Page 157 - SST Class 07

Quiz Time
Info Bits
Info Bits
The Canadian Pacific Railways has connected the
interior of the prairies with the outside world; most
of the towns in the prairies are located within 20
km distance of this railway line.
Due to excessive grazing and other developmental
activities, the region has suffered from soil erosion at
a large scale, which has decreased farm produce.
Droughts have been caused due to this. Now, cattle-
rearing has been regulated by the government.
Wildlife
Wildlife was in abundance in the prairies once, but
farming and cattle-rearing have endangered
wildlife greatly. The important species of animal
was the bison, but it has become almost extinct due
to hunting. Now it is a protected
species. Other endangered
species are antelopes and deer.
The prairie dog is a type of
rodent, which got its name after
its barking. Now, it is also an
endangered species. A bison
People
The two chief occupations of the people in the
prairies are farming and cattle-rearing. Scientific
methods of farming are used in farms. The people
are rich and use machines for all types of work.
The size of the farms has further increased due to
a larger network of roads and railways. The means
of transport have also enabled other industries to
develop.
Just Think!
Do you think the Chinook is beneficial to the
people of the prairies : If so, how?
Dairy farming is an important occupation. Farming
and dairy farming have given rise to a number of
agro-based industries.
The discovery of minerals, such as coal and iron,
in the area has further developed this area.
Presently, this is the most industrialised region in
the world.
Write True or False :
1. The prairies are mostly covered with
tall grasses. ________
2. We cannot find grasslands in all
continents. ________
3. The prairies are treeless for the most
part. ________
4. The only important river in the prairies
is Mississippi. ________
5. The prairie dog is a type of rodent. ________
LIFE IN VELDS
‘Veld’ is a dutch word meaning ‘fields’. The local
name for temperate grasslands in South Africa is
veld or veldt. It is located in the continent of
Africa to the south, around 30°S. It is bounded by
the Drakensburg Mountains on the east and the
Kalahari Desert on the west.
F ind Outind Out
By whom was the term ‘Veld’ used first?
Topography
The velds are plateaus ranging from 600 m to
1,600 m. The altitude in the north-eastern part,
called high velds, ranges between 1,100 m to
1,600 m. The middle velds have an altitude
ranging between 600 m to 1,100 m.
Climate
As the velds are located in the interior of the
continent a little away from the oceans, they
experience drier climate. The rainfall is less than
40 cm as the winds rising from the oceans pass
over due to lack of any obstacles. The region is
proximal to the oceans, with the Atlantic Ocean to
the west and the Indian Ocean to the south. Frost
occurs in the high velds due to temperate
influence of the oceans.
The summers are warm and wet; while winters are
cool and dry, thus the climate is moderate.
Summers are short. The temperature ranges
between 5°C and 10°C. The night temperature
may go down below freezing point in winters.
Life in Temperate Grasslands
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