Savannahs are dominated by herbaceous vegetation. Most of the African savanna is located in Africa, between 15 ° N. sh. and 30°S sh. Savannahs are located in countries such as: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Uganda , Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa.

There are two seasons in the African savanna: dry (winter) and rainy (summer).

• The dry winter season is longer, lasting from October to March in the Southern Hemisphere, and from April to September in the Northern Hemisphere. During the whole season, only about 100 mm of precipitation falls.
• The rainy summer season (rainy season) is very different from the dry season and lasts a shorter amount of time. During the rainy season, the savanna receives between 380 and 635 mm of rain per month and it can rain for hours without stopping.

Savannah is characterized by grasses and small or scattered trees that do not form a closed dome (as in), allowing sunlight to reach the ground. The African savanna contains a diverse community of organisms that interact and form a complex food web.

Healthy, balanced ecosystems are made up of many interacting ecosystems called food webs. (lions, hyenas, leopards) feed on herbivores (impalas, warthogs, cattle) that consume producers (herbs, plant matter). Scavengers (hyenas, vultures) and decomposers (bacteria, fungi) destroy the remains of living organisms and make them available to producers. Humans are also part of the biological community of the savanna and often compete with other organisms for food.

Threats

This ecoregion has been significantly harmed by humans in many ways. For example, locals use the land for grazing, as a result of which the grass dies and the savannah turns into barren, desert area. People use wood for cooking and create problems for environment. Some also engage in poaching (hunting animals illegally), which leads to the extinction of many species.

To restore damage and preserve natural environment, some countries have established nature reserves. national park Serengeti and nature reserve Ngorongoro are objects world heritage UNESCO.

The African savannah is one of the largest wild habitats in the world, it covers almost half the area of ​​the continent, about 13 million km². If it were not for the efforts made by people to preserve the savannah, a large number of representatives of the flora and fauna of this corner of nature would have already become extinct.

African savannah animals

Most savannah animals have long legs or wings that allow them to migrate long distances. Savannah - perfect place for birds of prey such as hawks and buzzards. The wide open plain gives them a clear view of their prey, the rising hot air currents allow them to soar above the ground with ease, and the sparse trees provide an opportunity to rest or nest.

The savannah has a large species diversity of fauna: the African savannah has become home to more than 40 different species of herbivorous animals. Up to 16 different herbivorous species (those that feed on tree leaves and grass) can coexist in one area. This is possible due to everyone's own eating habits. separate species: they can graze at different heights, in different time days or years, etc.

These various herbivores are food for predators such as lions, jackals, and hyenas. Each carnivorous species has its own preferences for living in the same territory and not competing for food. All these animals depend on each other, occupy a certain place in the food chain and provide balance in the environment. Savannah animals are in constant search of food and water. Some of them are listed below:

African bush elephant

The largest land mammal in the world. These animals grow up to 3.96 m at the withers and can weigh up to 10 tons, but most often they measure up to 3.2 m at the withers and weigh up to 6 tons. They have a long and very flexible trunk that ends with nostrils. The trunk is used to capture food and water and carry them to the mouth. On the sides of the mouth are two long teeth called tusks. Elephants have thick, gray skin that protects them from the deadly bites of predators.

This type of elephant is common in the African savannas and grasslands. Elephants are herbivores and feed on herbs, fruits, tree leaves, bark, shrubs, and the like.

These animals have important work in the savannas. They eat bushes and trees, and thereby help the grass to grow. This allows many herbivorous animals to survive. There are about 150,000 elephants in the world today and they are endangered because poachers kill them for their ivory.

hyena dog

The African wild dog lives in the grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands of eastern and southern Africa. The fur of this animal is short and colored in red, brown, black, yellow and white. Each individual has a unique coloring. Their ears are very large and rounded. The muzzle of the dogs is short and they have powerful jaws.

This species is well suited for chasing. Like greyhounds, they have a slender body and long legs. The bones of the lower front legs are fused together, preventing them from twisting when running. African wild dogs big ears, which help to remove heat from the body of the animal. The short and wide muzzle has powerful muscles that allow it to grab and hold prey. The multicolored coat provides camouflage to the environment.

The African wild dog is a carnivore and feeds on medium-sized antelopes, gazelles, and other herbivores. They do not compete with hyenas and jackals for food, as they do not eat carrion. Them the only enemies people count.

