Climatic conditions of the African equatorial rainforest zone. Equatorial climate zone

Africa is the hottest continent on Earth, which owes its geographical location. The continent is located in four climatic zones: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical. Africa is located between 37° north and 34° south latitude - that is, in equatorial and tropical latitudes.

The equatorial belt of Africa is located on the shores of the Gulf of Guinea and stretches inland to Lake Victoria. The equatorial air mass dominates here all year round, so there are no seasons, it is constantly hot here, and it rains very often. Due to abundant moisture (2-3 mm per year) and a very warm climate (above +20°-+30°C throughout the year), a natural zone of humid equatorial forests has formed here. The forests of Africa are home to an unimaginable number of animal and plant species, many of which are still unknown to science. The interior regions of the equatorial belt remain uninhabited.

Moist evergreen equatorial forests occupy the Congo Basin and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea north of the equator. These forests are distinguished by enormous species diversity (more than 1000 plant species), height (up to 50 m) and multi-tiered (tree crowns fill almost the entire space).

The first upper tier consists of giants of woody vegetation, raising their crowns to a height of 40 - 50 m or more. Below are the crowns of trees of the second tier, then the third, and so on until the fourth, fifth and even sixth tiers. With such a multi-tiered structure, very little light reaches the soil, however, here too there are spore-bearing plants that do not require light: ferns, selaginella, mosses.

The density of the African Gila tree population is indicated by the following calculations: per hectare there are from 400 to 700 large trees, usually belonging to about 100 different species. These figures show how closely the trees grow in the hyla and how diverse the species composition of such a forest is. There are about 3,000 species of woody plants in the African Hyla, of which about a thousand are upper-story trees that are at least 30 m in height.

The green ocean of gils looks especially powerful when viewed from some elevated position. A vast green ocean really stretches out before your eyes, with waves rolling over its surface. Different kinds The plants that make up the upper tier differ from each other in height, crown shape, and foliage color. All this creates the impression of a green, rippling ocean.

And inside the forest, greenery is scattered everywhere. Even the bark of trees, even in humid forests, is often green. And if it does not have a green color, then it is made green by epiphytes located on the trunks and branches of trees. The variously colored flowers and fruits are not striking here. There is nothing reminiscent of the diversity of our flowering meadows. It is possible that at the height of the rains, when we were in the African hyla, there were few flowering plants, but we were truly in the element of greenery. It is especially beautiful when the sun comes through and revives the varied shades of foliage still wet from the rain.

Animals are also distributed into tiers. Swarming in the loose soil and forest floor are hordes of microfauna, a variety of invertebrates, as well as shrews, lizards and snakes. The ground layer is inhabited by small ungulates, forest pigs, forest elephants, and gorillas. The crowns of trees were chosen not only by birds, but also by monkeys, colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and even rodents and insects, often reaching very large sizes. There, on large branches, a leopard rests and lies in wait for its prey. Ants, termites and amphibians are common in almost all tiers; pygmy hippopotamuses and okapi (relatives of giraffes) are found near water bodies. Geochemical processes with the participation of microorganisms and soil fauna are actively taking place here, accompanied by the formation of iron and aluminum oxides. Rocks acquire a special structure and color, so-called weathering crusts are formed, on which red-yellow ferralite soils (ferrum - iron, aluminum - aluminum) are formed. Many of the plants of the equatorial forests are used on the farm and introduced into cultivation: banana, coffee tree, oil palm, etc.

From the south and north the zone of moist equatorial forests is bordered by zone of variable-humid deciduous forests, and then - a zone of open forests and savannas, which is associated with the appearance of a dry period, which lengthens as it moves away from the equator.

Vegetation of the equatorial belt

A sufficient amount of heat and moisture causes the development of lush vegetation. The African moist equatorial forest is striking in its richness of species and plant density. There are about 3 thousand species of trees alone. In the struggle for light, they grow in 4-5 tiers. The upper tier is formed by tall ficuses and palm trees, reaching 70 m. Many mighty trees have additional long-lasting roots-supports - strong roots that provide stability. Giant trees have leaves that are hard and dense, often with a shiny surface. This way they are protected from the scorching rays of the sun and the impact of rain jets during downpours.

