particular reason to end up where you want your river source to be.

The only suggestion I can make is that your source-land-type would need to be mountainous. The rain shadow effect is the only reason I can think of for precipitation to fall in one area on a planet but not others, as long as the rest of your land is REALLY flat.

[vee-more-afraid]

Most of the Creatatures I've posted have been fairly simple, early-game Creatatures from the Forests and Plains that you will likely see on your first day. However, in order to continue exploring this wide, wonderful world, I'd love to know where you want to go next.