Class 7 Geography

Temperate Grasslands

Grassland is a place where grasses form the dominant type of plant life. Grasslands make up almost a quarter of the total land's surface. The type of plants that grow in the grasslands depend on the type of climate and the type of soil.

On the basis of climate, the world's grasslands are divided into two broad types:

The prairies

The temperate grasslands of North America are called the Prairies. The word Prairie originated from the Latin word priata which means meadow. They have the following features:

It is actually a sea of grasses. The prairies cover parts of the United States of America and parts of Canada. They are bound by the Rocky Mountains in the West and the Great Lakes in the East. The prairies in the USA are drained by the tributaries of Mississippi and the Canadian prairies are drained by the tributaries of Saskatchewan Rivers.

Climate in Prairies

Since the prairies are located in the heart of a continent, the climate is of continental type with extreme temperatures. The summers are warm, with temperatures of around 20°C and winters are very cold with temperatures of around -20°C being recorded in Winnipeg, Canada. In winters, a thick blanket of snow covers this region.

It rains moderately in this region and is ideal for the growth of grass. Due to the absence of the north-south barrier, a local wind Chinook blows here.

Flora and fauna in Prairies

Flora

Prairies are practically treeless. Based on availability of water, the plants found in the area, differ.

Fauna

The main animal here is the bison or the American buffalo. It has nearly got extinct due to indiscriminate hunting. Other animals found in this region are rabbits, Prairie dogs, coyotes and gophers.

People of Prairies

The people of this region are very industrious and have successfully harnessed technology to utilize its natural resources. The two most developed countries, the USA and Canada are located in this region.

Agriculture

Scientific methods of cultivation and use of tractors, harvesters and combines have made North America a surplus producer of food grains. The Prairies are also called the Granaries of the world due to surplus wheat production.

Dairy Farming

It is another major industry in this region. The dairy belt extends from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast in the east.

Food Processing Industries

Dairy farming and surplus production in agriculture promote setting up of food processing industries.

Mineral Resources

This region has rich deposits of iron and coal.

Infrastructure

A very good network of roads, railways and canals in this region, have made it the most industrialized region in the world.