9000 years ago the Sahara wasn't a desert, but a vast grassland populated by various people.

It was larger than British Columbia is today – a flat grassy steppelike environment.

This track stretches in the grassy steppe of the Western Mongolia, and leads to the camp-hotel scientific observatory.

Here, where the forest of the taiga meets the grassy steppe, the “Putin Generation” is no different from anywhere else across Russia’s vastness: coming of age without a rebellious streak.

The dominant vegetation types are grassy prairie and grass steppe in which numerous species of the grass genus Stipa are particularly conspicuous.

The dominant vegetation types are grassy prairieand grass steppe in which numerous species of the grass genus Stipa are particularly conspicuous.

It thrived in a steppe grassland environment and was among the most common of the ice age animals in Alaska and the Yukon.

It thrived in a steppe grassland environment and was among the most common of the Ice Age animals in Alaska and the Yukon.

It thrived in a steppe grassland environment and was among the most common of the Ice Age animals in Alaska and the Yukon.

It thrived in a steppe grassland environment and was among the most common of the ice age animals in Alaska and the Yukon.

Beringia was mainly a steppe-like grassland occupied by plants and animals, many of which eventually spread into North America from Eurasia or, rarely, in the opposite direction.

From the opulence of Moscow and St Petersburg to the grace of imperial Beijing, travel along the most famous railway in the world through the heartland of Siberia and the vast grassy steppe of Mongolia – this trip showcases rail travel at its finest.

From the opulence of Moscow and St Petersburg to the grace of imperial Beijing, travel along the most famous railway in the world through the heartland of Siberia and the vast grassy steppe of Mongolia - this trip showcases rail travel at its finest.

Even though they were being planted in a semi-arid region where historically grassy steppe prevailed, the trees appeared to be a suitable choice, since they were able to tap water stored deep in soils.

But exactly how these normally harmless microbes could take such a toll is still a mystery, Zuther said.