Temperate Grassland Biome

Temperate Grassland/ Cold Desert

Date: December 1-29

City:  Kazan, Russia

Climate Diagram

--In December in Russia, the temperature is extremely cold.  The winter months drop into the lowest degrees, averaging about 15 degrees Fahrenheit.  My visit here was spend mostly inside cars and buildings to keep away from the cold.

Packing List:

-Winter Coat             -Snow Boots

-Gloves/Hat          -Camera             -Hot Chocolate Mix

Adventures:

The coldest months in Russia is when I decided to come visit the grassland biome.  This was not my best decision, but it did make the trip very memorable.  This area has the lowest annual precipitation of all the other biomes.  In Russia, this biome is called steppes.  The plants that are normally present in this biome are grasses and nonwoody flowering plants.  These plants are adapted to quick growth due to the fact that fires can start quickly in this area.  The area is also called cold deserts, which is fitting for the winter months.  The cold months still do not deter the nutrients that are present in the soil.  The soil is so full of nutrients that humans have been plowing the fields and using it for raising livestock.

The animals that are present in these cold deserts are lynx, antelopes, falcons, and fox.  In the North American Great Plains, bison are common animals to be found.  While I was in Russia, I learned that the animals found in this biome are classified as ungulates, which are animals with hoofs.  Since there is not much shelter for predators and there is always an abundance of grass for food, the animals present in these biomes are similar around the world.

http://biomesfourth09.wikispaces.com/Grassland+Home