LIFE IN THE TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS

 

 

CLASS-VII     GEOGRAPHY

CHAPTER 9.   LIFE IN THE TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS

Three types of vegetation

1.   Forest

2.   Grassland

3.   Shrubs

 

TYPES OF GRASSLANDS

 

TROPICAL GRASSLANDS/ SAVANNAHS

                   I.        Lianos-S. America

                 II.        Cerrado- Brazil

              III.        Pine Savannah- Beliza and Hounduras

 

TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS

•        Pampas- S. America

•        Velds- Africa

•        Praries- N. America

•        Steppes- Central Asia

•        Cantebury Plains- New Zealand

•        Murray-Darling Basin- Australia

 

PRAIRIES- (NORTH AMERICA)

•        It covers some parts of USA and Canada

•        Flat, gentle slope, hilly land- sea of grass

•        Derived from latin word- Priate (Meadow)

•        Between Rockies in West and Great lakes in East

•        Rivers- Mississippi (USA) and Saskatchewan (Canada)

•        Home to American Indians (Blackfoot Indians), Apache, Craw, Cree, pawnee

•        Warm summer (20 degree)

•        Cold winters (-20 degree)

•        Moderate rain, Chinook (local wind- hot wind in winter)

•        Prairies are Treeless

•        Where water is available- widow, Alder, Poplar trees grows

•        Rain- less than 50 c.m- very fertile region

•        Crops- Grown maize, potato, soyabean, cotton, alfa-alfa

•        Low rain- short grass

•        Cattle rearing farms are known as Ranches- Cowboys looked them

•        Bison- American buffalo

•        Fauna- Rabbit, Coyote, Gopher, Prairie dogs

•        Granaries of world- combine machine (sow, plough and thresh)

•        Dairy farming- major industry- extends from Great lakes to Atlantic coast

•        Coal and Iron Minerals are extract to small extent

•        Cities in USA- Chicago, Minneapolis, Indianpolis, Kansas, Denver, Kolrado

•        Cities in Canada- Edmonton, Calgary, winnipeg, saskatoon

 

VELDS- South AFRICA

·       The veld name was given by Dutch settlers before S. Africa was colonized by the British

•        Rolling plateau- 600 to 1100m

•        Between Drakensberg in East and Kalahari in west

•        Rivers- Orange and Limpopo

•        Winters- cold and Dry-5-10 degree (July is coldest), Scanty Rain in winters-draught may occur

•        Summer- November to February

•        Sparse vegetation, Red Grass

•        Trees- Acacia and Maroola

•        Animals- Lions, leopards, cheetah and kudu

•        Velds are known for Cattle rearing and mining

•        Soils are not fertile due to barren surface

•        Crops- Maize, wheat, barley, oat, potato

•        Cash crops- tobacco, sugarcane and cotton

•        Sheep rearing- important occupation

•        Merino sheep-popular species- wool is very warm

•        Dairy farming- Butter and cheese for export and domestic use

•        Rich reserve of minerals

•        Iron and steel industry

•        Gold- Johannesburg (gold capital of world)

•        Diamond- Kimberley

•        British colony and well- developed transport network

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE END