The Sandhills, Nebraska’s most unique physiographic feature, cover about one-fourth of the state. Their sandy soil acts like a giant sponge, soaking up rain and forming a vast underground reservoir, and hundreds of permanent lakes are found there. However, the same sandy soil makes the area unsuitable for cultivation. Grasses flourish, making the Sandhills ideal cattle country. Although long considered “an irreclaimable desert,” the Sandhills had begun to be recognized for their potential as range land by the early 1870’s, and huge ranches were established there. Unsuccessful attempts at farming were made in the region in the late 1870’s and again around 1890. The Kinkaid Act of 1904 allowed homesteaders to claim a full section of land rather than the quarter-section previously allowed. Nearly nine million acres were successfully claimed by “Kinkaiders” between 1910 and 1917. Some of the Kinkaiders attempted to farm, but most of these attempts failed. Many of the largest ranches also broke up about the same time because of regulations against fencing federal range. Today the Sandhills contain many ranches, but none so large as those of the past.