STEPPES

Natural semi-arid grasslands in the mid-latitudes, mainly in the plainland centres of continents. Steppe is a Russian term, the equivalent in North America is prairie, in South America it is pampas, and in southern Africa it is veld. The main soils are thick, black and fertile. The vegetation has deep roots and the majority of the plant mass is below the surface so that it can survive long droughts, high winds, periodic fires and harsh cold winters. The steppes contain a large number of grass and other species. In all continents these natural grasslands have been overgrazed and overcultivated.