The leaves are large and small, narrow and wide, light and bottle-like, covering all the cracks and gaps in the forest canopy. It does not fall off all at once, but one by one, leaf by leaf. That's why the forest is always green. Plants grow, bloom, and bear fruit in it simultaneously and throughout the year. Sunlight barely breaks through the dense crown of trees, so twilight reigns in the forest even during the day. The forest thicket is shrouded in thick fog. It's hard to breathe in the damp air. A person in the equatorial forest feels as if he is at the bottom of a green sea.

Animal world equatorial belt

Animals in the equatorial forest live mainly in trees. In addition to birds, rodents and insects, various monkeys find food and shelter there: monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees. Ape gorillas live in remote areas. Monkeys feed on tree fruits, young leaves and make nests in the treetops from broken branches. Lianas help them move; some of their types are called “monkey ladders.” The largest predator of the forest, the Leopard, lies in wait for its prey and also hides in the treetops.

Terrestrial inhabitants of the equatorial forest are smaller than those on open spaces, since it is difficult for large animals to move through dense thickets. There is almost no grass in the undergrowth, so there are no animals that feed on it. But there are many that eat the leaves of trees and shrubs: African fawns, whale pigs, okapi - a relative of the giraffe. There are crocodiles in the rivers, and on their banks there are pygmy hippos, which are one of the rarest animals on Earth.

All tiers of the forest are inhabited by a variety of birds. Among them are many parrots. The hornbill has a large and thick beak for collecting fruits.

Snakes, most of which are poisonous, also live in trees. Green color their bodies make them look like vines and allow them to skillfully camouflage themselves among the leaves. One of the most dangerous snakes In the world, the tree cobra is considered to be the mamba. She is aggressive and very poisonous. Her strong poison strikes nervous system and after a few minutes the person loses consciousness and dies.

A variety of insects are common in all layers of the forest. Many large bright butterflies. The equatorial forests are home to the heaviest insect on the planet - the goliath beetle. It weighs 100 g, but despite this, it can fly. Some species of ants move in long columns, eating all living things in their path. The tsetse fly is a very dangerous fly, which carries the pathogen, causing the death of domestic animals and sleeping sickness in humans.

Wet equatorial forests give way to variable-humid subequatorial forests, where deciduous trees grow next to evergreen trees, which shed their leaves in the dry season.

The importance of equatorial forests

Equatorial forests are of great economic importance. They grow trees with valuable (durable and beautiful) wood - black (ebony), red, sandalwood. Expensive furniture is made from it. The coffee tree became the ancestor of cultural coffee. Oil palm produces edible and industrial palm oil. The wine palm is used to make wine. Medicines are made from the leaves, bark and fruits of many plants.

However, in nature, equatorial forests have planetary significance. Rainforest plants absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the Earth's atmosphere. Therefore, they are called the main source of oxygen, “the lungs of the planet.” Unfortunately, forests have been cut down for decades to make way for fields and plantations for timber. When trees are cut down, animals also disappear.

Africa is an amazing continent where it combines a large number of geographical zones. In no other place are these distinctions so noticeable.

The natural areas of Africa are very clearly visible on the map. They are distributed symmetrically relative to the equator and depend on uneven precipitation.

Characteristics of natural areas of Africa

Africa is the second largest continent on Earth. It is surrounded by two seas and two oceans. But the most main feature- this is its symmetry in position in relation to the equator, which divides Africa into two parts along the horizon.

In the north and south of the continent there are hard-leaved evergreen moist forests and shrubs. Next come deserts and semi-deserts, then savannas.

In the very center of the continent there are zones of variable humid and constantly rain forests. Each zone is characterized by its own climate, flora and fauna.

Zone of variable-humid and moist evergreen equatorial forests of Africa

The evergreen forest zone is located in the Congo Basin and runs along the Gulf of Guinea. More than 1000 plants can be found here. These zones have predominantly red-yellow soils. Many types of palm trees grow here, including oil palms, tree ferns, bananas, and vines.