Black Mamba

The black mamba is a highly venomous snake common in the savannas, rocky and open woodlands of Africa. The snakes of this species grow about 4 m in length and can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h. The black mamba is not actually black in color, but brownish gray, with a light belly and brownish scales on the back. It got its name because of the purple-black color of the inner surface of the mouth.

Black mambas feed on small mammals and birds such as voles, rats, squirrels, mice, etc. A snake can bite a large animal and release it. She will then chase her prey until she is paralyzed. Mamba bites and holds smaller animals, waiting for the action of toxic poison.

Black mambas are very nervous when a person approaches them and try to avoid it in any way. If this is not possible, the snake shows aggression by raising the front of the body and opening its mouth wide. They quickly attack and inject their poison into the victim, and then crawl away. Before antidotes were developed, mamba bites were 100% fatal. However, in order to prevent lethal outcome, the drug should be administered immediately. They dont have natural enemies, and the main threat comes from habitat destruction.

Caracal

- a species of mammal from, widespread in the savannas of Africa. The physique is similar to that of a normal cat, but the caracal is larger and has large ears. Its coat is short, and the color varies from brown to reddish-gray, sometimes even becoming dark. Its head is shaped like an inverted triangle. The ears are black on the outside and light inside, with tufts of black hair at the tips.

They are active at night, mainly preying on small mammals such as rabbits and porcupines, but sometimes large animals such as sheep, young antelopes or deer become their prey. They have special skills for catching birds. Strong legs allow them to jump high enough to actually knock down flying birds with their large paws. The main threat to caracals is people.

bear baboon

Bear baboons live mainly in the African savannah and high mountain meadows. They never stray far from trees or water sources. This species is the largest in the genus of baboons, males can weigh 30-40 kg. They are very hairy animals with olive-grey fur.

Bear baboons do not live in trees, they spend most of their time on the ground. They may climb trees when threatened, for food or to rest. These mainly eat fruits from trees, roots and beetles. Baboons inadvertently feed other animals by throwing or leaving food behind them for others to pick up.

Egyptian mongoose

The Egyptian mongoose is the largest of all mongooses in Africa. Animals are common in scrublands, rocky regions and small areas of the savannah. Adults grow up to 60 cm in length (plus a 33-54 cm tail) and weigh 1.7-4 kg. Egyptian mongooses have long hair, usually gray with brown dots.

They are primarily carnivorous, but will also eat fruit if available in their habitat. Their typical diet consists of rodents, fish, birds, reptiles, insects, and larvae. Egyptian mongooses also feed on the eggs of various animals. These fauna can eat poisonous snakes. They prey on birds of prey and large savannah carnivores. Egyptian mongooses benefit the environment by killing animals (such as rats and snakes) that are considered pests to humans.

Zebra Grant

Grant's zebra is a subspecies of the Burchell's zebra and is widely distributed in the Serengeti Mara. Its height is about 140 cm, and its weight is about 300 kg. This subspecies has quite short legs and a big head. Grant's zebra has black and white stripes all over its body, however the nose and hooves are completely black. Each individual has its own unique color.

The main predators of zebras are hyenas and lions. There are about 300,000 zebras left in the savannah and they are endangered.

a lion

They live in the African savannas south of the Sahara. They eat gazelles, buffaloes, zebras and many other small to medium sized mammals. Lions are the only cats that live in family packs called prides. Each pride includes from 4 to 40 individuals.

The coat color of these animals is ideal for camouflage with the environment. They have sharp, hooked claws that they can retract or extend at will. Lions have sharp teeth which are ideal for biting and chewing meat.

They play an important role in the survival of other animals. When this predator kills its prey and eats it, parts or pieces of the carcass are usually left, which are consumed by vultures and hyenas.

Lions are quite interesting and graceful creatures to watch, however they are endangered due to over-hunting and loss of habitat.

Nile crocodile

The Nile crocodile can grow up to five meters in length and is common in freshwater swamps, rivers, lakes and other watery places. These animals have long snouts that can capture fish and turtles. The body color is dark olive. They are considered the smartest reptiles on earth.

Crocodiles eat almost anything in the water, including fish, turtles, or birds. They even eat buffalo, antelopes, big cats, and sometimes humans when they get the chance.

