Central Asian steppe grasslandsThe steppes of Central Asia stretch almost a third of the way around

Central Asian steppe grasslandsThe steppes of Central Asia stretch almost a third of the way around the world and include some of the least populated areas on Earth. In the west, the steppes reach the northern shores of the Black Sea, while they extend east in an irregular band almost to the mountains of China’s northeastern provinces on the pacific.The immense grassland zone is bordered to the north by the Eurasian boreal forest and to the south by the Central Asian deserts. Dramatic swings in temperature are a defining feature of the steppes; on the grassy upland plateaus of Mongolia, it may reach 40°C (104°F) in summer and plunge to -20°C (-4°F) in winter. The annual rainfall of 200-600mm (8-23 ½ in) is sporadic, with prolonged droughts and sudden thunderstorms. Thick snow blankets the ground in winter. When the snow melts in spring, the steppes are briefly ablaze with a profusion of flowers including irises, hyacinths, crocuses, and tulips. During the short summer, feather and fescue grasses and sedges dominate the turf.Apart from a few stunted trees confined to the sheltered valleys, the steppes are bereft of tall vegetation, although in northern China there is a more park-like landscape, with a scattering of trees such as elms. Animals of the steppes are adapted to the extreme climate in various ways. The Saiga Antelope has a bulbous, trunk-like nose that warms and moistens the cold, dry air it breathes, while rodents such as the Steppe Lemming, susliks, and gerbils dig burrows for shelter. Built like a heavy pony, Przewalski’s Horse is the only truly wild horse. At home on the steppes and in semi-deserts, it once ranged from the Urals to northern China. It was extinct in the wild by 1969, but more than 1,000 survived in zoos. Small herds bred in captivity are now being reintroduced to suitable sites.~ JMImage Credit: Mongolia Steppe. Labelled for reuse. http://bit.ly/1PvriWy. Accessed 16.06.16More Info:Steppe Grasslands: http://bit.ly/1V5DgOf -- source link
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