Prairies of North America.

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. Tall grass, up to 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. The prairies cover parts of United States of America and parts of Canada. In the USA, the area is drained by his 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 has been recorded in Winnipeg, Canada. The annual rainfall is moderate and is ideal for the growth of grass. Due to the absence for the north-south barrier, a local wind “Chinook” blows here.

Flora and fauna: Prairies are practically tree-less. Where water is available, trees such as willows, alders and poplars grow. Places that receive rainfall of over 50cm 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 alfa-alfa is also grown. 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.

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 has 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 are the most industrialized region in the world.

Agriculture is the most important occupation in the prairies. This region has the following geographical advantages:

· The plains are sloping, well-drained and suitable for large-scale farming.

· The dark brown soil is full of humus and other organic matter.

· The Chinook wind helps in melting the snow and provides moisture to the soil.

The farmers own large stretches of land. A farmer can easily own a farm of around 1,000 acres. The farmers live on the farms. They have sheds to keep machines. Ploughing, sowing, threshing and storage are all done with the help of one single machine called the combine harvester.

Transport and Cities:

The prairies have an efficient network of transport. Since the land is almost level, it is easier to construct roads and railways in this region. Chicago is an important commercial and industrial centre of the USA, located in the prairies. Winnipeg in Canada is a big town which has become a large grain-collecting center. All farmhouses are equipped with grain-collecting sheds called silos. Inside the silos, the grain is well-protected against the harsh and changing climate.

Sample Questions

(More Questions for each concept available in Login)

Question : 1

The Prairies are bound by the _____ in the west and the ______ in the east .
A. Andes Mountains, Nile		B. Rocky Mountains, Great lakes
C. Himalaya ; Red Sea		D. Rocky Mountains, Amazon River
Right Option : B
View Explanation