Prelims 2013 · Geography · Question 15
"Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders." The above statement best describes which of the following regions?
Answer
Central Asian Steppe
- (a) African Savannah: Savannah has tropical grasslands with distinct wet and dry seasons; rainfall is not typically described as scanty everywhere, and the classic nomadic herder description fits less well. Verdict: Incorrect.
- (b) Central Asian Steppe: The steppe has a continental extreme climate, low rainfall, and was historically inhabited by nomadic pastoralists. Verdict: Correct.
- (c) North American Prairie: Prairies are temperate grasslands, but they are more associated with settled commercial farming than traditional nomadic herding. Verdict: Incorrect.
- (d) Siberian Tundra: Tundra is extremely cold with low precipitation, but it is characterized by permafrost and sparse vegetation; the standard textbook description of nomadic herders best matches the steppe, not tundra. Verdict: Incorrect.