Life In The Temperate Grass Land

In North America, the region of the prairies lies between the foot hill of the Rockies and the great lakes, in south central Canada and north central USA

This is because of two regions:

1. Difference in the distance from the sea
2. Differences in north-south extension of the region.

Being located in the heart of a continent, the climate is of continental type with extreme temperatures. The summer is warm with temperature or around 20 degree centigrade while the winter is -20 degree centigrade has been recorded Winnipeg, Canada.

Chinook is hot wind that blows in winter and therefore raises the temperature in short time. This increase the temperature results in the melting of snow, making pasture land available for grazing.

Major crops are-maize, and other crops including potatoes, soya bean, cotton and alfa-alfa grass.

Two most developed countries are USA and Canada located in prairies.

Important cities in the American prairies are Chicago, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Kansas and Denver. In Canadian prairies the important cities are Edmonton, sakatoon Calgary and Winnipeg.

A machine which can sow, plough and work as thresher all by itself.

In South Africa, the veld steppe grassland is found in transval state between the Drakensburg Mountain and Kalahari deserts.

The veld has a mild climate due to the influence of the Indian Ocean. Winters are cold and dry. Temperatures vary between 5 to 10 degree and July is the coldest month. Summer is short and warm.

Gold, diamond and mining are major occupation and sheep rearing is the most important occupation of the people of the South African grassland. Dairy farming is the next important occupation

Main crops are-maize, wheat, barley, oats and potato. Cash crops like tobacco, sugarcane and cotton are grown.