Wasteland

The wasteland, or simply the wastes, refers to the majority of the Earth's post-nuclear environment in the Fallout universe.

Background
During the Great War, it took no more than two hours for the nuclear warheads that were fired to change the face of the planet and affect life for many centuries to come. After the atomic fire had ceased, the surface of the Earth was very different. Millions of buildings and cities were demolished or severely damaged, with only a few exceptions. Most of the plants that had once flourished died as the Earth was changed from a diverse landscape to a barren and hot desert, radiation becoming a serious threat to what little life remained.

Countries such as the United States were turned into scorched wastelands filled with new dangers due to mutations in wildlife that altered many of the species. As the remnants of humanity began to spread once again, new violence was introduced in the form of differing factions. They began warring against each other in the new world, slowing the already difficult progress of the reclamation of humanity. Overall, the wasteland remains a different, radioactive landscape, where everyday life is a struggle.

Regions

 * New California and surrounding regions in Fallout and Fallout 2.
 * Capital Wasteland, The Pitt and Point Lookout in Fallout 3 and its add-ons.
 * Mojave Wasteland, the Sierra Madre, Zion Canyon, the Divide, and Big MT in Fallout: New Vegas and its add-ons.
 * The Commonwealth, the Island and Nuka-World in Fallout 4 and its add-ons.
 * Appalachia and The Pitt in Fallout 76 and subsequent updates.