huge continent, which is the second largest on the globe - is a wonderful and mysterious Africa.It is famous for the hot climate, the countless islands, which are scattered over the ocean like around the continent, and a variety of pristine nature.
Africa Area exceeds 30.3 million square meters.km.This is 6% of the planet's surface.Along the perimeter of the continent washed by two oceans (Indian and Atlantic) and two seas (Mediterranean and Red).
Africa's population has more than a billion people living in 55 countries.Mostly Arabs.The average life expectancy - about 45 years.The most common language - Arabic.Major religions - Christianity and Islam.In the eastern regions of the continent spread Buddhism, Hinduism.
Vegetation
Nature Africa - is an amazing and unique world full of beauty and mystery.The extraordinary variety of vegetation affects the continent: coniferous forests, dry steppes stretched closer to the north and south, tropical forests at the equator, and along the coast solid thick bushes.
In tropical forests grow more than 25,000 different species of plants.Mountain forests are located in northern Africa.This is mainly deciduous plantings: different kinds of oaks, Aleppo pines, Spanish firs, cedars satin.
Wildlife African savanna clearly presented.This steppe zone, where, in addition to grass, shrub and has woody vegetation.Cereals are the most common elephant grass.Such a title she received in connection with the fact that elephants are very fond of her feast.
During the rainy season here everything blooms, the vegetation becomes dense and green.And in the dry season, which often lasts up to six months, similar to the yellow savanna scorched steppe.
business cards, the symbol of the continent found baobab.This African giant is not afraid of drought.The fact is that during the rainy season, he imbues his trunk with water.The uniqueness of this tree is its striking longevity (5000 years).In addition, the giant blooms only once in his long life.
Nature North Africa
This region stretches in a narrow strip in the north of the continent.Most of the Sahara is desert - the hottest place on Earth.
of the nature in the north of Africa lies in the fact that there are few plants survive.Most of the flora of these places - a variety of palms.Much less common oaks, laurels, olive trees and eucalyptus trees.
most common animals in North Africa can be considered a camel.This part of the continent is dominated by subtropical (in some areas of tropical) climates.Officially recorded maximum temperature in the shade was 58 degrees.In winter there are frosts, even at night.
Climatic conditions
great diversity of nature in Africa!In northern spring - time of sandstorms.They bring the wind from the Sahara hasmin.Storms may last from one day to a week.
in North Africa (Egypt, Libya, Mauritania) weather spring surprisingly constant - if at the beginning of spring comes the heat, so it will last until May.The same can be said about the cool and windy weather.Finally, the temperature is set at the beginning of May.At this time, the thermometer is already confidently take place at a thirty mark.
Summers are very hot.For example, in Egypt, in the middle of summer, the temperature in the shade reaches fifty degrees.Much cooler at night than during the day.Daily fluctuations are large enough.
Nature Africa is characterized by a mild climate in Western Sahara.Here, the temperature allows you to grow more plants (vegetable and cereal crops, fruit trees).
summer there are very high temperatures in Libya (58).The period witnessed much of the public holidays in North Africa, 18 June - Day of liberation from the British, July 23 - Revolution Day, June 11 - Day of Liberation from US bases.
Autumn in North Africa - is the end of the sweltering heat.In September, the temperature does not rise above 40 degrees.The water is heated to 25 degrees.Until October, the temperature continues to fall, and by mid-autumn it varies in different countries from +20 to +30.
At the same time saving the rainy season begins.Nature comes alive in Africa.It begins rapid growth of bushes, grass.The trees appear thick green crown.Animals, which in the summer suffer from the unbearable heat, are active.It appears on the surface of various fauna, which in the summer can be seen only at night or at dusk.In savannas live small, pygmy hippopotamus, medium-sized predators, a variety of monkeys, rodents.In the desert you can see snakes, lizards and invertebrates.
Winter in North Africa may be different.For example, in the mountains of Algeria at this time of year there are frosts.On the coast, the weather is warm, the air is heated to 12 degrees.In Egypt winter is very mild.The temperature does not drop below 25 degrees at low precipitation.
Nature South Africa South
continent more friendly and comfortable for the life of plants and animals.Today in this area there are more than 24,000 species of flowering.Almost half of these plants are concentrated in the coastal strip, the width of which is about 200 kilometers.This zone is located in the southwest of South Africa.Botanists refer it to the Cape Floral Kingdom.Total in the world are six such associations, and the kingdom of the Cape is unique primarily because it takes only 0.4 per cent of the Black Continent, while others take the whole part of the world - America, Australia and Antarctica.However, the Cape Floral Kingdom is the richest in the world.The vegetation of these places even more diverse than the flora of the rain forest.
Fauna
Wildlife Africa is very diverse.It is home to about 500 species of birds, more than a hundred different species of reptiles and numerous species of insects.But coming here every year tourists from all over the world are most attracted to the "big five" - rhino (black and white), elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion.These representatives of the African fauna arouse great interest among fans safari.Hunter dobyvshy at least one animal of the "five" is the owner of "Grand Slam", as the locals say.
hunt for these animals - the busy roads, which is associated with organizational problems.Not every company involved in the organization of safaris, can offer such a hunt.To this should be issued authorizing a special document issued at the government level.