Nile crocodiles skillfully disguise themselves, leaving only their eyes and nostrils above the water. They also blend well with the color of the water, so for many animals that come to the pond to quench their thirst, these reptiles are a mortal danger. This species is not endangered. They are not threatened by other animals except humans.

African savannah plants

This habitat has become home to a huge number of wild plants. Many representatives of the flora have adapted to grow in long periods of drought. Such plants have long roots, which are able to reach water deep underground; thick bark that can withstand constant fires; trunks that accumulate moisture for use in winter.

Herbs have an adaptation that prevents certain animals from eating them; some are too spicy or bitter for certain species, while others are more than acceptable. The advantage of this adaptation is that each animal species has something to eat. Different species may also consume individual plant parts.

There are many different types of plants in the African savanna and below is a list of some of them:

Acacia Senegal

The Senegalese acacia is a small thorny tree from the legume family. It grows up to 6 m in height and has a trunk diameter of about 30 cm. The dried juice of this tree is gum arabic - a hard transparent resin. This resin is widely used in industry, cooking, watercolor painting, cosmetics, medicine, etc.

Many wild animals feed on the leaves and pods of the Senegalese acacia. Like other legumes, these trees store nitrogen and then enrich poor soils with it.

Baobab

Baobab is found in the savannahs of Africa and India, mostly near the equator. It can grow up to 25 meters in height and live for several thousand years. During the rainy months, water is stored in a thick stem, with roots up to 10 m long, and then used by the plant during the dry winter season.

Almost all parts of the tree are widely used by the locals. The bark of the baobab is used to make cloth and rope, the leaves are used as spices and medicines, and the fruit, called "monkey bread", is eaten in pure form. Sometimes people live in the huge trunks of these trees, and representatives of the Galagidae family (nocturnal primates) live in the crowns of the baobab.

bermuda grass

This plant is also called pig finger. Bermuda grass is widely distributed in warm climates from 45°N. up to 45°S It got its name from an introduction from Bermuda. Grass grows in open areas (pastures, open forests, and gardens) where frequent disturbances to the ecosystem occur, such as animal grazing, floods, and fires.

Bermuda grass is a creeping plant that forms a dense carpet when it touches the soil. It has a deep root system, and in drought conditions, the roots can be underground at a depth of 120-150 cm. The main part of the root is at a depth of 60 cm.

Pigtail is considered a highly invasive and competitive weed. Few herbicides are effective against it. Before the advent of mechanized farming, Bermuda grass was the worst weed for farmers. Nevertheless, it saved a huge amount of agricultural land from erosion. This plant is highly nutritious for cattle and sheep.

elephant grass

Elephant grass grows in the African savanna and reaches a height of 3 m. It is found along lakes and rivers where the soil is rich. Local farmers feed this herb to their animals.

The plant is very invasive and clogs natural waterways that need to be cleared periodically. Elephant grass grows well in tropical climates and can be killed by a slight frost. The underground parts will remain alive if the soil does not freeze.

This herb is used by the locals in cooking, agriculture, construction and as an ornamental plant.

Persimmon loquat

Persimmon medlar is widely distributed throughout the African savannah. It prefers wooded areas where termite mounds are nearby, and is also found along riverbeds and wetlands. In heavy soils, termite mounds provide the tree with aerated and moist soil. Termites do not eat live trees of this species.

This plant can reach 24 m in height, however most trees do not grow that tall, but reach a height of 4 to 6 m. The fruits of the tree are popular with many animals and locals. They can be eaten fresh or canned. The fruits are also dried and ground into flour, and beer is also brewed from them. The leaves, bark and roots of the tree are widely used in traditional medicine.

Mongongo

The mongongo tree prefers a hot and dry climate with little rainfall and is common in wooded hills and sand dunes. This plant reaches a length of 15-20 meters. It has many adaptations that allow it to live in arid environments, including: a moisture-retaining trunk, long roots, and thick bark.

This species is widely distributed throughout the southern savannah. The nuts of this tree are part of daily diet many Africans, and even oil is obtained from them.

Kombretum krasnolistny

Redleaf combretum prefers a warm and dry climate, and grows near rivers. The tree grows from 7 to 12 m in height and has a dense expanding crown. The fruit is poisonous and causes severe seizures hiccups. The tree has straight, long roots because it requires a lot of water to grow.

