Grasslands of the World: School Project

What are Grasslands?

• Grasslands are regions dominated by tall grasses and grass-like plants.
• In many areas, grasslands separate forests from deserts
• Hot Grasslands are located near the equator; it is hot throughout the year with wet seasons that bring torrential rains.
• The savannas of Africa are probably the best known tropical/hot grasslands.

Grasslands around the World

Grasslands are known by different names in different parts of the world.

• ‘Prairies’ in North America
• ‘Pampas’ in South America
• ‘Steppes’ in Asia/Russia
• ‘Savannas’ in Central Africa
• ‘Veld’ in South Africa
• ‘Downs’ in Australia

About Hot Grasslands

• Compared to the other Grasslands, hot Grasslands (like the Savannas) get more rain, have comparatively more trees and have very long periods of drought each year.
• Hot Grasslands produce plants that can withstand a hot climate, as well as drought and fires.
• The region experiences drought every year when fires occur that burns most of the plants, thus preventing the Savanna from becoming a tropical forest.

Unsuitable for Growing Crops

• Tropical grasslands are often bordered by deserts, seas, mountains or forests and often have some scattered trees and shrubs.
• The savannas have reddish, dusty soil which does not promote decomposition (which is a must for fertile soil). The soils are so depleted that using the land for crops is not practical.
• Most tropical grasslands are sparsely populated and serve as the habitat of wildlife.
• There are many types of grasses found in the Savanna, and the occasional tree like the Acacia.

Wildlife

• Even under extreme conditions, animal life thrives in the savanna.
• The Savanna is home to the largest land-dwelling animals
• Animals like elephants, zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes eat the grasses; these animals are then eaten by cheetah, lions and other predators.