Grasslands Biome

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 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 growing 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 grasslands.
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 gets 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. The 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, and have 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

More about grasslands

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

Back to Biomes main page

Back to Planet Earth

updated July 2002