Savannah and woodlands: features of the natural zone

Knowing the elementary basics from the lessons of geography, the majority of pupils unanimously say that savannah and woodlands are the same natural zone as the taiga, steppe, tundra, desert, etc. This article is intended to give a more definite and clear concept of the savannah and Woodlands.

Geographical position

So, savannah and woodlands is a natural zone, which can be found only in certain geographical belts. They are widely distributed in the subequatorial belts in both hemispheres, also small areas are located in the subtropics and tropics. More precisely, they are located territorially on almost half of the African continent (about 40% of the total area). The savannah and woodlands are also very common in South America, in the northern and eastern parts of Asia (for example, in Indochina), and also in Australia.

Most often these are places with insufficient moisture for the normal growth of moist forests. Usually they begin their "development" in the depths of the continent.

A zone of savannas and woodlands. Features of climate

For most natural zones, the main reason for the characteristics of the animal, plant world, and soil conditions is, first of all, the climate, but directly the temperature regime and temperature changes (both diurnal and seasonal).

Proceeding from the above described features of the geographic location of the savannahs, it is reasonable to conclude that for all seasons of the year, hot weather is typical here, with dry tropical air in winter, and in summer, on the contrary, the wet equatorial air prevails. Removing these territories from the equatorial belt, respectively, affects the reduction of the rainy season to a minimum of 2-3 months with a typical 8-9. Relatively stable are seasonal temperature differences - the maximum difference is the limit of 20 degrees. However, the daily difference is very high - it can reach a difference of as much as 25 degrees.

Soils

The soil condition, its fertility directly depend on the duration of the rain period and is characterized by increased leachability. So, closer to the equator and equatorial forests, the natural zone of savannas and woodlands, namely their soil, is characterized by a huge content of red soils. In areas where the rainy season lasts for 7-9 months, most of the soils are ferralite. Places with rain seasons in 6 months or less are "rich" with savannah red-brown soils. In poorly irrigated areas with rains falling from only two to three months, poorly suitable soils with a very thin layer of humus (humus) are formed - up to 3-5% as much as possible.

Even soils such as savannahs have found their application in human activities - the most suitable of them are used for grazing livestock, as well as for growing different crops, but due to improper use, the already depleted areas turn into exhausted and deserted areas incapable of Further though somehow to support both people, and animals.

Flora and fauna

To survive in such changeable conditions, animals need to adapt to the zone, as, indeed, in all other regions. Savannah and woodlands surprise the richest fauna. In Africa, for example, savannahs are inhabited mostly by mammals: giraffes, rhinoceroses, elephants, wildebeest, hyenas, cheetahs, lions, zebras, etc. On the territory of South America there are anteaters, battleships, ostriches, etc. Numerous And the number of birds is a well-known bird secretary, African ostriches, nectar, marabu, etc. In Australia, "inhabitants" of savannahs and sparse forests are kangaroos, their marsupials, wild dingoes. Herbivores during the drought migrate to areas better provided with water and food, on the way to which, at times, they themselves become the objects of hunting for the majority of predators (and man too). Distributed in savannahs and termites.

Describing the flora of such a natural zone as savannah and woodlands, it is impossible not to mention the baobabs - amazing trees, like camels accumulating water in their trunk. Also, acacia, epiphytes, palm trees, kebracho, tree-like cacti, etc. are often encountered. During the drought, many of them turn yellow, wither, but with the arrival of rains the whole environment seems to be reborn and again gives the opportunity for the arrived animals to gain strength and prepare for another drought .