Animals are placed in tiers. In these places the fauna is very diverse. The soil is home to a huge number of shrews, lizards and snakes.

The humid forest zone is home to a huge number of monkeys. In addition to monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees, more than 10 species of individuals can be found here.

Dog-headed baboons cause a lot of concern to local residents. They are destroying plantations. This species is distinguished by its intelligence. They can only be frightened by weapons; they are not afraid of a person with a stick.

African gorillas in these places grow up to two meters and weigh up to 250 kilograms. The forests are inhabited by elephants, leopards, small ungulates, and forest pigs.

Good to know: The tsetse fly lives in the eucalyptus zones of Africa. It is very dangerous for humans. Its bite infects the deadly sleeping sickness. The person begins to experience severe pain and fever.

Savannah zone

About 40% of the entire territory of Africa is occupied by savannas. The vegetation is represented by tall grasses and umbrella trees towering above them. The main one is baobab.

This is a tree of life that is of great significance to the people of Africa. , leaves, seeds - everything is eaten. The ash of the burnt fruit is used to make soap.

In dry savannas, aloe grows with fleshy and prickly leaves. During the rainy season, the savannah has very abundant vegetation, but during the dry season it turns yellow and fires often occur.

The red soils of the savannah are much more fertile than those in the rainforest zone. This is due to the active accumulation of humus during the dry period.

The African savannah is home to large herbivores. Giraffes, elephants, rhinoceroses, and buffalos live here. The savannah area is home to predators, cheetahs, lions, and leopards.

Tropical desert and semi-desert zones

Savannas give way to zones of tropical deserts and semi-deserts. Rainfall in these places is very irregular. Certain areas may not experience rain for several years.

The climatic features of the zone are characterized by excessive dryness. Sandstorms often occur, and strong temperature differences are observed throughout the day.

The relief of deserts consists of scattered rocks and salt marshes in places where there once were seas. There are practically no plants here. There are rare spines. There are types of vegetation with short term life. They grow only after rains.

Zones of evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs

The outermost zone of the continent is the territory of evergreen hard-leaved leaves and shrubs. These places are characterized by wet winters and hot, dry summers.

This climate has a beneficial effect on the condition of the soil. In these places it is very fertile. Lebanese cedar, beech and oak grow here.

The highest points of the continent are located in this zone. On the peaks of Kenya and Kilimanjaro, even in the hottest period, there is constant snow.

Table of natural zones of Africa

The presentation and description of all natural zones in Africa can be clearly presented in the table.

The position of the continent's climatic zones is very clearly demarcated. This applies not only to the territory itself, but also to the definition of fauna, flora and climate types.

On both sides of the equator largely determines the climate of this corner globe. It is located mainly in the tropics, so there is no cold weather characteristic of temperate latitudes. But at the same time, the climatic zones of Africa, which diverge from the equator to the north and south, cannot be compared with each other. The structure of the continent is such that in two hemispheres the same zone has its own characteristics. And in order to learn the local weather and its characteristics, the article presents the belts of Africa and their brief description.

Geographical location of the continent

Africa is the second largest continent in the world after Eurasia. It is washed by two oceans - the Atlantic and Indian, and a few seas and straits. The geological structure of these lands is such that their width is greater in the south and less in the south. This partly influences which climate zones in Africa are formed in certain regions. This also greatly affects the local topography and the presence of flora and fauna. For example, in the northern part, where all the lands are covered with impassable sands, as you yourself understand, there are a minimum of plants and animals. But to the south, where there are tropical rainforests or even savannas, animals and vegetable world richer, it appears before us in all its African identity and uniqueness.

Brief description, table

The climatic zones of Africa begin with the equatorial one.

• At zero latitude, the wettest continent is located, where it rains maximum amount precipitation - more than 2000 mm per year.
• It is followed by a subequatorial zone, where the amount of precipitation and natural resources is reduced. No more than 1500 mm of moisture falls here per year.
• Tropical climate zone- the largest region of the continent. Depending on the hemisphere, the amount of precipitation here can range from 300 to only 50 mm per year.
• covers the edge of the coast in the north of the continent and a corner located in South Africa, in the very south. Both there and there it is always windy and humid. In winter, temperatures drop by 7 degrees compared to summer levels. Rainfall is estimated at 500 mm per year.

