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flora aNd fauNa
Prairies also called grasslands are one of the main types of natural vegetations or biomes (other
include forest, desert shrub, and tundra). Prairies are almost treeless. Areas with received

rainfall of over 50 cm are suitable for farming as the soil is fertile there and trees such as
willows, alders and popular are found there. The major crop of this area is maize, other crops
including potatoes, soya bean, cotton and alfa-alfa are also grown.
Whereas in areas receiving very little or unreliable rainfall, grasses
are short and sparse. These areas are suitable for cattle rearing.
Bison or the American buffalo is the most important animal of this
region. It nearly got extinct due to its indiscriminate hunting and is

now protected species. The other animals found in this region are
Bison rabbits, coyotes, gophers and prairie dog.

Ranches are large farms where beef cattle are reared. These are managed like factories. Cowboys
are the main workers here.

pEoplE
The people of this region are very hard working. They have successfully harnessed technology
to utilise their rich natural resources. Two of the most developed countries in the world, the
USA and Canada are located in this region. Scientific methods of cultivation and use of tractors,
harvesters and combines have made North America a Surplus Food Producer. The Prairies are also
known as the “Granaries of the World”, due to the huge surplus of wheat production.

Dairy farming is another major industry. The dairy belt extends from the Great Lakes to the
Atlantic Coast in the east. Dairy farming and extensive agriculture both promote setting up
of food processing industries. Large mineral deposits particularly coal and iron and a good
network of roads, railways and canals in this region have made it the most industrialised
region in the world.

• Commercial farming means where crops are grown for sale in the markets.
• Combine harvesters are machines which reap the crop, threshes the grains and packs them in sacks.

thE vEld
Temperate grasslands of Africa are called ‘Veld’ Located in the eastern part of plateau of
South Africa, they lie between the ‘Drakensberg Mountains’ in south-east and ‘Kalahari
Desert’ in the north-west. Velds are rolling plateaus with varying heights ranging from 600
m to 1100 m. The highest part is known as ‘High Veld’. Its height ranges between 1200 m
– 1800 m. The Middle Veld ranges between 150 m – 600 m in height. The region is drained
by rivers Limpopo, Sabi, Orange and its tributaries.

climatE
Nearness to Indian Ocean affects the climate of the Velds to a great extent. The Velds

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