Africa - the continent's second-largest, it takes about 22% of the total land area on the planet.Interesting places where the wild world of nature remains in its original form.Not surprisingly, many of the facts of her talk exclusively with the use of the epithet "the most."
few words about the nature of
- Africa stretches the largest desert in the world - the Sahara, its area - about 8.6 million square kilometers and covers more than 10 countries.About 40% of animal species that live in it - are endemic.
- second after the Amazon's longest river (6852 km) is located in Africa - is the Nile.Its area covers an area of eight countries: Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda.
- second size fresh water lake is also located on the territory of the hot continent.Victoria affects three countries, the total surface area of 68 000 square kilometers.This wild world of nature has become a habitat for more than two hundred species of fish, many of them anywhere else on the planet do not occur, including the unique protopter, breathing not only gills and lungs.
- ancestors of people have appeared in East Africa (center), the first of said Darwin.And in 1974 near Hadar (Ethiopia) found the skeleton of a humanoid creature that lived about 3.2 million. Years ago, he even gave the name "Lucy".
Amazing plants
African wild world of nature - like a huge bizarre botanical garden, everything in it is unique, wonderful and interesting.I'm sure many have heard of the baobab (alley on the first photo).The tree is small enough (12-15 meters), surprised its thickness, which reaches up to 10 meters. In Zimbabwe, grows the oldest specimen using carbon analysis, scientists have determined that he is about one thousand years.Although the tree is very thick, its wood is porous and soft.From her weave ropes and threads make light boats.
Another plant - Welwitschia (pictured), its called - amazing.Relict species grows only in Angola and Namibia.Describe its appearance is very difficult.This is a double rosette plant with thick stems, reminiscent of the barrel, however, it rises from the ground by only 15-50 cm. The leaves grow quickly and reach up to 8 m in length and a width of about 1 m, gradually form a folded pile of greens, although only two of them.Welwitschia Life expectancy is high, more than a few centuries.
Interesting facts about animals
the continent - is home to perhaps the most unusual in the world of animals.Wildlife continent is diverse and unique.Just to mention its most outstanding facts.
- The largest land mammal is the African elephant.His weight is 7 tons, natural enemies it has, except man.
- in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon are found the largest frog in the world - Goliaths.Their weight is quite significant - up to 3.5 kg and average body length of about 30 cm.
- largest primacy of our time - the gorilla - found only in the equatorial forests of central and western Africa, as, indeed, and a giant reptile - Nile crocodile.
- Four of the fastest animals live in savannas mainland - it Thompson's gazelle, and wildebeest, cheetah and lion.
- One unusual endemic species - giraffe.With seven cervical vertebrae, as well as in other mammals, it nevertheless has the longest neck in animals.
- Madagascar, which is also referred to as Africa, is a cluster of endemic species than is the interest of scientists is not the first century.
African world of wildlife: lions and other cats
about them filmed many documentaries, and scientists and zoologists continue their monitoring of the most amazing life graceful creatures on the planet.Did you know that:
- Lions are the second largest predator on the planet after spotted hyenas;
- big cats spend a dream for more than 20 hours a day;
- addition of well-known lions, cheetahs, jaguars and wild world of nature involves a little-known African and Nubian jungle cat, caracal (pictured), serval, golden cat, and so on. Etc .;
- cheetah - the speed land animal, it is three seconds speeds up to 120 km per hour, and yet it is one of the few species of felines who have claws are not removed;
- Barkhans cat (third photo), living in the Sahara desert, can do without water for a long time, receiving the necessary liquid in the form of the blood of their victims.
This is only a small part of the information about the inhabitants of the continent.Of course, the world of wildlife in Africa is severe, it is dominated by the hard conditions of survival.It was there that inhabit the largest and most dangerous creatures, which can not be found anywhere else.But at the same time, the African savannah is beautiful and interesting, like any other corner of the world unexplored nature.
