The temperate grasslands of South Africa are called the velds. Velds are rolling plateaus with varying heights ranging from 600 m to 1100 m. It is bound by the Drakensburg Mountains on the east. To its west lies the Kalahari desert. On the northeastern part, �high velds� are located that attain a height of more than 1600 m, in some places.

CLIMATE

The velds have a mild climate 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. Johannesburg records about 20�C temperature in the summer The velds receive rainfall mainly in the summer months from November to February. This is mainly because of the warm ocean currents that wash the shores of the velds. If the rainfall is scanty in the winter months from June till August, drought may occur

FLORA AND FAUNA

The vegetation cover is sparse. Grasses dominate the landscape. Red grass grows in bush velds. In the high velds, acacia and maroola are seen to be growing. The animals of the velds are primarily lions, leopards, cheetah, and kudu.

PEOPLE

Velds are known for cattle rearing and mining. The soils are not very fertile in the velds due to discontinuous grasses exposing barren surfaces. However where the land is fertile crops are grown. The main crops are maize, wheat, barley, oats, and potato.

Cash crops like tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton are also grown. Sheep rearing is the most important occupation of the people. Sheep are bred mainly for wool and has given rise to the wool industry in the velds.

Merino sheep is a popular species and their wool is very warm. Dairy farming is the next important occupation. Cattle are reared in the warmer and wetter regions and the dairy products like butter, cheese is produced for domestic supply and export. The velds have a rich reserve of minerals. The iron and steel industry has developed where coal and iron are present.

Gold and diamond mining are major occupations of people of this region. Johannesburg is known for being the gold capital of the world. Kimberley is famous for its diamond mines Mining of diamond and gold in South Africa led to the establishment of trade ties with Britain and gradually South Africa became a British Colony. This mineral-rich area has a well-developed network of transport.

THE PRAIRIES

The temperate grasslands of North America are known as the Prairies. 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. Tallgrass, upto two meters 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. You can see that the prairies cover parts of the United States of America and parts of Canada. In the 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.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Temperate grasslands of North America, Prairies are practically tree-less. Where water is available, trees such as willows, alders, and poplars grow. Places that receive rainfall of over 50 cm, are suitable for farming as the soil is fertile. Though the major crop of this area is maize, other crops including potatoes, soybean, cotton, and alfalfa are also grown.

In areas where rainfall is very little or unreliable, grasses are short and sparse. These areas are suitable for cattle rearing. Large cattle farms called ranches are looked after by sturdy men called cowboys. 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 a protected species. The other animals found in this region are rabbits, coyotes, gophers, and Prairie dog

PEOPLE

The people of this region are very hardworking. They have successfully harnessed technology to utilize 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.

Temperate grasslands of North America, 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 the 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 industrialized region in the world.

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