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{{About|the ecological zone type}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2014}} 

[[File:Eurasian steppe belt.jpg|thumb|The [[Eurasian Steppe]] Belt (in {{Colorsample|#AAEEFF}} on the map), a path of passage for cultures — a possible origin for the [[Indo-European languages]], the [[domestication of the horse|domesticated horse]], the wheel and [[chariot]]]]
[[File:Flag_colors.jpg|thumb|Steppe in [[Ukraine]]]]
[[File:Steppe of western Kazakhstan in the early spring.jpg|thumb|Steppe in [[Kazakhstan]]]]
[[File:Naadam rider 2.jpg|thumb|Steppe in [[Mongolia]]]]

In [[physical geography]], a '''steppe''' ([[Old East Slavic|Old Russian]]: ''степь'' [step'], grassland) is an [[ecoregion]], in the [[montane grasslands and shrublands]] and [[temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands]] [[biome]]s,  characterized by [[grassland]] [[plain]]s without [[tree]]s apart from those near rivers and lakes. In [[South Africa]] they are referred to as [[Veld]]. The [[prairie]] (especially the [[shortgrass prairie|shortgrass]] and mixed prairie) is an example of a steppe, though it is not usually called such. It may be semi-[[desert]], or covered with [[Poaceae|grass]] or [[shrub]]s or both, depending on the [[season]] and [[latitude]]. The term is also used to denote the [[climate]] encountered in regions too dry to support a [[forest]], but not dry enough to be a desert.  The [[soil]] is typically of [[chernozem]] type.

Steppes are usually characterized by a [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] and [[Continentality|continental]] climate. Extremes can be recorded in the summer of up to {{convert|45|C|F}} and in winter, {{convert|-55|C|F}}. Besides this huge difference between summer and winter, the differences between day and night are also very great. In the highlands of [[Mongolia]], {{convert|30|C|F}} can be reached during the day with sub-zero °C (sub 32&nbsp;°F) readings at night.

[[File:Чубовская степь.JPG|right|thumb|Steppe in [[Russia]]]]

The mid-latitude steppes can be summarized by hot summers and cold winters, averaging {{convert|10|-|20|in|mm|-1|abbr=on|order=flip}} of [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] per year. Precipitation level alone is not what defines a steppe climate; [[Evapotranspiration#Potential evapotranspiration|potential evapotranspiration]] must also be taken into account.

==Two types==
[[File:windbreakers altai steppe.jpg|right|thumb|Southern [[Siberia]]n steppe: [[Windbreak|windbreaker]] trees in the wintertime]]
Two types of steppe can be recorded:<ref name= ecoregions>{{cite web|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions/ecoregions.html|title=Ecoregions of the United States-Ecological Subregions of the United States|publisher= [[U.S. Forest Service]], [[U.S. Department of Agriculture]]|website= fs.fed.us| accessdate=25 October 2016}}</ref> 
* Temperate steppe: the "true" steppe, found in [[Continentality|continental]] areas of the world; they can be further subdivided, as in the [[Rocky Mountains]] Steppes<ref name="ecoregions"/>
* Subtropical steppe: a similar association of plants that can be found in the driest areas with a [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]]-like climate; it usually has a short wet period

Peculiar types of steppe include [[shrub-steppe]] and [[alpine-steppe]].

The [[Eurasian Steppe|Eurasian Grass-Steppe]] of the [[temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands]] had a role in the spread of [[The Horse, the Wheel and Language|the horse, the wheel]], and the [[Indo-European languages]]. The [[Proto-Indo-Europeans|Indo-European expansion]] and diverse invasions of [[horse archer civilizations]] of the steppe eventually led to, e.g., the rise of [[Mycenaean Greece]] by amalgamation of Indo-Europeans with the autochthonous pre-Greek population and also its destruction during the [[Dorian invasion]] in the [[Late Bronze Age collapse]], followed by the demise of the [[Achaeans (Homer)|Achaeans]], the spread of the [[Sea Peoples]], and eventually the rise of [[Archaic Greece|Archaic]] and ultimately [[Classical Greece]].

==Locations==
[[File:Patagonian plains argentina.jpg|left|thumb|Cold Patagonian steppe near Fitz Roy, [[Argentina]]]]

===Cold steppe===
The world's largest steppe region, often referred to as "the [[Great Steppe]]", is found in [[Eastern Europe]] and [[Central Asia]], and neighbouring countries stretching from [[Ukraine]] in the west through [[Russia]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Turkmenistan]] and [[Uzbekistan]] to the [[Altay Mountains|Altai]], [[Koppet Dag]] and [[Tian Shan]] ranges.

