Minecraft wiki entry for Badlands_(old), associated text: The badlands plateau featured large flat-topped hills composed of stratified colors of terracotta ranging in warm colors. Plateaus had steep edges that rose to within 20-30 blocks above sea level, where they quickly flatten. The top of these plateaus typically had scattered dead bushes. Occasional ponds appeared on plateau tops. The sides of the plateau occasionally revealed caverns and mineshafts. River biomes that passed through badlands plateau biomes cut steep grooves, giving off the appearance of narrow canyons. These posed a fall damage hazard if the player was not careful. Ravines also frequently spawned in badlands plateau biomes, which caused the same as above. This biome was not always present in the badlands biomes, but it was likely to appear.