Pampa
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{{otheruses4|the lowland plains in South America.|the grass|Pampas grass|other meanings|Pampa (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:CIMG5091.JPG|thumb|right|Aerial view of the Pampas (Buenos Aires)]]
[[Image:CIMG5170.JPG|thumb|right|Aerial view of the Pampas lagoons (Buenos Aires)]]
{{Regions of Argentina}}
The '''Pampas''' (from [[Quechua]], meaning "plain") are the fertile [[South America]]n lowlands that include the [[Argentina|Argentine]] provinces of [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]], [[La Pampa Province|La Pampa]], [[Santa Fe Province, Argentina|Santa Fe]], and [[Córdoba Province, Argentina|Córdoba]], most of [[Uruguay]], and the southernmost end of [[Brazil]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]], covering more than {{convert|750000|km2|sqmi|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}. These vast plains are only interrupted by the low Ventana and Tandil hills near [[Bahía Blanca]] and [[Tandil]] (Argentina), with a height of {{convert|1300|m|ft|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} and {{convert|500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} respectively. The climate is mild, with [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] of {{convert|600|mm|in|1|lk=on|abbr=on}} to {{convert|1200|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}, more or less evenly distributed through the year, making the [[soil]]s appropriate for [[agriculture]]. The average rainfall is {{convert|10|in|mm|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} to {{convert|30|in|mm|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} per year. This area is also one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger [[Parana-Paraguay Plain]] division. These plains contain unique wildlife due to the different terrain around it. Some of this wildlife includes the badger and praire chicken.
Frequent [[fire]]s ensure that only small plants such as [[Poaceae|grasses]] flourish and [[tree]]s are rare. The dominant [[vegetation]] types are grassy [[prairie]] and grass [[steppe]] in which numerous species of the grass genus ''[[Stipa]]'' are particularly conspicuous. "Pampas Grass" (''[[Cortaderia selloana]]'') is an iconic species of the Pampas. Vegetation typically includes perennial grasses and [[herb]]s. Different strata of grasses occur due to gradients of [[water]] availability. The Pampas are home to a wide variety of native species, although there is an almost absolute lack of native trees, except along main watercourses.
The [[World Wildlife Fund]] divides the Pampa into three distinct [[terrestrial ecoregion|ecoregions]]. The [[Uruguayan savanna]] lies east of the [[Uruguay River]], and includes all of Uruguay and the southern portion of Brazil's state of Rio Grande do Sul. The [[Humid Pampas]] include eastern Buenos Aires Province, and southern Entre Rios Province. The [[Semi-arid Pampas]] includes western Buenos Aires Province and adjacent portions of Santa Fe, Cordoba, and La Pampa provinces. The Pampas are bounded by the drier [[Argentine espinal]] grasslands, which form a semi-circle around the north, east, and south of the Humid Pampas.
Its climate, as in the mid-latitudes, is naturally changeable. [[Winter]]s are cool to mild and [[summer]]s are very warm and humid. [[Rain]]fall is fairly uniform throughout the year but is a little heavier during the summer. Annual rainfall is heaviest near the coast and decreases gradually further inland. Rain during the late [[Spring (season)|spring]] and summer usually arrives in the form of brief heavy showers and thunderstorms. More general rainfall occurs the remainder of the year as [[cold front]]s and storm systems move through. Although cold spells during the winter often send nighttime temperatures below freezing, snow is quite rare. In most winters, a few light [[snow]]falls occur over inland areas. Snow is extremely rare near the river's coast (the so called ''Litoral'').
Central Argentina boasts a successful agricultural business, with crops grown on the Pampas south and west of the [[Buenos Aires]]. In particular, the harvested area of [[soybean]]s is on pace to set a record, according to the Food and Agricultural Service. Much of the area is also used for grazing [[cattle]]. These farming regions (i.e., modified of disturbed Pampas) are particularly susceptible to [[flooding]] during heavy rainfall. In October 2001 an estimated 35,000 km² of the pampas were flooded. Buenos Aires reported nearly {{convert|250|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} of rainfall during that month, which is more than double the normal amount.
==External links==
*[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9058184/the-Pampas Encyclopaedia Britannica]
*[http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/pampas.htm The Pampas]
*[http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/p1/pampas.asp Encyclopedia.com]
*[http://iri.columbia.edu/climate/cid/Feb2002/impacts.html Climate Impacts]
*[http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/cpd/sa/sa-viii.htm Centres of Plant Diversity]
*[http://www.intellicast.com/DrDewpoint/Library/1187/ Climate Guide to South America]
*[http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0803_full.html Humid Pampas (World Wildlife Fund)]
*[http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0806_full.html Semi-arid Pampas (World Wildlife Fund)]
==See also==
*[[Humid Pampa]]
*[[Pampas Republic]]
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{{Geography topics}}
{{Physical geography topics}}
[[Category:Climate of Argentina]]
[[Category:Geography of Argentina]]
[[Category:Neotropic]]
[[Category:Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands]]
[[Category:Quechua loanwords]]
[[Category:Prairies]]
[[Category:Regions of South America]]
[[Category:Plains]]
[[Category:Physiographic provinces]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Argentina]]
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