The vast, treeless grassland habitat in South America is called the Pampas. The region stretches across much of Argentina and Uruguay and reaches into Brazil’s southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul.
The Pampas are fertile, mostly low-lying plains with temperate temperatures and rainfall that is distributed through much of the year. Their deep, productive soils have made them one of South America’s most important agricultural regions. Crops such as wheat, maize and soybeans are widely grown, while cattle ranching remains central to the region’s history and identity.
The word pampas comes from Quechua and means “plain.” Although often described as uniformly flat and treeless, the region includes humid and semi-arid areas, wetlands and occasional low hills. Scientists have proposed several reasons for its naturally open character, including seasonal drought, heavy soils, fire and competition from grasses. The Pampas are not the same as a savanna: savannas typically contain scattered trees, whereas classic Pampas landscapes are dominated by grasses and herbs.