13. The Dust Bowl (1930s)
The Dust Bowl swept across the American Great Plains, turning once-fertile farmland into a barren wasteland. Severe drought and poor land management forced millions to migrate, reshaping US demographics and labor markets. The disaster spurred vital innovations in soil conservation and agricultural policy that would influence global farming practices. Its legacy continues to inform contemporary debates on climate resilience and sustainable land management. Read more from History.com.