They feed on its leaves in spring. Parts of this tree are used in medicine and the woodworking industry. Good adaptability, fast growth, dense expanding crown, interesting fruits and attractive leaves make it a popular ornamental tree.

Acacia twisted

Acacia twisted is a tree from the legume family. Its homeland is the African savanna of the Sahel, but the plant can also be found in the Middle East. It is known that the plant can grow in highly alkaline soil, and withstand dry and hot environmental conditions. In addition, trees that reach two years of age, differ in insignificant frost resistance.

The wood of these trees is used in construction and furniture is made from it. Many wild animals feed on the leaves and pods of the acacia tree. Parts of the tree are used by the locals to make jewelry, weapons and tools, as well as in traditional medicine.

Acacia plays an important role in the restoration of degraded drylands, as the tree roots fix nitrogen (the main plant nutrient) in the soil through interaction with symbiotic nodule bacteria.

Acacia sickle-bladed

The sickle-bladed acacia is commonly found in the savannahs of equatorial East Africa, in particular the Serengeti Plain.

This acacia can grow up to 5 m tall and has sharp spikes up to 8 cm long. The hollow spikes can be inhabited by 4 species of ants and they often make tiny holes in them. When the wind blows, the spikes thrown by the ants make a whistling sound.

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Introduction

Today, grassy plains occupy a quarter of all land. They have many different names: steppes - in Asia, llanos - in the Orinoco basin, veld - in Central Africa, savanna - in the eastern part of the African continent. All these areas are very fertile. Individual plants live up to several years, and when they die, they turn into humus. Hiding among the tall grasses leguminous plants, vetch, daisies and small flowers.

The name "grass" combines a wide variety of plants. This family is perhaps the largest in the entire plant kingdom, it includes more than ten thousand species. Herbs are the product of a long evolution; they are able to survive fires, droughts, floods, so they only need abundance sunlight. Their flowers, small and inconspicuous, are collected in small inflorescences at the top of the stem and are pollinated by the wind without requiring the services of birds, bats or insects.

Savannah is a community of tall grasses and woodlands with low to medium sized, fire resistant trees. It is the result of the interaction of two factors, namely soil and rainfall.

The value of the savanna lies in the preservation rare species animals and plants. Therefore, the study of the African savannas is relevant.

The object of study is the African savannas

The subject of the study is the study natural features African savannas.

This term paper is a comprehensive study of the types of African savannas.

The main tasks of the work are the following:

1. Consider geographical location African savannas.

2. Study the animal and vegetable world savannah

3. Consider Features different types African savannas.

4. Consider modern environmental problems and ways to solve them in the savannas.

General characteristics of the savannas of Africa

Geographical location and climatic features of the African savannas

Savannah is a zonal type of landscape in tropical and subequatorial belts, where the change of the wet and dry seasons of the year is clearly expressed, while high temperatures air (15-32°C). As you move away from the equator, the period of the wet season decreases from 8-9 months to 2-3, and precipitation - from 2000 to 250 mm per year. The violent development of plants in the rainy season is replaced by droughts of the dry period with a slowdown in the growth of trees, grass burning out. As a result, a combination of tropical and subtropical drought-resistant xerophytic vegetation is characteristic. Some plants are able to store moisture in the trunks (baobab, bottle tree). The grasses are dominated by tall grasses up to 3-5 m, among them are sparsely growing shrubs and single trees, the occurrence of which increases towards the equator as the wet season lengthens to light forests.

Vast spaces of these amazing natural communities are found in Africa, although there are savannahs in South America, both in Australia and India. The savannah is the most widespread and most characteristic landscape in Africa. The savannah zone surrounds the Central African rain forest with a wide belt. a tropical forest. in the north with tropical forest the Guinean-Sudanese savannas border, stretching in a strip 400-500 km wide for almost 5000 km from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, interrupted only by the White Nile valley. From the Tana River, savannas in a belt up to 200 km wide descend south to the valley of the Zambezi River. Then the savannah belt turns to the west and, now narrowing, now expanding, extends for 2500 km from the shores of the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic coast.

