NCERT Class 7 Geography Life in the Temperate Grasslands

Life In The Temperate Grasslands

Just as a forest can be defined as the place where trees are the main type of vegetation, grassland can be defined as a region where grasses form the dominant type of plant life. Grasslands make up almost a quarter of the total land surface. The types of plants that grow here greatly depend on what the climate and soil are like. As climate plays an important role in the formation of grasslands, it is generally used as a basis to divide the world’s grasslands into two broad categories: those that occur in the temperate region and those that occur in the tropical regions.

THE PRAIRIES

The temperate grasslands of North America are known as the Prairies (Fig. 9.1). It is a region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land. For the most part, prairies are treeless but, near the low lying plains, flanking river valleys, woodlands can be found. Tall grass, upto two metres high, dominates, the landscape. It is actually a “sea of grass.”

The prairies are bound by the Rocky Mountains in the West and the Great Lakes in the East. Look at the map of North America (Fig. 9.2). You can see that the prairies cover parts of United States of America and parts of Canada. Inthe USA, the area is drained by the tributaries of Mississippi and the Canadian prairies are drained by the tributaries of Saskatchewan Rivers.

CLIMATE

Being located in the heart of a continent, the climate is of continental type with extreme temperatures. The summers are warm with temperatures of around 20°C, while in winter -20°C has been recorded in Winnipeg, Canada. In winters a thick blanket of snow covers this region. The annual rainfall is moderate and is ideal for the growth of grass. Due to the absence of the north-south barrier, a local wind “Chinook” blows here.

Exercises

1. Answer the following questions.

(i) What are the Temperate Grasslands of North America called?

(ii) What are the cattle farms in the North American Grasslands known as3

(iii) Name the rivers that drain the Velds.

(iv) When is the rainy season in the Velds?

(v) What is the major occupation of the people of the South African grasslands?

2. Tick the correct answer.

(i) River Mississippi drains

(a) Canada     (b) Africa     (c) USA

(ii) Drakensberg Mountains bound the

(a) Prairies     (b) Velds     (c) Pampas

(iii) Merino is a species of

(a) fish           (b) elephant   (c) sheep

(iv) Kimberley is famous for

(a) diamonds   (b) silver     (c) platinum

3. Give reasons.

(i) The Prairies are known as the ‘Granaries of the World’.

(ii) Rise of wool industry in the Velds.

4. Map skills.

On an outline map of North America, mark the Rocky mountains, the Great Lakes, river Mississippi, river Saskatchewan, the cities – Chicago and Winnipeg.

Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 7 Geography Life in the Temperate Grasslands