Climate of Central Africa. Republic of South Africa Average temperature in South Africa

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

geographical position

South Africa is a fairly young state, today it is not even a hundred years old. But the history of this place is truly unique and belongs to the most ancient on the planet.

South Africa is located in the southern part of the African continent and extends over more than one million square kilometers. Nine provinces and three capitals are located in this territory. Few people know that South African Republic is one of the richest countries in the world. There are deposits of manganese, diamonds and gold, and the recognized leaders in the list of countries recommended for visiting can envy the diversity of flora and fauna.

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

The climate of South Africa: briefly about the main

If we talk briefly about the climate of the Republic of South Africa, then the most important thing to mention is the amount climatic zones. There are twenty of them on the territory of the state, this does not occur in any other country in the world! These amazing features of the climate of South Africa provided the state with an influx of tourists, who a few years ago were able to appreciate the possibilities of recreation in the Republic of South Africa. After all, in one trip you can easily cross several climatic zones and see rare species of animals live.

South Africa: nature and climate

The territory of South Africa is washed by the waters of two oceans at once, which significantly affects the climate of the state. The Indian Ocean brings warm subtropical air, while the Atlantic contributes to the formation of hot and dry air masses over most of South Africa. In general, the climate in the country can be described as moderate, which is very unusual for such geographical location. But do not forget that South Africa is quite high above sea level and is often influenced by fresh ocean breezes. This feature makes it easy to endure even summer heat exceeding thirty-five degrees Celsius.

The twenty climatic zones that exist in South Africa can be roughly divided into:

• tropics;
• subtropics;
• mediterranean.

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

The climate of South Africa: interesting features

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

Winter and summer in South Africa are the opposite of the usual seasons for residents of Europe and Asia. Summer lasts from October to April in the country, and from May begins winter period. Moreover, spring and autumn fly by almost imperceptibly, they are very short. Usually the off-season does not last more than two or three weeks. The average monthly summer temperature is twenty-five degrees above zero Celsius, in winter, especially in the desert, the thermometer can drop to zero. In 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 territory of South Africa is given over to national parks and reserves. It is forbidden to hunt in them, and ideal conditions are created for active life animals. Tourists who come to the African continent try to go on a safari to see the lions, elephants and rhinos in their natural environment a habitat. They feel great in a large number of climatic zones, and after a ban on their shooting was introduced, they significantly increased their population.

For botanists, South Africa is simply a paradise, because many known to us houseplants were exported to Europe from here. Today, 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 climate of South Africa really special.

Of great interest to scientists is the silver flower, which is the symbol of the country. The fact is that it is found only in South Africa. The climate of the country surprisingly affects this plant. On the one hand, climatic conditions allow the flower to grow within one habitat zone, but on the other hand, it is the climate that does not allow the possibility of spreading this plant throughout the territory of the Republic of South Africa.

Characteristic

The country's climatic conditions vary from Mediterranean in the southwestern part to temperate in the central part of the country and subtropical in the northeast. A small area in the northwest has a desert climate. The area is characterized by warm, sunny days and cold nights. Precipitation usually falls in summer period(November to March) while southwest to Cape Town in winter (June to August). The air temperature here depends on the height of the terrain, sea level, ocean currents and latitude. average temperature in some areas exceeds +32ºC in summer, and sometimes reaches +38ºC in the north of the country. The absolute maximum is recorded in the provinces of the North Cape and Mpumalanga and is +48ºC. Negative temperatures occur in the mountains at high altitudes in winter. Absolute minimum was recorded at 250 km. northeast of Cape Town, where the average annual temperature is: - 6.1ºC.

Extreme natural phenomena

Impact on climate

Climatic conditions vary greatly between western and eastern part countries. From the east, the South African coast is washed by the warm current of Cape Agulhas (Indian Ocean), from the west by the cold Benguela Current (Atlantic Ocean). Air temperature in Durban, on the coast indian ocean, on average nearly 6 °C warmer than the air temperature at the same latitude on the coast Atlantic Ocean. The influence of these two currents can be seen even on the narrow peninsula of the Cape of Good Hope, where water temperatures average 4 °C higher on the east side than on the west.

