Grasslands may be classified as tropical, temperate, and alpine.

Tropical Grassland

Tropical grasslands, sometimes called savannas, are found in regions around the equator. Savannas are hot all year long and have long dry seasons followed by very wet seasons. Savanna grasses are tall and coarse. Beach grass, for example, which is found in North African savannas, can range from 33 to 43 feet (10 to 13 meters) in height. Also, more trees grow in savannas than in any other type of grassland.

In Africa, Australia, South America, and India, savannas are transition zones between the rainforests and the deserts of the higher latitudes (distances north or south of the equator). In South America, the Llanos (YAH-nos) covers parts of western Venezuela and northeastern Columbia, while larger and more wooded grasslands lie across southeastern Venezuela and southern Guyana. Brazilian grasslands include the campos, a highland region, and the pantanal...