Equatorial latitudes

When listing all the climatic zones of Africa, special attention should be paid to the equatorial zone, since on this continent it is considered the most unique, the wettest and the most fertile in terms of agriculture. It is located, of course, along zero latitude, and covers states such as Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Ghana, Guinea, Benin, Cameroon and others adjacent to the Gulf of Guinea. A peculiarity of the equatorial climate is that closer to the east it becomes drier, but in the western areas of land the maximum amount of precipitation falls.

Subequatorial zone

Africa is located in climatic zones characterized by hot temperatures, and a huge part of its territory is occupied by subtropics. It is a little drier here than at the equator, jungles and evergreen forests turn into savannas. A special feature of this belt is that in summer equatorial winds blow here, which bring rain and often fog to the region. In winter, tropical trade winds are observed, drier and very hot, as a result of which the amount of rain is reduced and the air temperature rises. In North Africa, the subequatorial belt covers countries such as Mali, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, etc. In the southern part of the continent these are Tanzania, Kenya, Angola, Zambia, Mozambique.

Tropics. Dry and windy

As the table above has already shown us, it is difficult to imagine the climatic zones of Africa without the tropics, which occupy most of the continent. Their widest strip stretches in the northern part of the continent, covering the Sahara Desert and all nearby countries. These are Egypt, the northern territories of Chad, Sudan, and Mali, as well as Mauritania, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and many others. The amount of precipitation here is minimal - about 50 mm per year. The entire territory is covered with sand and blown by dry trade winds. Sandstorms often occur. Among the animals inhabiting the Sahara, insects and reptiles are more common, and they emerge from the dunes only at night. In the Southern Hemisphere, the tropics also occur in the Kalahari Desert region. The climate here is very similar to the northern one, but is characterized big amount precipitation and less dramatic daily temperature changes.

Subtropical areas

In conclusion, we will consider the extreme climatic zones of Africa - subtropical. They occupy the smallest part of the continent, both in the north and in the south, and therefore have little effect on the overall weather picture. So, in the northern part of the mainland, this zone extends as a thin strip along the Mediterranean coast. It includes only the highest points of Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, which are washed by the waves of this sea. The peculiarity of the local climate is that in winter winds blow here from the west, bringing moisture. Due to this, it is during the cold season that the maximum amount of precipitation falls here - about 500 mm. In summer, the winds change to tropical trade winds, which bring heat, drought and even sand from the Sahara. There is no rain at all, the temperature rises to its maximum. In the Southern Hemisphere, weather conditions are similar. The only peculiarity is that it is a narrow cape, which is washed on all sides by the ocean. Evaporated moisture makes the air humid throughout the year, and precipitation falls here not only in winter, but also in all other seasons.

Madagascar and Cape Verde Islands

The climate zones of Africa cover not only the continent itself, but also the islands that belong to it - continental and volcanic. To the east, beyond the waters of the Mozabique Strait, is Madagascar. He hits two at once climatic zones- subequatorial and tropical. True, both are not as dry here as in Africa itself. Rains occur frequently, and the entire island is literally buried in evergreens and palm trees. lie in the Atlantic, west of the Gulf of Guinea. The climate here is subequatorial, humid, but at the same time very windy. Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year.

Conclusion

We have just briefly reviewed all the climate zones of Africa. 7th grade is the period when children get acquainted with the natural areas and climate of our planet. It is important that the child does not miss anything during this period and can quickly figure out which zone we live in, which are located further south, and which, on the contrary, go north. This will broaden his horizons and allow him to better navigate geography.

Equatorial forests occupy the territory of the Congo river basin and the Gulf of Guinea. Their part is approximately 8% of total area continent. This natural area is unique. There is not much difference between the seasons here. average temperature stays at approximately 24 degrees Celsius. The annual precipitation rate is 2000 millimeters, and It is raining almost every day. The main weather indicators are increased heat and humidity.