Precipitation

Rainfall varies greatly from west to east. In the northwest, annual rainfall is often below 200 millimetres. Most of the eastern regions, on the contrary, receive between 500 millimeters and 900 millimeters of precipitation per year, and sometimes the amount of precipitation there exceeds 2000 mm. central part The country receives an average of 400 mm of precipitation per year, this figure increases as you approach the coast. An indicator of 400 mm of precipitation per year is considered a conditional line; areas to the east of it are generally suitable for growing crops, and to the west only for grazing and irrigated crops.

Air temperature

The average annual temperature in Cape Town is 17ºC, and in Pretoria 17.5ºC, although these cities are separated from each other by almost ten degrees of latitude. It is often believed that the coldest place in the country is Sutherland in the west of the Roggeveld Range, where temperatures can reach -15 ° in winter, but in fact the most low temperatures attested at Beffelsfontein (Eastern Cape): −18.6°. Most high temperatures occur inland: in the Kalahari near Upington, a temperature of 51.7°C was recorded in 1948.

Notes

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

See what the "Climate of the Republic of South Africa" ​​is in other dictionaries:

Climate - get an active 220 Volt coupon at Academician or buy a favorable climate at a low price at a sale of 220 Volts

Main article: South Africa ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see South Africa. Republic of South Africa Republic of South Africa Republiek van Suid Afrika1 ... Wikipedia

South Africa (Republic van Suid Afrika, Republic of South Africa). I. General information South Africa is a state in the extreme south of Africa. It borders in the north with Botswana and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), in the north with Mozambique and Swaziland, in the north with ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia- (South Africa) (Afrikaans Republiek van Suid Afrika; English Republic of South Africa) a state in southern Africa. 1.2 million km². population 40.7 million people (1993), including Africans (76%; Zulu, Xhosa, etc.), mestizos (9%), immigrants from Europe (13%), mainly ... ... Big encyclopedic Dictionary

- (South Africa) (Afrikaans Republiek van Suid Afrika; English Republic of South Africa), a state in southern Africa. 1.2 million km2. The population is 41.7 million people (1996), including Africans (76%; Zulu, Xhosa, etc.), mestizos (9%), immigrants from Europe (13%), mainly ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Coordinates: 28°37′00″ S sh. 24°20′00″ in. d ... Wikipedia

People's Republic of Mozambique, state in South East Africa. In 1498, the Portuguese landed on the island near the north. east coast of the country and named it Mozambique after the local Sultan Musa Ben Mbika. A settlement arose on the island, also called Mozambique ... Geographic Encyclopedia

The climate of South Africa is temperate a large number sunny days in a year. The main factors influencing it are the height above sea level and the oceans surrounding the country. More than 75% of the territory is located above 600 m above sea level, 50% of the territory is located at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,600 m. Only a narrow coastal strip does not exceed 500 m above sea level. At the same time, each 1,000 m lowers the temperature by an average of 6 ˚С.

The coast of the country is washed by the waters of two oceans at once: the Atlantic Ocean brings cold air, and the Indian Ocean brings warm air. Due to the fact that South Africa is often affected by the ocean breeze, summer heat, often exceeding +35 ˚С, is tolerated quite easily.

Rainfall is distributed unevenly throughout the country. In the northwest it does not exceed 200 mm per year, in the central part 400 mm per year, and in the east the amount of precipitation ranges from 500 to 900 mm per year.

There are 20 climatic zones in South Africa. They are conditionally divided into tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean zones. The east of the country can be attributed to the subtropical climate, the north - to the tropical, and the south - to the Mediterranean.

