Grasslands Biome

There are lots of places in the world called grasslands.
There are not many trees growing in grasslands.
Grasses are the main plant growing in grasslands.
Some grasslands are hot all year round.
Some grassland areas have hot summers and very cold winters.

Grasslands are big open areas that get between 25 and 75 cm of rain per year. This is less rain than a forest gets and more than a desert gets.

Grasslands are found on every continent except Antarctica. About one quarter of the Earth's land is in the grasslands biome. Grasslands have different names in different countries, such as pampas (South America), prairies (North America), savannahs (Africa), or steppes (Asia).

The main plants of a grassland are of course grasses, with a few low shrubs and occasional trees. In grasslands, trees are more commonly found near rivers and streams. There are many wildflowers that grow in grasslands.

Therefore, when you look out over a grassland, what you see is a large, open, continuous piece of land with lots and lots of grass. The roots of the grasses and small plants make the soil rich and good for farming.

There are 3 types of grassland:
Tall grasslands have very tall grass, up to 152 cm tall, and up to 80cm of rain a year.
Mixed grasslands have grasses that grow around 60-90 cm high and about 40-60 cm of rain each year.
Short grasslands have short grasses and receive very little rainfall each year, less than 15 cm.

Grasslands around the world are becoming extinct as people make farms and towns.
Grasslands plants and animals are becoming endangered.

Tropical grasslands are those closest to the equator. They are hot all year long.

Temperate grasslands are those further from the equator, with hot summers and harsh winters.They once stretched across much of North and South America, and they were common in Europe and Asia.

Mongolian grassland

Grasslands plants and animals

Read about some of the world's grasslands:
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/grasslands.htm
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/education/middle_school/habitats/grasslands/index.cfm

Find out about other biomes:
water .. rainforest .. tundra .. desert .. taiga .. deciduous forests

Updated October 2008 ©kidcyber

updated July 2002