The equatorial forests of Africa are wet rain forests and are called "hylaea". If you look at the forest from a bird's eye view (from a helicopter or airplane), it resembles a lush green sea. In addition, several rivers flow here, and all of them are deep. During floods, they overflow and overflow their banks, flooding a large area of ​​land. Hylaea lies on red-yellow ferrallitic soils. Since they contain iron, it gives the soil a red tint. Nutrients there is not much in them, they are washed out by water. The sun also affects the soil.

Hylaea flora

The equatorial forest of Africa is home to more than 25 thousand species of flora, of which a thousand are just trees. Lianas entwine them. The trees form dense thickets in the upper tiers. Shrubs grow at a slightly lower level, and even lower - grasses, mosses, and creeping plants. In total, these forests have 8 tiers.

Hylea is evergreen forest. The leaves on the trees last for about two and sometimes three years. They do not fall at the same time, but are replaced one by one. The most common types are:

• bananas;
• sandalwood;
• ferns;
• nutmeg tree;
• ficus;
• palm trees;
• Red tree;
• vines;
• orchids;
• breadfruit;
• epiphytes;
• oil palm;
• nutmeg tree;
• rubber plants;
• a coffee tree.

Fauna of Hylaea

Animals and birds are found in all tiers of the forest. There are a huge number of monkeys here. These are gorillas and monkeys, chimpanzees and baboons. In the treetops there are birds - banana-eaters, woodpeckers, fruit pigeons, as well as a huge variety of parrots. Lizards, pythons, shrews and various rodents crawl on the ground. A lot of insects live in the equatorial forest: tsetse flies, bees, butterflies, mosquitoes, dragonflies, termites and others.

In the African equatorial forest, special climatic conditions. There is a rich world of flora and fauna here. Human influence here is minimal, and the ecosystem is virtually untouched.

The geographical location and evenness of the relief contributed to the location geographical zones Africa (equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical) and natural zones twice on both sides of the equator. With decreasing humidity north and south of the equator, the vegetation cover becomes thinner and the vegetation more xerophytic.

There are many plant species found in the north. In the center and south, the most ancient representatives of the planet’s vegetation have been preserved. Among flowering plants there are up to 9 thousand endemic species. Into a rich and diverse fauna (see. Nowhere in the world is there such a concentration of large animals as in the African savannah. Elephants, giraffes, hippos, rhinoceroses, buffaloes and other animals are found here. Characteristic fauna - a wealth of predators (lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, jackals, etc.) and ungulates (dozens of species of antelope). Among the birds there are large ones - ostriches, vultures, marabou, crowned cranes, bustards, hornbills, and crocodiles live in the rivers.

In the natural areas of Africa there are many animals and plants that are not found in others. African savannas are characterized by the baobab, whose trunk reaches 10 m in diameter, the doum palm, the umbrella acacia, the tallest animal in the world - the giraffe, lions, and the secretary bird. The African forest (Gilea) is home to the great apes gorilla and chimpanzee, and the dwarf giraffe okapi. Found in tropical deserts dromedary camel dromedary, fennec fox, and also the most poisonous snake mamba. Only lemurs live there.

Africa is the birthplace of a number of cultivated plants: oil palm, cola tree, coffee tree, castor bean, sesame, pearl millet, watermelon, many indoor flower plants - geranium, aloe, gladioli, pelargonium, etc.

Zone of moist equatorial forests (gil) occupies 8% of the continent's territory - the basin and coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The climate here is humid, equatorial, and there is enough heat. Precipitation falls evenly, more than 2000 mm per year. Soils are red-yellow ferrallitic, poor organic substances. Sufficient heat and moisture promote the development of vegetation. In terms of richness of species composition (about 25 thousand species) and area, the equatorial rainforests of Africa are second only to the humid forests of South America.

