the borderlands [Lore] Roughrider Ridge

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The Roughrider Ridge - The Rugged Mountain Lands

 

One of Equestria's most distinctive physical features is the Roughrider Ridge. The collective name of two prominent mountain ranges, the Brambe and the Allacor as well as the valley between them, the ridge runs from north to south across much of western Equestria. With its valley's three notable settlements--Las Pegasus, Beakbreak City and Bareback Gulch--and the wealth of resources in its mountains, the ridge has become an increasingly more important and unique region within Greater Equestria.

 

The Roughrider Ridge is situated squarely between the infamous Everfree Forest to the east and the at times nearly as forbidding Painted Pinto Desert to the west. It extends all the way from the start of the northern Badlands region to the Saddleveil Plains. The valley region between the ranges of the ridge was formed by the mighty Trensal River which runs the entire length of the ridge. Conditions in the ridge are generally rough. Weather varies some depending on latitude, but is in general dry and at opposite extremes depending on the season. The valley is not especially fertile, while the mountains themselves can prove quite treacherous. Wildlife from the nearby Everfree Forest is known to at times pass through the mountains into the region, increasing the danger.

 

Despite not being the most hospitable of regions, the ridge has seen considerable growth due to what it does offer. The abundance of mineral wealth in the Allacor and especially the Brambe mountains gave rise to the quaint mining town, Bareback Gulch. The location of the ridge--roughly halfway between the Republic of Aquellia and the great cities of Equestria--meanwhile, gave rise to Beakbreak City in the north of the ridge, which was built on trade and industry. More recently, the ridge has been singled out as a viable region for tourism, the city of Las Pegasus popping up and booming in the south as a result. The unique conditions of the Dragon's Peak region in the north Brambes has also brought numerous dragonkind to the region, adding to the burgeoning overall population.

 

The region has, needless to say, become quite a uniquely varied stretch of Equestria. The major towns and cities of the ridge are all instantly recognizable from one another, offering up entirely different resources and opportunities. The rest of the ridge is quite sparsely inhabited. Rugged ponies, griffons and diamond dogs who prefer an isolated life in the mountains are known to settle up in the ranges, but for the most part the areas between the major settlements are relatively open and empty.

~Canterlot Research Journal