It consists of large areas of sand flats, with sparse, semi-desert and desert grasses and scrub vegetation.

[2] Prior to the arrival of the French, the extremely arid interior was inhabited primarily by the Issa Somali.

The clay of which they are formed is poorly drained and water collects here in the rainy season and this is followed by the growth of grasses.

Large mammals occurring in this area include the Beira antelope (Dorcatragus megalotis), Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), Soemmerring's gazelle (Gazella soemmerringii), Salt's dik-dik (Madoqua saltiana) and gerenuk (Litocranius walleri).

The climate of the Grand Bara limits the number of animals living permanently in these extreme conditions.