Grasslands are characterized as lands dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees. In the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs, which spanned a period of about 25 million years, mountains rose in western North America and created a continental climate favorable to grasslands. Ancient forests declined and grasslands became widespread. Following the Pleistocene Ice Ages, grasslands expanded in range as hotter and drier climates prevailed worldwide. There are two main divisions of grasslands.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php
FUN FACTS |
*Grasslands are also known as prairies, pampas, steppes, and savannas.
*Twenty-five percent of the Earth is covered by the grassland biome. *There is a grassland biome on each continent with the exception of Antarctica. *Grasslands are perfect for cropping and pasturing because its soil runs deep and is extremely fertile. *Since grassland biomes have rich soil, much of them are used for farming. There is only 2% of the original grassland left in North America. http://www.softschools.com/facts/biomes/grassland_biome_facts/165/ |