Location
Grassland biomes can be found in the middle latitudes, mostly in the interiors of continents. The yellow areas in the map below show where grasslands are located in the world.
Major grasslands in North America are the Great Plains of the Midwest, the Palouse Prairie of eastern Washington State, and other grasslands in the southwest. In Eurasia, temperate grasslands are known as steppes and they are found between the Ukraine and Russia. In South America they are called pampas, and are located in Argentina and Uruguay. In South Africa temperate grasslands are known as veldts.
Climate (Abiotic Factor)
Grasslands can have either moist continental climates or dry subtropical climates. The grasslands experience wet summers and dry winters. The average annual rainfall is just enough to support grasses and few trees. Rain occurs in the late spring and early summer, the yearly average being about 30-100 cm. However, the majority of this precipitation falls as snow in the winter. The temperatures of the grassland biome vary greatly throughout the year. Summers are hot, while winters are quite cold. Summer temperatures can reach 38°C and winters can be as low as -40°C.