The inner parts of [[Anatolia]] in [[Turkey]], [[Central Anatolia]] and [[East Anatolia]] in particular and also some parts of [[Southeast Anatolia]], as well as much of [[Armenia]] and [[Iran]] are largely dominated by cold steppe.

The [[Pannonian Plain]] is another steppe region in [[eastern Europe]], primarily [[Hungary]].
[[File:Prairie Alberta.jpg|thumb|Prairie in [[Alberta]], Canada]]
Another large steppe area ([[prairie]]) is located in the central [[United States]], [[western Canada]] and northern part of [[Mexico]]. The [[shortgrass prairie]] steppe is the westernmost part of the [[Great Plains]] region. The [[Channeled Scablands]] in Southern [[British Columbia]] and [[Washington (state)|Washington State]] is an example of a steppe region in [[North America]] outside of the Great Plains.

In [[South America]], cold steppe can be found in [[Patagonia]] and much of the high elevation regions east of the southern [[Andes]].

Relatively small steppe areas can be found in the interior of the [[South Island]] of [[New Zealand]].
[[File:2013-07-04 15 37 14 Sagebrush-steppe along U.S. Route 93 in central Elko County in Nevada.jpg|thumb|left|[[Sagebrush steppe]] in northeastern [[Nevada]] along [[U.S. Route 93 in Nevada|US 93]]]]

===Subtropical steppe===
In [[Europe]], some [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] areas have a steppe-like vegetation, such as central [[Sicily]] in [[Italy]], southern [[Portugal]], parts of [[Greece]] in the southern [[Athens]] area,<ref>{{cite web |publisher= Hellenic National Meteorological Service| location= Greece |url= http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/climatology/climatology_region_diagrams_html?dr_city=Athens_Hellinikon&dr_region=ClimAttiki |title=Hellinikon |website=HNMS.gr |date= |accessdate=2013-09-08}}</ref> and central-eastern [[Spain]], especially the southeastern coast (around [[Murcia]]), and places cut off from adequate moisture due to [[rain shadow]] effects such as [[Zaragoza]].

In [[Asia]], a subtropical steppe can be found in semi-arid lands that fringe the [[Thar Desert]] of the [[Indian subcontinent]] and the [[Badia (region)|Badia]] of the Arabian peninsula.

In [[Australia]], "subtropical steppe" can be found in a belt surrounding the most severe deserts of the continent and around the [[Musgrave Ranges]].

In [[North America]] this environment is typical of transition areas between zones with a Mediterranean climate and true deserts, such as [[Reno, Nevada]], the inner part of [[California]], and much of [[West Texas|West]] [[Texas]] and adjacent areas in [[Mexico]].

==See also==
{{div col|3}}
*[[Badia (region)|Badia]]
*[[Canadian Prairies]]
*[[Coastal plain]]
*[[Coastal prairie (disambiguation)|Coastal prairie]]
*[[Desert]]
*[[Eurasian Steppe]]
*[[Field (agriculture)]]
*[[Flooded grasslands and savannas]]
*[[Flood-meadow]]
*[[Forest steppe]]
*[[Grassland]]
*[[Great Hungarian Plain]]
*[[High Plains (United States)|High Plains]]
*[[Kazakh Steppe]]
*[[Mammoth steppe]]
*[[Meadow]]
*[[Mongolian-Manchurian grassland]]
*[[Pasture]]
*[[Plain]]
*[[Pontic-Caspian steppe]]
*[[Puszta]]
*[[Rangeland]]
*[[Savanna]]
*[[Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands]]
*[[Tundra]]
*[[Water-meadow]]
*[[Wet meadow]]
*[[Veld]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
*[http://www.hbw.com/lynx/en/lynx-edicions/monografias-naturaleza/MON0009-ecology-conservation-steppe-land-birds.html ''Ecology and Conservation of Steppe-land Birds''] by Manuel B.Morales, Santi Mañosa, Jordi Camprodón, Gerard Bota. International Symposium on Ecology and Conservation of steppe-land birds. Lleida, Spain. December 2004.ISBN 84-87334-99-7

==External links==
{{Commons category|Steppes}}
* {{cite web|title=The Steppes|url=http://www.barrameda.com.ar/ecology/the-steppes.htm|publisher=barramedasoft.com.ar|date=1998–2008|accessdate=2008-04-04}}

{{Vegetation}}

{{coord missing|Russia}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Grasslands]]
[[Category:Montane grasslands and shrublands]]
[[Category:Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands]]
[[Category:Ecoregions]]
[[Category:Plains]]
[[Category:Prairies]]
[[Category:Climate]]