草原十分广大 ，是以草本植物为主，可为家畜、野生动物提供生存场所的地区。

草原由大气、土壤、生物和胸部等共同作用形成。其中，大气温度、降水量占主导地位。

中国草原面积约31908万公顷，约占全国面积的33.6％，可利用22434万公顷，分布在中国西北部。从大兴安岭，经黄土高原北部、青藏高原东缘，至横断山脉划一斜线，线以西为草原区，以东为农耕区。

发生在欧亚大陆内部，位于温带沙漠区的外缘，如中国蒙新诸省、中亚。欧俄南部及美国西部山麓平原等地。此内陆地区年中主赖夏季海洋季风及热力对流而降雨，欧俄乌克兰及中亚草原雨量冬期较多，乃受地中海气旋之赐。

Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae), however sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica. Grasslands are found in most ecoregions of the Earth. For example, there are five terrestrial ecoregion classifications (subdivisions) of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome (ecosystem), which is one of eight terrestrial ecozones of the Earth's surface.