The forests form 4-5 tiers. In the upper tiers grow giant (up to 70 m) ficus trees, oil and wine palms, ceiba, cola tree, and breadfruit tree. In the lower tiers there are bananas, ferns, and a Liberian coffee tree. Among the lianas, the rubber-bearing liana landolfia and the rattan palm liana (up to 200 m in length) are interesting. Exactly this long plant in the world. Valuable wood is found in red, iron, and black (ebony). There are a lot of orchids and mosses in the forest.

Forests have few herbivores and fewer predators than other natural areas. Among the ungulates, the typical okapi dwarf giraffe hides in dense forest thickets; forest antelopes, water deer, buffalo, and hippopotamus are found. Predators are represented by wild cats, leopards, and jackals. Common species include the brush-tailed porcupine and broad-tailed flying squirrels. There are numerous monkeys, baboons, and mandrills in the forests. Great apes represented by 2-3 species of chimpanzees and gorillas.

The transition zone between equatorial forests is subequatorial variable-humid forests. They border humid equatorial forests in a narrow strip. Vegetation gradually changes under the influence of a shortening of the wet season and an intensification of the dry season as one moves away from the equator. Gradually, the equatorial forest turns into a subequatorial, mixed, deciduous-evergreen forest on red ferrallite soils. Annual quantity precipitation decreases to 650-1300 mm, and the dry season increases to 1-3 months. Distinctive feature These forests are dominated by trees of the legume family. Trees up to 25 m high shed their leaves during the dry season, and a grassy cover forms under them. Subequatorial forests are located on the northern edge of the equatorial rainforests and south of the equator in the Congo.

Savannas and woodlands occupy large areas of Africa - the marginal uplifts of the Congo, the Sudanese plains, the East African Plateau (about 40% of the territory). These are open grass plains with groves or isolated trees. The zone of savannas and woodlands encircles humid and variable-humid forests from the Atlantic to the north and extends north to 17° N. w. and south to 20° S. w.

Savannas are characterized by alternating wet and dry seasons. During the wet season in the savannah, where the rainy season lasts up to 8-9 months, lush grasses grow up to 2 m high, sometimes up to 5 m (elephant grass). Among the continuous sea of ​​cereals (cereal savanna), individual trees rise: baobabs, umbrella acacia, doum palms, oil palms. During the dry season, the grasses dry out, the leaves on the trees fall off, and the savanna turns yellow-brown. Special types of soils are formed under savannas - red and red-brown soils.

Depending on the duration of the wet period, savannas are wet or tall grass, typical or dry, and desertified.

Wet, or tall grass, savannas have a short dry period (about 3-4 months), and the annual precipitation is 1500-1000 mm. This is a transitional area from forest vegetation to typical savanna. The soils, like those of subequatorial forests, are red ferrallitic. Among the cereals are elephant grass, bearded grass, and trees include baobab, acacia, carob, doum palm, and cotton tree (ceiba). Evergreen forests are developed along the river valleys.

Typical savannas are developed in areas with precipitation of 750-1000 mm, the dry period lasts 5-6 months. In the north they extend in a continuous strip from to. In the Southern Hemisphere they occupy the northern part. Characteristic are baobabs, acacias, fan palms, shea wood, and cereals are represented by bearded vulture. The soils are red-brown.

Desertified savannas have less precipitation (up to 500 mm), the dry season lasts 7-9 months. They have a sparse grass cover, and acacia trees predominate among the shrubs. These savannas on red-brown soils extend in a narrow strip from the coast to the Somali peninsula. In the south they are widely developed in the basin.

African savannas are rich in food resources. There are more than 40 species of herbivorous ungulates, especially numerous antelopes (kudu, eland, dwarf antelope). The largest of them is the wildebeest. Giraffes are preserved mainly in national parks. Zebras are common in savannas. In some places they are domesticated and replace horses (they are not susceptible to tsetse fly bites). Herbivores are accompanied by numerous predators: lions, cheetahs, leopards, jackals, hyenas. Endangered animals include the black and white rhinoceros, African elephant. Birds are numerous: African ostriches, guinea fowl, guinea fowl, marabou, weavers, secretary birds, lapwings, herons, pelicans. In terms of the number of species of flora and fauna per unit area, the savannas of Africa have no equal.

