Savanna: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used to describe a tropical or subtropical region with a mixture of grasses and scattered trees, typically found in Africa, South America, and Australia.

• Lions and elephants roam the vast savannas of Africa
• The savanna is characterized by a distinct wet and dry season

A general term for large open areas where grasses are the dominant vegetation, can be temperate or tropical, and is not specific to a particular region.

• The grasslands of the Midwest United States are home to many species of birds
• Farmers often use grasslands for grazing their cattle

Refers to broad, flat lands with few trees, and is a more general term that can describe many types of ecosystems, often used for geographic or topographic descriptions.

• The Great Plains in North America are known for their extensive flat areas
• She stood on the plains, watching the sunset dip below the horizon

Specifically describes large, open, and mostly treeless areas of temperate grasslands found particularly in North America. Often associated with the central United States and southern Canada.

• The prairies are filled with wildflowers in the springtime
• Buffalo once roamed freely across the vast prairies