The forests in the frontier strip are gradually thinned out, their composition becomes poorer, patches of savannas appear among the massifs of continuous forest. Gradually the tropical rainforest is limited to only river valleys, and on the watersheds they are replaced by forests shedding leaves for the dry season, or savannahs. Vegetation change occurs as a result of a shortening of the wet period and the appearance of a dry season, which becomes longer and longer as one moves away from the equator.

The savannah zone from northern Kenya to the sea coast of Angola is the largest plant community on our planet in terms of area, occupying at least 800 thousand km 2. If we add another 250 thousand km2 of the Guinean-Sudanese savanna, it turns out that more than a million square kilometers of the Earth's surface is occupied by a special natural complex- African savanna.

A distinctive feature of the savannas is the alternation of dry and wet seasons, which take about half a year, replacing each other. The fact is that for the subtropical and tropical latitudes, where the savannahs are located, the change of two different air masses is characteristic - humid equatorial and dry tropical. Monsoon winds, bringing seasonal rains, significantly affect the climate of the savannahs. Since these landscapes are located between the very humid natural zones of the equatorial forests and the very dry zones of the deserts, they are constantly influenced by both. But moisture is not long enough present in the savannahs for multi-tiered forests to grow there, and dry "winter periods" of 2-3 months do not allow the savannah to turn into a harsh desert.

The annual rhythm of the life of the savannas is associated with climatic conditions. During the wet period, the riot of grassy vegetation reaches its maximum - the entire space occupied by savannahs turns into a living carpet of herbs. The picture is violated only by thickly low trees - acacias and baobabs in Africa, fan palms of Ravenal in Madagascar, cacti in South America, and in Australia - bottle trees and eucalyptus trees. The soils of the savannas are fertile. During the rainy period, when the equatorial air mass, and the earth and plants receive enough moisture to feed the numerous animals that live here.

But now the monsoon leaves, and dry tropical air takes its place. Now the time for testing begins. Grasses grown to human height are dried up, trampled down by numerous animals moving from place to place in search of water. Grasses and shrubs are very susceptible to fire, which often burns large areas. This is also “helped” by the indigenous people who make a living by hunting: by specially setting fire to the grass, they drive their prey in the direction they need. People did this for many centuries and greatly contributed to the fact that the vegetation of the savannas acquired modern features: an abundance of fire-resistant trees with thick bark, like baobabs, a wide distribution of plants with a powerful root system.

The dense and high grass cover provides abundant food for the largest animals, such as elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, zebras, antelopes, which in turn attract such large predators like lions, hyenas and others. The largest birds live in the savannas - the ostrich in Africa and the South American condor.

Thus, the Savannahs in Africa occupy 40% of the continent. Savannahs border forest areas Equatorial Africa and extend through the Sudan, East and South Africa beyond the southern tropic. Depending on the duration of the rainy season and the annual amount of precipitation, tall grass, typical (dry) and desert savannas are distinguished in them.

In savannah areas:

The duration of the rainy period ranges from 8-9 months at the equatorial borders of the zones to 2-3 months at the outer borders;

The water content of rivers fluctuates sharply; in the rainy season, there is a significant solid runoff, slope and planar runoff.

In parallel with the decrease in annual precipitation, the vegetation cover changes from tall grass savannas and savanna forests on red soils to desert savannas, xerophilic light forests and shrubs on brown-red and red-brown soils.

savannah africa climatic geographic

With characteristic herbaceous vegetation and small patches of trees and shrubs, it is called savannah.

African savannahs occupy more than 40% of the area of ​​the continent. They are distinguished by diverse fauna and flora. Moreover, according to scientists, this is one of the most environmentally friendly regions of the planet.

Climate

African savannahs are warm tropical climate. Pronounced dry winter period. average temperature the hottest month is +30 °C and above, in the most cold month the temperature does not fall below +18 °C. Precipitation falls no more than 2500 mm per year.

African savanna soil

In this region, the conditions for the development of plants are difficult - the soil practically does not contain nutrients(or very few). During a drought, it dries up so much that deep cracks appear on the surface and fires often start. During the wet season, the soil becomes waterlogged.

African savanna vegetation

To survive, savannah trees have acquired certain specific properties that protect them from drought and heat. The brightest representative of the savannah flora is the baobab. The diameter of its trunk often reaches 8 meters. In height, this giant grows up to 25 meters.