Savannas are relatively favorable for tropical agriculture. Significant areas of savannas are plowed, cotton, groundnuts, corn, tobacco, sorghum, and rice are cultivated.

To the north and south of the savannas are located tropical semi-deserts and deserts, occupying 33% of the continent's territory. It is characterized by a very low amount of precipitation (no more than 100 mm per year), and poor xerophytic vegetation.

Semi-deserts are a transitional region between savannas and tropical ones, where precipitation does not exceed 250-300 mm. A narrow strip of shrub-grass forest (acacia, tamarisk, hard grasses). In South Africa, semi-deserts are developed in the interior of the Kalahari. The southern semi-deserts are characterized by succulents (aloe, spurge, wild watermelons). During the rainy season, irises, lilies, and amaryllis bloom.

In North Africa, huge areas with precipitation up to 100 mm are occupied; in South Africa, the Namib Desert stretches in a narrow strip along the west coast; in the south there is the Kalahari Desert. Based on the vegetation, deserts are divided into cereal-shrub, dwarf shrub and succulent deserts.

The vegetation of the Sahara is represented by individual tufts of cereals and thorny bushes. Among the cereals, wild millet is common, and among the shrubs and subshrubs - dwarf saxaul, camel thorn, acacia, jujube, spurge, and ephedra. Solyanka and wormwood grow on saline soils. There are tamarisks around the shots. Southern deserts are characterized by succulent plants, appearance resembling stones. In the Namib Desert, a unique relict plant is common - majestic Velvichia (stump plant) - the lowest tree on Earth (up to 50 cm tall with long fleshy leaves 8-9 m long). There are aloe, spurge, wild watermelons, and acacia bushes.

Typical desert soils are gray soils. In those places of the Sahara where groundwater is close to the surface of the earth, oases are formed. Everything is concentrated here economic activity people grow grapes, pomegranates, barley, millet, and wheat. The main plant of the oases is the date palm.

The fauna of semi-deserts and deserts is poor. In the Sahara, among the large animals there are antelopes, wild cats, and fennec foxes. Jerboas, gerbils, various reptiles, scorpions, and phalanges live in the sands.

Natural area tropical rain forests found on the island of Madagascar and in the Drakensberg Mountains. It is characterized by iron wood, rubber and rosewood trees.

The transition zone between tropical deserts and subtropical evergreen forests and shrubs is subtropical semi-deserts and deserted steppes. In Africa, they occupy the interior regions of the Atlas and Cape Mountains, the Karoo Plateau and the Libyan-Egyptian coast up to 30° N. w. The vegetation is very sparse. In North Africa these are cereals, xerophytic trees, shrubs and subshrubs, in South Africa - succulents, bulbous, tuberous plants.

Zone subtropical evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs represented on the northern slopes of the Atlas Mountains and in the western Cape Mountains.

The forests of the Atlas Mountains consist of cork and holm oaks, Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar with an undergrowth of evergreen shrubs. Maquis is widespread - impenetrable thickets of hard-leaved evergreen shrubs and low trees (myrtle, oleander, pistachio, strawberry tree, laurel). Typical brown soils are formed here. In the Cape Mountains, vegetation is represented by Cape olive, silver tree, and African walnut.

In the extreme southeast of Africa, where there is a humid subtropical climate, lush mixed subtropical forests grow, represented by evergreen deciduous and coniferous species with an abundance of epiphytes. The zonal subtropical forests are red soils. The fauna of the northern subtropics is represented by European and African species. The northern subtropical forests are inhabited by red deer, mountain gazelle, mouflon, jungle cat, jackals, Algerian fox, wild rabbits, tailless narrow-nosed monkey Magot, among the birds, canaries and eagles are widely represented, and in the south - aardwolves, jumping antelope, and meerkats.

Natural areas of Africa are located symmetrically relative to the equator. Northern and - “dry”. Deserts and semi-deserts predominate here, the outskirts are occupied by hard-leaved forests and shrubs. Central (equatorial) Africa is “humid”, humid equatorial and variable-humid subequatorial forests grow there. To the north and south of Central Africa and in the elevated East - savannahs and woodlands.