Page 146 - ABCTE Study Guide_Neat

Terra Firma

The Earth is covered by many features that are undoubtedly familiar--mountains, valleys, and deserts, to
name a few. Below is a review of some basic land features.

Steppes

While similar to a prairie, a steppe is a large, treeless plane dominated by short grasses. The world's
largest area of steppes is east of the Volga River; these run all the way to the higher elevations of
Mongolia.

Savanna

The term savanna usually refers to flat grasslands (with some trees). The savanna is a biome that
features a fairly black-and-white seasonal pattern as long, dry winters give way to extremely rainy
summers. Some of the best examples are in eastern Africa in Tanzania. Though Africa has a strong
connection with the Sahara Desert, it is the home to many biomes. For an example click here for a map of
Africa showing its forests.

Pampas

Covering almost 300,000 square miles, these are the South American lowlands that run throughout
Argentina and Uruguay. Due to its humid and temperate climate, the Pampas grasslands are some of the
best lands for grazing cattle; so much so that overgrazing is a serious threat to the biome.

Major Countries of the World

The Earth is home to nearly 200 countries. Not all of them can be covered here, but a basic review
follows. Check your nation knowledge by skipping the text and focusing on the maps. Can you identify
these countries by sight and cities?

This largest country in the New World is also the only one whose
national language is Portuguese, owing to its colonial relationship with
Portugal. The Amazon rainforest that covers much of the country is
nearly equal to the area of the United States, while the Amazon River
is the second longest river in the world. Among the major exports from
Brazil are coffee, rice, sugarcane, textiles, chemicals, and cement.