Covering a sprawling amount of eastern Kalimdor, the Barrens are a central hub of Horde activity on the continent. The area is connected to both Orgrimmar and Thunder Bluff respectively, two of the four most significant cities in the Horde. Additionally, it is adjacent to the contested areas of Ashenvale, the Stonetalon Mountains, Thousand Needles, and Dustwallow Marsh. Travel through most of the regions of Kalimdor will probably require passage through the Barrens. Three encampments appear in the Barrens; the largest is the aptly named Crossroads. Situated to the north, the Crossroads function as a gateway between Durotar to the east, Ashenvale to the north, and the Stonetalon Mountains to the west. Being primarily a Horde controlled region, the Alliance will find that they are not very welcome here and would be wise to avoid direct contact with settlements (except Ratchet). The port town of Ratchet to the east is a neutral town controlled by the goblin Steamwheedle Cartel. The resident goblins welcome both Horde and Alliance members and is the hub of goblin trade in the north connecting via ship to Booty Bay. Camp Taurajo is essentially a stopping point between the Crossroads and the Tauren’s homeland Mulgore. The Barrens also contains the Wailing Caverns in the mid-west, home to the Night Elf druids of the Fang.

For the most part, the Barrens is a dry savannah as the high mountains prevent much moisture from entering. It was not always so as many deep grooves suggest that a raging river once ran through the Barrens long ago. While one can find giraffes, wild zhevras, and the occasional lost kodo, three species dominate the Barrens. The first are the bipedal raptors which have lately become quite a nuisance for the Horde. The second species is the Centaur who maintain several small villages in the central Barrens. Having been expelled from Mulgore by the Horde, the Centaur now have a nasty habit of attacking trade caravans that travel the Gold Road that runs north to south through Crossroads. The third, and most numerous, are the Quilboar. The Quilboar, who settle in areas where giant thorns grow from the ground, can mostly be found in the southern areas and are a constant threat.

Despite the hot, dry land, there is a radical change happening in the Barrens. Recently, three oases have appeared and the land immediately around them is lush with green grasses and tall palm trees. The Tauren are very interested in probing the secrets of the oases, which are bringing new life to the land. Most of the Centaur villages are nearby so exploring them is often hazardous.