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Physical Geography

Steppe

A steppe is a dry grassland in temperate to subarctic zones, classified as BS (steppe climate) in Koppen with 250-500mm annual rainfall. Trees are virtually absent, with short grasses covering the surface.

The Eurasian steppe stretches about 8,000km from southern Ukraine through southern Russia, Kazakhstan, to Mongolia. Historically the domain of nomadic peoples, the Mongol Empire built the worlds largest land empire from this steppe base. North Americas prairies and South Americas pampas are steppe equivalents.

In GeoHint, vast steppe or nomadic culture strongly suggests Mongolia or Kazakhstan. Steppe + South America means Argentina (pampas). Mongolia has the worlds lowest population density (about 2/km2), so steppe combined with density hints enables instant identification.

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Related Terms

Koppen Climate ClassificationLatitudeContinent

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