The people of this region are very hardworking. They have successfully harnessed technology to utilise their rich natural resources. Scientific methods of cultivation and use of tractors, harvesters and combines has made North America a surplus food producer. Dairy farming is another major industry. The dairy belt extends from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast in the East. Dairy farming and extensive agriculture both promote setting up of food processing industries. Large mineral deposits particularly coal and iron and a good network of roads, railways and canals in this region have made it the most industrialised region in the world.

(i) Sheep rearing is the most important occupation of the people. Sheep is bred to obtain wool which has given rise to the wool industry in the Velds. Merino sheep is a popular species and their wool is very warm.
(ii) Dairy farming is the next important occupation. Cattle are reared in the warmer and wetter regions and the dairy products like butter, cheese are produced for both domestic supply and also for export.
(iii) The Velds have rich reserve of minerals. Iron and steel industry has developed where coal and iron are present. Gold and diamond mining are major occupations of people of this region.
(iv) Johannesburg is known for being the gold capital of the world. Kimberley is famous for its diamond mines.
(v) Mining of diamond and gold in South Africa led to the establishment of trade ties with Britain and gradually South Africa became a British Colony.
(vi) This mineral rich area has a well-developed network of transport.

The people of prairies are very hard working. They have successfully harnessed technology to utilise their rich natural resources:
(i) USA and Canada, the most developed countries are located in this region.
(ii) Scientific methods of cultivation and use of tractors, harvesters and combines of both have made North America a surplus food producer. Thus the Prairies are also known as the "Granaries of the world," due to the huge surplus of wheat production.
iii) Dairy farming is another major industry. Dairy farming and extensive agriculture both promote setting up of food processing industries.
(iv) Large mineral deposits mainly coal and iron and a good network of roads, railways and canals in this region have made it the most industrialised region in the world.

(i) Prairies are almost tree-less but if water is available, trees such as willows, alders and poplars grow.
(ii) Places that receive rainfall of over 50cm. are suitable for farming as the soil is fertile.
(iii) The major crop of this area is maize, other crops including potatoes, soybean, cotton and alfalfa are also grown.
(iv) Areas where rainfall is very little or unreliable, grasses are short and sparse. These areas are suitable for cattle rearing.
(v) Bison or the American buffalo is the most important
animal of this region. The other animals found in this region are rabbits, coyotes, gophers and prairie dog.

(i) Prairies is a region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land. Mostly, prairies are treeless but, near the low lying plains, flanking river valleys, woodlands can be found.
(ii) Tall grass, upto two metres high, dominates the landscape. It is actually a "Sea of grass."
(iii) The prairies are bound by the Rocky Mountains in the West and the Great Lakes in the East.
(iv) In the USA, the area is drained by the tributaries of Mississippi and the Canadian prairies are drained by the tributaries of Saskatchewan rivers.