In physical geography, a steppe 's a biome region characterised by grassland plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes). The prairie (especially the shortgrass prairie) can be considered a steppe. It may be semi-desert, or covered with grass or shrubs or both, depending on the season and latitude. The term's also used to denote the climate encountered in regions too dry to support a forest, but not dry enough to be a desert. Steppe are characterized by a continental and semi-a… (More on Steppes)