Temperate regions - class-VI

Temperate grasslands, such as the prairies of North America or the steppes of Eurasia, are the natural habitat for large grazing herbivores like bison and antelopes.

Temperate grasslands are located in the interior of continents within the mid-latitudes, where rainfall is insufficient to support forests but adequate for grasses.

Hardwood trees are generally flowering plants found in deciduous forests. They shed their leaves annually and are broad-leaved.

• High velds are the temperate grasslands of South Africa, thus option C is correct.
• Prairies are the grasslands of North America
• Steppes are the grasslands of Russia

Deodars and firs have needle like leaves which is speciality of coniferous forests. These leaves have a waxy coating which helps them in retaining more water.

Temperate zone is characterised by warm and dry summer and cold winter. The region experience two types of climate: semi-humid and semi-arid. The vegetation consists mainly of short and tall grasses. So this region is famous for grasslands. The famous grasslands are Prairies of Canada and the USA, steppes in Eastern Europe and in the former Soviet Union etc.

The grasslands of North America is known as Prairies. The areas are covered with luxuriant grasses. The decayed grasses for thousands of years have added very rich humus to the soil. The soil is thick and very fertile. Today Prairies grasses have cleared and the areas put under cultivation. Wheat is the principal crop in the north and maize and Cotton grown in the southern portion of America. Prairies also famous for jersey cow and superior quality sheep.

The grassland of South America in known as Pampas. This grassland covers an area more than 750,000 sq km. The soil in this area is very fertile. This area has a warm climate and precipitation is well distributed throughout the year. 

The most common grass found in the temperate grasslands is Alfalfa. It is widely grown throughout the world as forage for cattle, and is most often harvested as hay, but can also be made into silage, grazed, or fed as green chop.

The downs are the grasslands of Australia. This area experience mostly humid sub-tropical climate. Agricultural practice is mostly done here. The region is covered with black agricultural soil. With the help of groundwater irrigation chickpeas, soybeans and many other crops are grown here. Livestock farming is also done here.

The grasslands of South Africa is known as Veld. Here Cattle rearing is done by white people. Cattle and sheep are also reared by some indigenous tribes. The famous Marino wool comes from this region. There is no surplus of animal product for trade.

The southern hemisphere grasslands have a mild climate (moderate) due to the influence of the
Indian Ocean. Winters are cold and dry. Temperatures
vary between 5°C and 10°C and July is the coldest
month. Summers are short and warm.

Temperate grasslands are those with moderate climates located farther from the equator. They have fewer trees than tropical grasslands and the grass is shorter. The color of the grasses in the temperate grasslands during the summer is brown. 

The grasslands of Northern hemisphere are located in the heart of a North America continent, so the climate is a continental type with extreme temperatures.

Steppes are the grasslands of Russia. In recent decades, various parts of the steppes have been cleared and brought under cultivation. Wheat is the main crop of the region. Corn, sugar beet and sunflower were also cultivated. In the grassland Cattle and sheep's are reared for milk, meat, skin, and wool.