Savannah and woodlands of Eurasia, Africa, North and South America

Savannas and woodlands occur, as a rule, in subequatorial belts. These zones are found in both hemispheres. But areas of savannas can be found in the subtropics and the tropics. A number of features are characteristic for this zone. The climate in the savannah is always seasonally wet. There is a clear change in the periods of drought and rain. It is this seasonal rhythm that determines all natural processes. Ferlallite soils are characteristic of light forests and savannas. The vegetation of these zones is rare, with separately standing groups of trees.

The climate of the savannah

Savannah and woodlands have climatic features. First, it is a clear, rhythmic change of two periods: droughts and torrential rains. Each of the seasons, as a rule, lasts about six months. Secondly, for the savanna is characterized by a change in air masses. The wet equatorial comes after a dry tropical. The climate is also affected by frequent monsoon winds. They bring seasonal heavy rains. Savannahs are almost always located between dry desert zones and wet equatorial forests. Therefore, these landscapes are constantly experiencing the influence of both zones. It is important to note that moisture does not last long enough in these areas. Therefore, multi-tiered forests do not grow here. But relatively short winter periods do not allow savannah to turn into a desert.

Soil Savannah

The savannah and woodlands are characterized by a predominance of red-brown, as well as fused black soils. They differ primarily in the low content of humic masses. Soils are saturated with bases, so their pH is close to neutral. They are not fertile. In the lower part, glandular concretions can be found in some profiles. The average thickness of the upper earthen layer is approximately 2 meters. In the region of predominance of red-brown soils, a dark-colored montmorillonite soil appears in the places where the relief is lowered. Especially often such combinations can be found in the Deccan plateau in its southern part.

Savannah of Australia

Savannah and light forests of Australia occupy a significant area of the mainland. They are concentrated in the northern part of the continent. They also occupy large areas on the island of New Guinea, capturing almost the entire southern part. The Australian savannah has its differences. It does not resemble either the African or the South American. During the rainy season, its entire territory is covered with bright flowering plants. Here dominate the family of buttercup, orchid and lily. Also in this zone are often found cereals.

For the Australian savannah, woody plants are also characteristic. First of all, eucalypts, casuaries and acacia. They are concentrated by separately standing groups. Casuarins have very interesting leaves. They consist of separate segments and resemble pine needles. In this area there are also interesting trees with thickened trunks. In them they accumulate the necessary moisture. Because of this feature they are called "bottle trees". The presence of such peculiar plants makes the Australian savanna unique.

Savannah of Africa

Savannah and light forests of Africa from the north and the south border on tropical forests. The nature here is unique. In the border zone, the forests gradually thin out, their composition becomes noticeably poorer. And among the continuous forest mass there is a patch of savannah. Such changes in vegetation are due to the reduction in the period of rains and the increase in the dry season. As the distance from the equatorial zone, the drought becomes more and more prolonged.

There is a well-documented opinion that such a wide spread of high-grass savannas, which are replaced by mixed deciduous and evergreen forests, is directly related to human economic activity. For a long time in these areas, vegetation was constantly burned out. Therefore, the inevitable disappearance of a closed woody stage occurred. This contributed to the arrival on these lands of numerous herds of ungulate mammals. As a result, the restoration of woody vegetation has become almost impossible.

Savannah and woodlands of Eurasia

In Eurasia, savannahs are not common. They are found only on most of the peninsula of Hindustan. Also, woodlands can be found on the territory of Indochina. In these places the monsoon climate prevails. In European savannahs, lonely acacias and palms grow mostly. Herbs are usually high. Places can be found in the forest. Savannah and woodlands of Eurasia are different from African and South American. The main animals in these territories are elephants, tigers, antelopes. There is also an abundance of different species of reptiles. Rare areas of forests are deciduous trees. During the dry season, they shed their leaves.

Savannah and woodlands of North America

The savannah zone in North America is not as widespread as in Australia and Africa. Open areas of woodlands are mainly occupied by grassy grassy species. High grass alternates with small scattered groves.

The most common species of wood that characterize the savannah and woodlands of North America are mimosa and acacia. During the dry season, these trees shed their foliage. Herbs dry up. But in the rainy season savannahs bloom. From year to year the area of woodlands only increases. The main reason is the active economic activity of man. Savannahs are formed on the site of the felled forest. The animal world of these zones is much poorer than on other continents. Here there are some species of ungulates, pumas, rodents and a large number of snakes and lizards.

Savannah of South America

Savannah and woodlands of South America border on tropical forests. Due to climate change, which is associated with the emergence of a prolonged drought season, these zones shift one into another. The highlands of Brazil on a large part of it are savannahs. They are concentrated mainly in the interior regions. Here you can find a strip of almost pure palm forest.

Savannah and woodlands also occupy large areas in the Orinoco lowland. They exist in the areas of the Guiana Highlands. In Brazil, typical savannahs are known more as "campos". Vegetation here is represented mainly by cereal species. Also there are many representatives of the family of Compositae and legumes. Wood forms are completely absent in places. Here and there you can still find remote sites of small thickets of mimosa. Still here grow tree-like cacti, milkweed and other succulents and xerophytes.

Brazilian kaatinga

Savannahs and woodlands in the northeast of Brazil are represented by a thin forest, in which mostly drought-resistant shrubs and trees grow. This area is called "kaatinga". The soils here are reddish-brown. But the trees are of more interest. In the dry period of the year, many of them dump leaves, but there are also species that have an inflated trunk. In it, the plant accumulates a sufficient amount of moisture. Such species include, for example, a cotton wool. The trees of kaatinga cover lianas and other epiphytic plants. There are several species of palms in these areas. The most famous of them is the carnauba wax palm. From it, vegetable wax is obtained.