The thick trunk of the baobab and the bark are able to accumulate moisture like a sponge. Long and powerful roots absorb moisture from the depths of the soil. Africans learned to use the shoots and leaves of the baobab for food, and to make various tools from the bark.

Despite not the most favorable conditions, the flora of the savannah (Africa and other continents) is quite diverse. Here there are plants that have adapted better than others to a drought that lasts more than one month.

Herbs

The savannah is very dense and juicy grass. For example, elephant, which has huge leaves up to 50 cm long and a stem of about two meters. In addition, aloe and wild asparagus, as well as many cereal plants, feel quite comfortable here.

sausage tree

Very unusual (for a European) is the sausage tree growing in these places. It got its name due to unusual fruits that grow up to 50 cm in length. According to local residents, they are used in the treatment of rheumatism and syphilis. In addition, it is a mandatory attribute in rituals to exorcise evil spirits.

Looking at the photo of the African savannah, you can see that there are many different palm trees in these areas. And indeed it is. There are several types of such trees.

In addition, the plant world is rich in thorny bushes, mimosa - a favorite delicacy of giraffes.

It should be noted that during the period of drought in the savannah, all vegetation seems to freeze: often during this period the trees completely shed their leaves, the grass sometimes completely burns out under the hot sun. There are frequent fires from which the vegetation suffers.

But when the rainy season comes, it comes to life again. Fresh juicy grass appears, various plants bloom.

Animals of Africa (savannas)

The vast expanses of the savannah are inhabited by many representatives of the fauna that have come to these lands due to migration phenomena, which are primarily associated with a change climatic conditions on the ground.

Millions of years ago, Africa was covered with rain forests, but gradually the climate became drier, and therefore huge areas of the forest disappeared forever. Their place was taken by light forests and fields overgrown with grassy vegetation. In turn, this contributed to the emergence of new animals that were looking for favorable conditions for life. According to scientists, the first to come here from the jungle were giraffes, followed by followers of elephants, antelopes of various species, monkeys and other herbivores. It is quite natural that predators - servals, cheetahs, lions, jackals and others - followed them into the savannah.

Antelopes and zebras

The appearance of the wildebeest is so peculiar that it is difficult to confuse it with another animal - a dense and short body on disproportionately thin legs, a heavy head decorated with sharp horns and a mane, a fluffy tail. Next to them there are always small herds of cute African horses - zebras.

giraffes

Photos of the savannah of Africa, which we see in textbooks, brochures of travel companies, necessarily show us one of the typical representatives of the fauna of these places - giraffes. Once the number of these animals was very large, but they were the first to suffer from the white colonists - they made coverings for wagons from their skins. Now giraffes are under protection, but their number is small.

elephants

They are the largest land animals in Africa. Savannahs are unimaginable without huge steppe elephants. They differ from their forest counterparts in powerful tusks and wider ears. By the beginning of the 21st century, the number of elephants had greatly decreased, but thanks to conservation measures and the creation of nature reserves, today there are more elephants than in the last century.

Rhinos

The fate of the white and inhabiting the African savannah causes serious concern for scientists. Their horns cost four times as much as elephant tusks. Therefore, they are the most desirable prey for poachers. Only those created in helped save these animals from complete extermination.

lions

African savannas are inhabited by many predators. Unconditional superiority among them have lions. They live in groups (prides). They include adults and juveniles. In prides, responsibilities are clearly distributed - young and mobile lionesses provide the family with food, and males protect the territory.

Leopards and cheetahs

These predators are a little similar to each other in appearance, but differ in their way of life. The main prey of the cheetah is the gazelle. The leopard is a universal hunter, he successfully hunts for wild pigs), baboons, small antelopes.

Hyenas

There are many insects and worms in the grass and soil, so the savannah fauna is distinguished by a large number of birds. They flock here from all over the world. The most common are storks, red-billed quillies, vultures, marabou, vultures, horned crows, etc. The largest and, perhaps, one of the most beautiful birds in the world, ostriches, live in the savannas.

The picture of the animal world of the African continent would be incomplete if we did not mention termites. These insects have dozens of species. Their buildings are a characteristic element of the savannah landscape.

It should be noted that animals are very revered in Africa. After all, it is not for nothing that their images can be seen on the emblems of many African states: a lion - the Congo and Kenya, a zebra - Botswana, an elephant - Ivory Coast.

