They are generally open and fairly flat, and they exist on every continent except Antarctica, which makes them vulnerable to pressure from human populations. (See grassland photos.)ĭepending on how they’re defined, grasslands account for between 20 and 40 percent of the world's land area. In fact, grasslands often lie between forests and deserts. Grasslands are found where there is not enough regular rainfall to support the growth of a forest, but not so little that a desert forms. What they all have in common are grasses, their naturally dominant vegetation. Central Eurasian grasslands are referred to as steppes, while African grasslands are savannas. In South America, they're known as pampas.
