Prairie

grasslands · North America · ecosystems · wild plants

Grasses, not trees. Prairies are dominated by grasses, herbs, and shrubs rather than forests. The lack of trees makes them perfect wide-open spaces where you can see for miles.

Found in North America. Prairies cover huge areas across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, including the famous Great Plains. This region stretches from the Rocky Mountains all the way to the eastern woodlands.

Different prairie types. From west to east, prairies change based on rainfall. The dry shortgrass prairie in the west gives way to mixed grass prairie in the middle, then the lush tallgrass prairie in the wetter east.

Part of global grasslands. While prairies are mostly in North America, similar temperate grasslands exist around the world, including the Pampas in South America and the steppes in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Moderate rainfall matters. Prairies get enough rain to grow lots of plants but not so much that trees take over. This balance of moisture is key to what makes a prairie a prairie.