The fauna of the African savannah has developed over the centuries as an independent entity. The degree of adaptability of animals to specific conditions is unusually high. It can be attributed to a strict division according to the method of nutrition and the composition of the feed. Some use the shoots of young shrubs, others use the bark, others use the buds and buds of plants. In addition, different animals take the same shoots from different heights.

Conclusion

The savannah of South Africa is a place where diametrically opposed landscapes and amazing ecosystems combine in an amazing way. The harsh struggle for life in these places is in amazing harmony with the luxurious nature, and the richness of flora and fauna - with attractive exoticism and African flavor.

Savannas occupy almost 40% of the area of ​​the African continent. They are located around the evergreen equatorial forests.

In the north, the equatorial forests are bordered by the Guinean-Sudanese savannah, which stretches for 5,000 thousand kilometers from the Western shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the Eastern shores of the Indian Ocean. From Kenya's Tana River, the savannah extends into the southern parts of Africa to the Zambezi Valley, then, turning west for 2,500 kilometers, runs all the way to the Atlantic coast.

Animal world

The African savanna is a completely unique phenomenon in terms of the diversity of large animals. No other point the globe you will not find such an abundance of wild animals.

Back in the late 19th century, nothing threatened the wild inhabitants of the savannas. But at the beginning of the 20th century, with the arrival of European colonialists who were armed firearms, the mass shooting of herbivores began. The countless herds that roamed the vast expanses of the animal savannah began to decline sharply. Their numbers have dropped to a minimum.

Compromise between economic activity human and a unique diversity of the animal world was found. And it was embodied in the creation of national parks on the territory of the savannas. Numerous predators are found here: lions, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards. From herbivores live zebras, blue wildebeest, gazelles, impalas, huge eland heavyweights. Of the rare antelopes, you can meet oryx and inhabitants of the kudu bush savannah. The real decoration of the African savannas are elephants and giraffes.

Vegetable world

The vegetation cover of these places is rich and varied. The savannah is located in the subequatorial belt, for nine months there is a rainy season, which contributes to the intensive growth of a wide variety of plants.

Baobab is a typical representative of the tree world. The trunk wood of this tree is saturated with moisture, which allows the Baobab to survive even during heavy fires during the dry season. A variety of palm trees, mimosa, acacia, and thorny bushes also grow here.

Savannahs are located in the subequatorial belt on both sides of the equator on all continents except Antarctica and North America. Savannah is characterized by the presence of two climatic seasons: dry and rainy. And, as a rule, it is located on high platforms with a sharply continental climate. Where there is not enough moisture for variable forests, savanna appears.

Where are savannas located and what are they called in different parts of the world?

Savannah in Africa

Most often, the African steppe-like zone is called the savannah. The word "savannah" is the Spanish word "sabana", which is distorted in the English manner, which means treeless space. A typical savannah zone in Africa is the territory of Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Ghana, Mali, Angola, Zambia and several other smaller states. Vegetation and animal world vary greatly from north to south. If on the border with the Sahara this is a huge grassy space with rare baobabs, then closer to the equator there is an abundance of shrubs, and the floodplains of the rivers are densely occupied by trees.

Where are the savannahs in Australia?

Savannah here is called "bush", which means bush. Indeed, unlike our steppes, in the savannah southern mainland a significant part is occupied by shrubs and groups of trees. The savannah area is the north of the country.

Where are the savannahs in South America?

Here the savannah is called the pampa. And it has a difference not only in the name, but also in natural expression. For example, in Brazil, the savannah is a light and very rare forest, and you can move freely in it in any direction. But the real territory of the pampas is Argentina. Probably, many have heard about fat herds of many thousands grazing in this territory. In the USA it would be called a prairie.

India also has savannas, but they have a slightly different specificity associated with the powerful influence of the Indian Ocean.

The season in the savannah is divided into rainy and dry for about half a year each. And if, during a drought, grasses as tall as human beings dry up, and some animal species fall into symbiosis, then during the rainy period there are whole floods.

Fires often occur in the savannah, largely because of people. The fact is that hunters from time immemorial drove prey simply by setting fire to grass. Therefore, in the African savannah, vegetation remained exclusively with fire-resistant seeds and bark, for example, like the baobab.