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Steppe climate and landscape

In the temperate climate, areas located far away from seashore have developed a steppe landscape. In these regions, the Sun never reaches its zenithzenithzenith. A large distance from the sea means that air is dry and there is little rainfall. The summer is hot and dry, wheras winter is cold and also dry. Rainfall and moderate air temperatures occur for a relatively short period of time in the spring and autumn. Such type of temperate climate is called a continental climate.

In spring when temperatures are moderate and soil absorbs water from the melting snow, grass becomes greener and bulbs and rhizomesrhizomesrhizomes hidden in the soil can grow. The amount of water in the soil from rainfall, for instance, is too low to enable forests to grow there; even shrubs appear sporadically. Lakes are extremely rarely seen and rivers have their sources in more humid areas. The terrain is dominated by expansive, flat or slightly rippled surfaces covered in tall grass. The name “steppe” used in Poland comes from the Ukrainian language. In North America, such plant formation is called a prairie, whereas in South America – a pampa.

The climate and the distribution of the steppes

The climate and the distribution of the steppes

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Ilustracja prezentuje wykres – klimatogram, klimatu stepowego z Ułan Bator w Azji Climate steppe Ułan Bator Asia. Na lewej osi wykresu wyskalowano średnie temperatury w stopniach Celsjusza average temperatures, na prawej osi wykresu wyskalowano sumy opadów w mm total rainfall. Na osi poziomej zaznaczono cyframi rzymskimi kolejne miesiące. Czerwona pozioma linia na wykresie, to średnie temperatury w poszczególnych miesiącach. Tutaj linia rozpoczyna się na wysokości -30 stopni w styczniu i wznosi się w poszczególnych miesiącach do około 20 stopni w lipcu, po czym opada do -25 stopni w grudniu. Niebieskie słupki to wysokości sum opadów w poszczególnych miesiącach. Najwyższe opady, powyżej 50 mm, w miesiącach czerwiec-sierpień. Najniższe opady, poniżej 20 mm, przypadają na październik i maj.

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Mapa świata prezentuje występowanie stepu i lasostepu na Ziemi. Step i lasostep oznaczono kolorem brązowym na mapie. Step występują w: Środkowej Europie, Europie Południowo-Wschodniej, Azji Środkowej, Środkowej Ameryce Północnej, Ameryce Południowej.

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Fotografia prezentuje krajobraz stepu. Widoczny rozległy, równinny teren porośnięty trawą.

Humans on steppes

The steppe soil is fertile and rich in humus, allowing for abundant crop yields. Despite that fact, life on the steppes has its challenges. There is insufficient water and not many plants that produce edible fruit. Due to the absence of trees, there are no natural refuges against summer heat, winter cold and strong wings that blow almost without reprieve. Despite these difficulties, humans arrived on the steppes hundreds and in certain places even tens of thousands of years ago. They breed animals, mainly cattle. Animals were bread for milk and meat. Skins, bones and cottons, on the other hand, were materials used in the construction of portable houses called yurtsyurtyurts (in Asia) or teepeesteepeeteepees (in America). Skins were used to make clothing, whereas cotton became the raw material in the production of linens, carpets and blankets. Even dried animal excrement was used as fuel or construction material. To this day, you can find shepherds who lead such a lifestyle in Mongolia.

Steppes are characterised by the most fertile arable soil – black soil. However, climatic conditions allow only grasses and other herbaceous plants to grow and develop. That’s why after a major part of the steppes, prairies and pampas has been ploughed, they have been transformed into fields on which mainly cereals are cultivated. In places with access to river water or groundwater artificial irrigation has been introduced, which made it possible to cultivate other plants. Steppes that were too arid or growing on weak soil were turned into enormous pastures for herds of livestock or sheep.

Methods of development steps

Methods of development steps

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Galeria fotografii prezentuje sposoby zagospodarowania stepów. Pierwsza fotografia przedstawia pole dojrzałej pszenicy na Ukrainie, na którym dwa kombajny zbierają plony.

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Druga fotografia prezentuje krajobraz widzianych z góry okrągłych nawadnianych pól w różnych odcieniach zieleni. Koła pól stykają się ze sobą.

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Fotografia trzecia prezentuje olbrzymie pastwisko - pampę w Argentynie, na którym pasie się stado krów. Zwierzęta pasą się na płaskim terenie nad wodą. Część zwierząt stoi w wodzie i pije.

Summary

• Steppes can be found in the arid temperate climate zone.

• Steppes are characterised by hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters. Moderate temperature dominate in spring and autumn.

• The dominant plant life on steppes are grasses and herbaceous plants.

• Currently the major part of steppes is used for the cultivation of cereals as well as livestock and sheep breeding.

Keywords

steppe, prairie, pampa

Glossary