Halvørken

Halvørken, also known as semi-arid climate or steppeland, is a biome characterized by arid or semi-arid conditions. These regions receive less than 500 millimeters of precipitation annually, with significant variations in rainfall from year to year. Temperatures can be extreme, with hot summers and cold winters. Vegetation in halvørken areas is typically sparse, consisting of grasses, shrubs, and drought-resistant plants. Wildlife is adapted to survive in these harsh conditions, often being nocturnal or having specialized adaptations for water conservation.

Halvørken regions are found on every continent except Antarctica. They often occur as transitional zones between true deserts and more humid climates. Examples include the Great Plains of North America, the steppes of Eurasia, the Australian Outback, and parts of the Sahel in Africa. Soil in these areas is often fertile but prone to erosion due to the lack of dense vegetation cover and infrequent but intense rainfall.

Human activities in halvørken regions often revolve around extensive agriculture, grazing of livestock, and resource extraction. These activities can lead to desertification if not managed sustainably, where productive land degrades into desert-like conditions. Conservation efforts focus on water management, sustainable land use practices, and restoring degraded ecosystems to mitigate the impacts of climate change and human pressure. The ecological balance in halvørken is delicate, making it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.