Central Kansas is not known for its scenic landscape. There are no mountain vistas, rugged seascapes or large, braided rivers. Semiarid and rather flat, the only topographic relief is provided by low, distant tablelands, carved from the plains by modest streams.
But yesterday evening, as I approached Salina, a spectacular sunset unfolded across the western horizon. Near the setting sun, the sky was ablaze with gold while a kaleidoscope of reds, purples, oranges and pinks painted the flat clouds that partially obscured a pale, blue sky. The broad vista, typical of the Plains, produced an awe-inspiring event, covering the western half of my panorama. Laced with contrails, the colors changed constantly as the sun dipped further below the horizon, producing a flux in lighting and shadows.
Travel and nature study teach us that all ecosystems possess interesting and inspiring traits. What the Great Plains may lack in topography is more than balanced by the beauty of their grasslands and the grandeur of their Big Sky.