For those who come here for the first time, the climate of South Africa can bring some surprises. One of them is a strong variation in daytime temperatures in different parts of the state. The difference can be up to +10 - +12 ˚С, which is not typical for other countries. Summer and winter are in different time compared with European countries. They correspond to dry and wet seasons. Summer lasts from October to April and winter from May to September. The off-season (autumn and spring) passes almost imperceptibly, as it is very short (does not exceed 2-3 weeks a year).

Dry season (May - September)

Throughout the winter there is virtually no rainfall and the humidity is very low.

• May: temperature during the day is about +26 ˚С, in the morning +10 ˚С.

• June - August: it gets colder, during the day from +23 to 25 ˚С, in the morning +6 ˚С.

• September: the temperature gradually rises, in the daytime up to +28 ˚С, in the morning up to +12 ˚С, the first rains occur.

Wet season (October - April)

On the coast of the Indian Ocean, high humidity, the temperature reaches +30 ˚С. It is very hot in the Kalahari Desert - up to +40 ˚С. Summer rains usually pass during the day.

• October - November: it becomes warmer, the first rains begin, the temperature during the day is up to +28 ˚С, in the morning up to +15 ˚С.

• December - February: the most wet months, during the day about +29 ˚С.

• March - April: the intensity of the rain subsides, it becomes colder, in the daytime up to +28 ˚С, in the morning up to +15 ˚С.

South Africa- a highly developed country, a piece of Europe on the African continent. Well thought out tourist infrastructure, high level population life and a stable economy - not quite typical for Africa, is it? But in South Africa, it's all real. And even the climate here is conducive to itself: a comfortable air temperature almost all year round, a warm ocean, and even opportunities for extreme skiing create optimal conditions for recreation. It would seem like heaven on earth? But even in paradise there are weather quirks that you should prepare for before the trip.

Climatic zones of South Africa

The climate in South Africa is surprisingly mild. There are no extreme temperature peaks here. Although the country is located on the African continent, and there is a desert on its territory, unbearable heat is rare here.

The location in the southern hemisphere makes the climate of South Africa directly opposite to the European one: winter - in summer, summer - in winter.

Geographically, South Africa is located in the tropics, but the weather on its territory is determined more by the influence of oceanic air masses, and only partly by relief.

South Africa is the only country on the African continent with such a diverse population. 1/3 of local residents are ethnic Europeans.

AT winter time the country is dry hot weather. The area of ​​high atmospheric pressure creates optimal conditions for visiting. In summer it gets hotter due to the influence of air masses from the Indian Ocean, which bring the rainy season.

The climatic zones of South Africa can be divided as follows:

• West Coast. The cold Bengal current in the Atlantic Ocean has the main influence on the formation of the climate in the western part of the country. Here is the Namib Desert and the city of Cape Town. There are very few rainfalls. For several years, not a single rain may fall in the desert area at all. This is due to the fact that even air masses and carry moisture to the continent, but because of the Great Ledge, their path inland is blocked.
• Central South Africa. These are predominantly mountainous areas, so daily temperature fluctuations are a common phenomenon that characterizes altitudinal zonality. Frosts are common in winter.
• East Coast. Unlike the western regions, in the east there is high humidity and a significant amount of precipitation - up to 1200 mm / year.

Climate by regions:

• Western Cape. It includes Cape Town. Here prevails subtropical mediterranean climate . Dry summer (December-February), Cold winter(June August). Characteristic strong winds.
• Houteng. Center - Johannesburg. Subtropical climate. May-April is the peak rainy season. But the city itself is located in the highlands, so there is dry comfortable weather all year round.
• Kazulu-Natal. Center - Durban. Climate - subtropical oceanic , suggesting hot summers (up to +34°C) and warm winters. Snow falls in the Drakensberg mountains.
• Eastern Cape. In Port Elizabeth - subtropical climate . All year round you can go on a safari here, and for beach holiday It is worth choosing a time between November and March.
• Mpumalanga. Subtropical climate. The coolest area is Kruger Park, in other areas the weather is much friendlier.
• Northwest. Most of the territory is occupied by the Kalahari Desert. The climate is appropriate.
• Limpopo. tropical climate . The northern part of the Kruger Park, which is located in this area, is unfavorable in terms of climate in October-March (up to +45°C).

