Grasslands
• Definition: Grassland is a region where grasses form the dominant type of plant life.
• Grasslands make up almost 25% of the total land surface.
• Climate and soil influence the types of plants.
• Types of Grasslands:
→ Temperate grasslands: grows in temperate regions.
→ Tropical grasslands: grows in tropical regions.
The Prairies
• The temperate grasslands of North America are known as the Prairies.
• It is a region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land.
• The Prairies are bound by the Rocky Mountains in the West and the Great Lakes in the East.
• It covers parts of United States of America and parts of Canada.
→ In the USA, the area is drained by the tributaries of Mississippi.
→ In the Canada, the area is drained by the tributaries of Saskatchewan Rivers.
Climate
• The climate is of continental type with extreme temperatures because located in the middle of a continent.
• The summers are warm with temperatures of around 20°C while in winter temperature may be as low as -20°C.
→ In winters a thick blanket of snow covers this region.
• The annual rainfall is moderate and is ideal for the growth of grass.
• A local wind “Chinook” blows in this region due to the absence of the north-south barrier.
Flora and Fauna
• The region is tree less where water is available, trees such as willows, alders and poplars grow.
• Places that receive rainfall of over 50 cm, are suitable for farming as the soil is fertile.
• Major crop is maize.
→ Other crops includes potatoes, soybean, cotton and alfa-alfa.
• Large cattle farms called ranches are looked after by sturdy men called cowboys.
• Most important animal is Bison or the American buffalo.
→ It nearly got extinct due to its indiscriminate hunting and is now a protected species.
• The other animals found in this region are rabbits, coyotes, gophers and Prairie dog.
People
• The people of this region are very hardworking.
• They have successfully harnessed technology to utilise their rich natural resources.
• The USA and Canada are two of the most developed countries are located in this region.
• The Prairies has huge surplus of wheat production, therefore known as the “Granaries of the world,”
• Dairy farming is another major industry.
• This is the most industrialised region in the world due to large mineral deposits particularly coal and iron and a good network of roads, railways and canals.
The Velds
• The temperate grasslands of South Africa are called the velds.
• Velds are rolling plateaus with varying heights ranging from 600 m to 1100 m.
• It is bound by the Drakensburg Mountains on the east and Kalahari Desert in the west.
• It covers parts of South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia.
• The region is drained by the tributaries of rivers Orange and Limpopo.
Climate
• The velds have a mild climate due to the influence of the Indian Ocean.
• Winters are cold and dry.
→ Temperatures vary between 5°C and 10°C.
→ July is the coldest month.
• Summers are short and warm.
• The region receive rainfall mainly in the summer months from November to February mainly because of the warm ocean currents that wash the shores of the velds.
Flora and Fauna
• The vegetation cover is sparse.
• Grasses dominate the landscape.
→ Red grass grows in bush velds.
→ Acacia and maroola are present in high velds.
• Lions, leopards, cheetah and kudu are the primary animals in velds.
People
• Velds are known for cattle rearing and mining.
• Sheep rearing is the most important occupation of the people mainly for wool.
• Dairy farming is the next important occupation.
→ Cattle are reared in the warmer and wetter regions
→ The dairy products like butter, cheese are produced for both domestic supply and also for export.
• The soils are not very fertile in the velds due to the presence of discontinuous grasses exposing barren surface.
→ Where the land is fertile crops are grown.
→ The main crops are maize, wheat, barley, oats and potato.
→ Cash crops like tobacco, sugarcane and cotton are also grown.
• The velds have rich reserve of minerals.
→ Iron and steel industry has developed where coal and iron are present.
→ Gold and diamond mining are major occupations of people of this region.
• Johannesburg is known for being the gold capital of the world.
• Kimberley is famous for its diamond mines.
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