Varied fauna coastal waters of South Africa.Here you can see the enormous, the largest inhabitant of the Earth - the blue whale.The length of the body is greater than 30 meters.And just in these waters is found eight species of whales.
striking a huge variety of fish.One sixth of all known species of the science today is represented in the coastal area of South Africa.
Typical representatives of fauna of the Sahara are antelope (Addax, Oryx), gazelle (Dorcas, the woman), a mountain goat.
Man and Nature
fauna of Southern Africa presented exotic, rare animals.However, there are problems.Chief among them - the human impact on the nature of Africa.It destroys, destroys the unique representatives of nature, prevent them from developing.Illegal shooting, poaching, injudicious housekeeping - all it entails grave consequences.
fair to say that the human impact on the nature of Africa is not merely to its destruction.In recent years, African governments spend a great job of protecting the environment, flora and fauna of their continent.This work connect scientists from around the world, supported by enthusiasts from Africa.
in the XIX century was considered the black continent mainland pristine nature.But even at that time the nature of Africa have been altered by man.Significantly reduced the forest area, they gave way to arable land and pastures.
But the biggest damage to the nature of Africa has received from the European colonizers.The hunt for profit, and often do for fun has led to significant destruction of animals.Many species have been wiped out completely.It can be said of some species of antelope, zebras.Significantly decreased livestock other animals: rhinos, elephants, gorillas.
Europeans brutally destroyed the African forests and exported valuable timber to Europe.Therefore, in some states of the continent (in Nigeria and others.) There is a real danger of deforestation!
area is occupied by planting oil palm plantations of cocoa, peanuts and so on. D. In the place where the rich and changeable equatorial rainforests, savannas were formed.To a large extent changed the nature and primary savannah.Today, there are plowed lands and pastures.
for salvation from the advance of the desert savannah forest strip is created in the Sahara length of 1500 km.She screened the agricultural lands of dry hot winds.There are several original projects watering Sahara.
serious changes in natural conditions became apparent after the development of certain types of minerals, as well as the rapid development of the industry on the continent.As a result of improper farming (grazing, burning, cutting shrubs and trees) of desert increasingly advancing on savanna.Only in the last 50 years significantly stepped Sahara to the south and increased the area to 650 sq. M.km.
In turn, the loss of agricultural land leads to the loss of crops and livestock to starve people.
National Parks and Reserves
these days people have realized the need to protect all life on Earth.To this end, on all continents are reserves (special areas that preserve natural ecosystems in their natural state) and national parks.The reserves
be allowed only to those people who conduct research work.In contrast, the national parks are open to tourists.
Today the nature of Africa is protected in many countries located on the Black continent.Protected areas on the mainland occupy huge areas.Most of all, they are located in eastern and southern Africa.A number of these institutions enjoys worldwide popularity.This Kruger National Park, Serengeti.Thanks to the great work of scientists, researchers and ordinary nature lovers the number of certain types of animals completely restored.
annually in the Kruger Park, which is located in the northeast of South Africa, come to more than a million tourists who are interested in the wildlife of Africa.This park is justifiably be called the birthplace of the "Big Five."Five major types of African animals feel very comfortable.Equally at ease myself feel in these areas rhinos and lions, giraffes and hyenas, zebras and numerous antelopes.
Variety nature Africa is widely represented in other national parks in South Africa.Not all countries have a number of similar institutions, like South Africa.Now in South Africa, there are about two dozen national parks and hundreds of nature reserves, which are located in different regions of the country.
Predators
great interest to researchers and tourists is the wildlife of Africa.Predators of the continent - is not just mammals, but reptiles, which are no less dangerous.In addition, there are birds of prey and fish.
Lions
African savanna different lots of these predators.King of beasts feels very comfortable on the continent.
Wildlife Africa is unthinkable without the lion pride - groups of animals, which are combined in males, females and their offspring younger.The family is very clearly divided responsibilities - young lioness care about food pride and strong and large males guard the territory.
lions are the main food of zebras, antelopes.In their absence, the predators will not abandon the smaller animals, with a strong hunger not disdain carrion.
I would like to dwell on the relationship with the lions spotted hyena.It was long thought that it is satisfied with the remains after the "royal" meal that the animal is extremely cowardly, sedentary and are not capable of independent hunting.
However, recent observations of scientists have shown that it is not so.As it turned out, hyenas hunt at night (probably why hunting was little known), predators pretty easy to kill large prey, such as zebra or antelope.But the most striking - is that scientists have proved that it is not afraid of lions, hyenas, and on the contrary!Hearing the voices of hyenas who captured prey, lions immediately hasten there to drive them and pick up the trophy.But it happens that the hyenas come into a desperate fight, and then the lions are forced to retire.
Leopards, cheetahs
Features nature of Africa, many tourists associated with the presence of a large number of species of feline predators.First of all it cheetahs and leopards.These beautiful cats are a bit like the strong, but they are completely different lifestyle.Now their population has declined significantly.
main prey are gazelles cheetah, the leopard is not as fastidious hunter, in addition to small antelope, he successfully hunted wild pigs - warthogs and baboons.When in Africa have destroyed almost all the leopards, warthogs and baboons, multiply, become a true disaster for agricultural crops.I had to take custody of leopards.
