1.
Grade VII
GEOGRAPHY

2.
 Temperate grasslands are characterized by rolling hills and vast
plains.
 They are located on the interior of continents (in the center).
 Types
 Steppes: short grasses
 Prairies: tall grasses
 Regional Names:
 North America: Prairies/Plains
 Europe/Asia: Steppes
 South Africa: Veldts
 South America: Pampas
 Hungary: Puszta

3.
• The word prairie is derived from the French
word “prataria” and originated from the Latin
word “priata” which means “meadow”.

4.
• Mountain development to the west created a rain
shadow, which favored the establishment of grasslands
over forests.
• Drought tolerant plants persisted or immigrated from
nearby.
• Grasses thrived, creating a fuel load that could carry fire,
trees, and shrubs were not able to recover as quickly.

5.
• The simplest division: by height
Tall grass
Mixed or mid-grass
Short grass
• By soil type:
Sandhills of Nebraska
Blackland Prairie of east Texas
Types of Prairies

6.
 Climate Extremes
 Hot/dry summers
 Extremely cold winters
 Precipitation
 Moderate Rainfall
 Occurs mostly in
spring/summer
 25-100 cm/year
 Temperature
 Wide temperature range:
 Hot summers: 38°C
 Cold winters: -40°C

7.
 Other Abiotic Factors
 Rich/Fertile Soil
 Decomposed roots hold soil
together are provide food to
plants.
 Good for farming
 Fires
 Caused by lightening from
common storms
 Spread quickly across grass
 Prevent trees from growing
 Clear land and nourish soil
 Germinate some seeds

8.
•All over the world
•In the inside areas of continents
•Typically in North and South America, Asia,
and Europe
•Largest grasslands are in Asia and N. America
Geographic Location

9.
 Many plants are drought
tolerant (unlike trees).
 Drought, fire, animal grazing
prevent trees and wood plants
from growing here-grassland
flora can handle these factors
 May find some trees
(cottonwoods, willows) in river
valleys where there is more
moisture.

10.
•Dominated by grasses
•90% of Biomass
•Grow best with varying temperature, rainfall, and rich soil
of the different grassland areas.
•Endure drought
•Grass height depends on precipitation
Flora

11.
•Wetter regions=taller grass
• Main types
•Blue grama
•Buffalo grass
•Purple needlegrass
•Galleta

12.
 Along with grasses many
types of flowers thrive in
grasslands
 Asters
 Blazing Stars
 Goldenrods
 Sunflowers
 Clovers
 Wild Indigos etc.

13.
 Many insects
 Live off the plants
 Beetles, Spiders, Grasshoppers
 Ants/Earthworms in soil
 Primary Consumers
 Smaller animals
 Prairie dogs, deer mice,
jackrabbits, meadowlarks,
bison, and many others.
 Survive because of burrow
living and also speed.

14.
 Adapted to windy/dry
conditions.
 Higher level consumers
 Coyotes, deer, bobcats,
foxes, hawks, snakes, and
many others.
 Many larger species such
as wolves and pumas have
been hunted, severely
decreasing their
population.

15.
Gophers

16.
Rabbits & Hares

17.
Prairie Dogs

18.
Bison

19.
 Farming
 Flat ground with few trees
 Good soil
 Dust Storms
 Caused by plowing and
wind.
 Hunting of Animals
 Buffalo

20.
•The term veld sometimes spelled ‘Veldt’ in English, is a generic term
used to define certain wide open rural spaces of Southern Africa.
•It is used in particular to refer to flatter areas or districts covered in
grass or low scrub, especially in South
Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana andNamibia.
•A certain sub-tropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa has been
officially defined as the Bushveld by the World Wide Fund for
Nature.[2]
What are Velds?

21.
•The climate of the veld is highly variable, but its general
pattern is mild winters from May to September and hot or
very hot summers from November to March, with moderate
or considerable variations in daily temperatures and
abundant sunshine.
•Precipitation mostly occurs in the summer months in the
form of high-energy thunderstorms.
Climate of Velds

22.
Over most of the South African Highveld, the average
annual rainfall is between 15 and 30 inches (380 and 760
mm),
decreasing to about 10 inches (250 mm) near the western
border and increasing to nearly 40 inches (1,000 mm) in
some parts of the Lesotho Highlands; the South African
Lowveld generally receives more precipitation than the
Highveld.

23.
•Temperature is closely related to elevation. In general,
the mean July (winter) temperatures range between 45
°F (7 °C) in the Lesotho Highlands and 60 °F (16 °C) in
the Lowveld. January (summer) temperatures range
between 65 °F (18 °C) and 80 °F (27 °C).

24.
FLORA
ACACIA PLANTS

25.
Highveld grassland near Heidelberg, S.Africa., southeast
of Johannesburg.

26.
Fauna
Kudu

27.
The main occupation of people in veld is
mining and sheep rearing.
Life of People of Velds
Diamond mine, Kimberly