climatic region, located in subequatorial belt, with the characteristic grasses and small patches of trees and shrubs, called savanna.
Savannah Africa occupy over 40% of the area of the continent.They are distinguished by diverse flora and fauna.Moreover, according to scientists, it is one of the most ecologically clean regions of the planet.
Climate
savannas of Africa have a warm tropical climate.Pronounced dry winter.The average temperature of the hottest month is +30 ° C and above, in the coldest month temperature does not drop below +18 ° C.The precipitation is not more than 2500 mm per year.
soil savannas of Africa
In this region, the conditions for the development of heavy plant - soil contains almost no nutrients (or very small amount).During the drought it dries so that on the surface there are deep cracks and often there are fires.During the wet season the soil swamp.
African savanna vegetation
savanna trees to survive acquired certain specific properties that protect them from drought and heat.The brightest representative of the flora savanna - baobab.The diameter of its trunk often reaches 8 meters.At the height of this giant grows up to 25 meters.
thick trunk and bark of the baobab can accumulate moisture like a sponge.Long and strong roots absorb moisture from the soil depth.Africans have learned to use the shoots and leaves of baobab food and bark to make different tools.
Although not the most favorable conditions, flora savannahs (Africa and other continents) are quite diverse.There are plants that are better adapted to other drought lasting several months.
Herbs
in Savannah very thick and lush grass.For example, ivory, which has huge leaves up to 50 cm and the stem about two meters.In addition, it is quite comfortable feel aloe and wild asparagus, and a variety of cereals.
kigelia
very unusual (for Europeans) is native to this area kigelia.It received its name because of the unusual fruits, which grow to a length of 50 cm. According to local residents, they are used in the treatment of rheumatism and syphilis.In addition, it is a mandatory attribute in rituals to expel evil spirits.
Looking at photos savannas of Africa, you will notice that in these areas, many different trees.And this is true.Such trees are several types.
In addition, the flora is rich in thorny bushes, mimosas - a favorite delicacy of giraffes.
It should be noted that during the period of drought in the savannah like all the vegetation dies: often in this period the trees shed their leaves completely, sometimes the grass is completely burned out in the hot sun.There are frequent fires, which affect vegetation.
But when the rainy season comes, the nature of Africa comes alive again.It appears fresh juicy grass, blooming variety of plants.
Animals Africa (Savannah)
on the vast expanses of savannah inhabited by many representatives of fauna caught in this region due to migratory phenomena, which primarily related to the change of climate on Earth.
Millions of years ago, Africa was covered with rain forests, but gradually the climate became drier, and therefore huge tracts of forests have disappeared forever.They were replaced by woodlands and fields overgrown with grassy vegetation.In turn, this has contributed to the emergence of new animals that are looking for favorable conditions for life.According to scientists, the first to come out of the jungle here giraffes, followed closely by the followers of elephants, antelopes of various kinds, monkeys, and other herbivores.It is natural that after them went to Savannah and predators - servals, cheetahs, lions, jackals and others.
antelope and zebra
Appearance wildebeest is so peculiar that it is difficult to confuse with other animals - dense and short body at a disproportionately thin legs, heavy, decorated with sharp horns and a mane head, bushy tail.Next to them are necessarily small herds of cute African horses - zebras.
Giraffes
Photo African savanna, which we see in the textbooks, brochures tour companies, be sure to show us some of the typical fauna of these places - giraffes.Once the population of these animals was very great, but they are the first hit by the white settlers - out of their skins were prepared for coating wagons.Currently giraffes are protected, but their number is small.
Elephants
These are the largest land animals in Africa.Savannah is impossible to imagine without the huge steppe elephants.From their forest counterparts, they differ powerful tusks and ears wider.By the beginning of the XXI century the number of elephants has decreased very much, but because of the protection measures and the creation of reserves today elephants was larger than in the last century.
Rhinos
fate of white and black rhinos living in the African savannah, is the major concern of scientists.Their horns are four times more expensive than an elephant's tusks.Therefore, they are the most desirable prey of poachers.Only by reserves in Africa helped to keep these animals from complete destruction.
Lions
inhabit the savannas of Africa, many predators.Unconditional leadership among them have lions.They live in groups (prides).This includes adults and youngsters.In prides responsibilities clearly allocated - young and mobile lioness provide family food, and the males guard the territory.
leopards and cheetahs
These predators somewhat alike in appearance but different in lifestyle.Home cheetah prey - a gazelle.Leopard - versatile hunter, he successfully hunts for warthogs (African wild pigs), baboons, small antelopes.
Hyenas
long thought that this cowardly sedentary animal, not hunting alone and be content with only the remnants of a meal of lions.As found by modern scholars, it is not so.Hyenas hunt at night, they are pretty easy to kill even large animals, such as zebra or antelope.And what is most surprising is the lions often "parasitic" hyenas, and not vice versa.Hearing their voice, "the kings of nature" in a hurry to this place and was removed from the extraction of hyenas.More recently, it became known that the hyenas attacking people, and can be very dangerous.
Birds
in the grass and the soil is found a lot of insects and worms, so the fauna savanna features a large number of representatives of birds.They flock here from all over the world.The most common storks, krasnoklyuvye Quillen, vultures, marabou, African ostriches, vultures, horned crows and others. In savannah live the largest and, perhaps, one of the most beautiful in the world of birds - ostriches.
picture of the animal world of the African continent would be incomplete if we did not mention about termites.These insects with dozens of species.Their buildings are a characteristic element of the landscape of savanna.
It should be noted that animals are respected in Africa.After all, not for nothing that their images can be seen on the arms of many African states: the lion - the Congo and Kenya, zebra - Botswana elephant - Ivory Coast.
Fauna savannas of Africa for centuries developed as a separate entity.The degree of adaptability to the specific conditions of the animals unusually high.To her include strict separation of power by the method and composition of the feed.Some use the young shoots of shrubs, others - bark, and others - buds and buds of plants.Furthermore, the same animals taken shoots different at different heights.
Conclusion
Savannah South Africa - a place where a surprising combination of diametrically opposed views and amazing ecosystem.The hard struggle for life in these areas is in perfect harmony with the magnificent nature and a wealth of flora and fauna - with attractive and exotic African flair.
