South Africa: the climate and its features

South Africa belongs to those rare corners on our planet, where not every tourist gets. But dream of such a journey, almost everyone who knows the call of wanderings and the scent of scorched earth under the sun. Although South Africa, whose climate is very diverse, can give not only sunny days, but rainy weeks, when everything around for many kilometers is under the influence of bad weather.

South Africa: geographical location

South Africa is a fairly young state, to date it has not yet turned 100 years old. But the history of this place is truly unique and belongs to the most ancient on the planet.

South Africa is located on the southern part of the African continent and extends to more than one million square kilometers. In this territory are located nine provinces and three capitals. Few people know that the Republic of South Africa is one of the richest countries in the world. Here there are deposits of manganese, diamonds and gold, and the diversity of flora and fauna can be envied by recognized leaders in the list of recommended countries to visit.

Such a variety of plants and animals, many of which are truly unique, provided a climate for South Africa. He surprisingly preserved rare plant species that can not be found anywhere else on the planet and provided a comfortable life for many species of animals.

Climate of South Africa: briefly about the main

If you talk briefly about the climate of the Republic of South Africa, the most important thing that needs to be mentioned is the number of climatic zones. On the territory of the state there are twenty of them, like this is not found in any other country in the world! These amazing features of the South African climate have provided the state with an influx of tourists who several years ago were able to assess the recreational opportunities in the Republic of South Africa. After all, for one trip you can easily cross several climatic zones and live to see rare species of animals.

South Africa: nature and climate

The territory of South Africa is washed by the waters of two oceans, which significantly affects the climate of the state. The Indian Ocean brings warm subtropical air, but the Atlantic contributes to the formation of hot and dry air masses over the greater half of the Republic of South Africa. In general, the climate in the country can be characterized as moderate, which is very unusual for such a geographical situation. But do not forget that South Africa is high enough above sea level and is often exposed to the influence of fresh ocean breezes. This feature makes it easy to carry even summer heat, exceeding thirty-five degrees Celsius.

The twenty climatic zones existing in South Africa can be divided into:

• tropics;
• subtropics;
• The Mediterranean.

The east of the country is characterized by high humidity and high average annual temperatures, which is very similar to the subtropical climate of the Asian continent. North of South Africa can be safely attributed to a tropical climate with a lot of precipitation, but the south is just a Mediterranean paradise. Here often come tourists from Europe, surprised by quite pleasant and comfortable climatic conditions.

Climate of South Africa: interesting features

For those who come to South Africa for the first time, the climate is capable of presenting many surprises and surprises. For example, the spread of average annual temperatures in different parts of the country is quite surprising. It can reach up to ten or twelve degrees, which is absolutely impossible in other states.

Winter and summer in South Africa are opposite to the usual seasons for residents of Europe and Asia. From October to April in the country the summer lasts, and from May the winter period begins. And spring and autumn fly almost unnoticed, they are very short. Usually the off-season does not last more than two to three weeks. The average monthly summer temperature is twenty-five degrees above zero Celsius, in winter, especially in the desert, the thermometer can be lowered to zero. During the daytime, even in winter, the air warms up quickly, which allows tourists to visit South Africa at any time of the year.

The influence of climate on the flora and fauna of South Africa

A large area of South Africa is given to national parks and reserves. They are not allowed to hunt, and ideal conditions for the active life of animals have been created. Tourists coming to the African continent are sure to go on a safari to see the lions, elephants and rhinos in their natural habitat. They feel great in the conditions of a large number of climatic zones and after the ban on their shooting was introduced, they significantly increased their population.

For botanists, South Africa is simply a paradise, because many of the houseplants known to us were taken to Europe from here. To date, the country boasts the largest number of endemic plants in the world. Now there are more than five thousand species that are not found anywhere else in nature. This fact makes the South African climate really special.

Of great interest for scientists is the silver flower, which is the symbol of the country. The fact is that it is found only in the territory of South Africa. The climate of the country has an amazing effect on this plant. On the one hand, climatic conditions allow the flower to grow within a single habitat, but on the other hand, the climate does not allow the spread of this plant throughout the territory of the Republic of South Africa.