The grasslands range from dry open areas of grass to woodland savannahs where some trees grow. These areas are too dry for forests, but too wet for deserts. Treeless, grasslands are ruled by wind, fire, and water. The wind dries the grass, and fire comes during lightening storms. During the dry season, fires burn throughout the land. When the rains, come the grasslands are renewed. This cycle promotes the rich life of the grasslands. Since grasslands are fragile, intensive grazing or farming will result in dust storms making them uninhabited.
A complex community of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects has evolved in the grasslands. Large, swift mammals dominate and rule the grasslands. Here you find the herds of elephants, buffalos, and horses extending to the horizon. To survive the sun and immense herds, smaller animals, such as snakes and lizards, live in underground burrows.
Grasslands speak of openness and freedom, beckoning with promise and possibilities. Life is lived large there. The richness of life in the grasslands sparked confrontations between settled peoples and nomads. Both wanted these lands to support their chosen way of life. Settlers farm and fence in the wide vistas, while nomads travel freely to wherever they want.
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Va. Carper
April 19, 2004