Patagonian Grasslands

The Patagonian Grasslands cover vast areas of southern Argentina, forming a temperate ecoregion that extends across the Patagonian region. Portions of similar habitat also extend into neighboring Chile on the western side of Patagonia.

The ecoregion supports hardy tussock grasses and shrubs that sustain livestock, particularly sheep, which have been the backbone of Patagonian ranching since the 19th century. Native wildlife includes guanacos, rheas, and various ground-dwelling birds adapted to the harsh, windswept terrain.

The temperate grassland ecosystem of the Patagonian steppe provides suitable grazing for sheep, and the region's dry, windy climate is better suited to extensive livestock grazing than crop agriculture. Sheep ranching became a dominant economic activity in southern Argentina starting in the late 1800s.

The Patagonian Grasslands experience a cold, dry, and persistently windy climate shaped by the rain shadow of the Andes mountains to the west. This creates harsh conditions with limited rainfall, which favors tussock grasses over trees and dense vegetation.