Page 369 - New Medley 5 Semester 1

very cold during the winter season. The total annual rainfall is about

50 centimetres. Most of it is during the summer season. There are mild
showers during the winter season.

Due to its location in the interior of North America, the climate is not
affected by the sea. The amount of rainfall also varies greatly from year

to year. The northern parts remain under snow during the winter season.

Natural vegetation and wildlife

Before the French explorers reached this region, it was fully covered under
tall and thick grasses. The grasses may grow upto a height of about 8

metres. There is no tree except along the banks of rivers. The Mississippi

river along with its numerous tributaries flows through this region.

The grasses grow quickly in the spring
season. The grasses change to hay during

the winter. This area was the grazing
ground for bisons. Some trees, such as

willow, elder and poplar are found on
the banks of rivers.

A large variety of domestic animals, such
as cows, bullocks, horses, sheep, goats, Bison

etc. are found. The wildlife includes deer,
dogs and wolves. The main types of birds are falcons, hawks, owls, eagles

and bustards. Most of the bisons were killed for meat by the European
settlers. Now bison is a protected animal. The Prairie dog belongs to

the rat family and live in small groups, called coteries.

Economic Activities

The European settlers converted these grasslands into farmlands. Now
these fertile plains are extensively cultivated. The main cereal crops
grown in the prairies are corn (maize), wheat, barley, rye, soyabeans, etc.

This region is known as the Wheat Basket of the World. Corn is mostly

grown in the eastern part and cotton is the main crop in the southern
part of Prairies. A large part of the total production is exported.

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