Water off the coast of South Africa warms up to a maximum of + 26 ° C. The exception is the Atlantic Ocean, where, due to the Bengal Current, the water rarely exceeds +18°C.

Tourist seasons in South Africa

The tourist peak of visits to South Africa falls on November-December. Interestingly, at this time - the rainy season. The fact is that during this period the weather is the hottest, and the water in the ocean is the warmest. So that the rains do not spoil the rest, you should go away from central regions- to the coasts, where there is less rainfall. By the way, thunderstorms and showers in South Africa are usually a matter of night hours, so the sun often shines during the day. The smallest amount of precipitation occurs during the rainy season in the south of the country.

A characteristic feature of the weather in South Africa is when it is sunny in the morning in the summer, and it rains with thunderstorms in the late afternoon. The exception is the west coast and Cape Town - there is a rainy period only in winter. Most a large number of precipitation falls in the north of the country.

The best time for nature watching and traditional safari is the period from May to August, when the grass is not so high, and there is maximum visibility around. For beach activities it is better to choose the period from November to mid-March.

Tourism is one of the main sources of income for the budget of South Africa. Every year, due to the natural diversity, almost a million tourists visit the country.

What to bring

In Cape Town, located on the west coast of South Africa and washed by the cold Bengal current, it is rarely hot. But it is often cold. Jacket with long sleeve or even a sweater with a jacket will not interfere even in the African summer.

For a safari, you need not so much T-shirt shorts as a windbreaker, a warm pullover, a hat, or bondana, sneakers or boots. On a night safari, you need to dress even warmer. In the cold season, take with you: gloves, fleece hat, windbreaker, raincoat.

You should not take on a safari, or in general for a trip to South Africa, khaki clothes. There is an ambiguous attitude towards her here.

A separate issue is malaria. For its prevention, it is not a vaccination that is done (this is a big delusion), but special medications are taken orally. Before the trip, you should definitely consult a doctor and protect yourself from such an unpleasant ailment. But it is worth noting that South Africa is not included in the "malaria" zone, plus you need to take into account the travel season. If dry - there is nothing to be afraid of, if the rainy season - at your discretion. It is mandatory to have a yellow fever vaccination when entering the country. Unconditionally - the availability of medical insurance.

Be sure to bring repellents, sunscreen, sunglasses, closed clothing and hats.

The banking system is well developed in South Africa, but there are still places (gas stations, for example) where they do not accept credit cards you have to pay in cash. It is better to have dollars with you than euros.

Of the must-have things for traveling in South Africa: comfortable clothes made of cotton materials for safaris and excursions, smart clothes for restaurants, a woolen sweater for night or evening walks, a windbreaker when visiting Cape Town.

Weather in South Africa by months

December-February

Summer begins in South Africa in December. There is not much precipitation, the air temperature is comfortable. In Cape Town up to +26°C and very cool at night - maximum +16°C. In the south up to +28°С, in the northeast +32°С. The temperature in the Indian Ocean is up to +25°С. Continues african summer in January-February. There is little rainfall, the average temperature in the country during the day is + 26 ° С. The water in the Atlantic Ocean is +19°C, in the Indian Ocean up to +25+26°C. In January, you should not go to Durban, there is a peak in rainfall.

December - Peak tourist season in South Africa, so prices at this time, especially for travel services, are marginal. Many people come here on Christmas Eve, which is celebrated on December 25th. On January 1, South Africa celebrates the New Year.

March-May

Since March, the air temperature begins to gradually decrease. The most cold weather on the west coast. The water temperature in the Atlantic Ocean is practically unsuitable for swimming - it is already cold (+17°C). You can swim in the Indian Ocean - up to + 23 + 24 ° С.

Human Rights Day falls on March 21st. National holiday, Freedom Day, is celebrated on April 27th.

June August

The African winter has begun. Most of the area is quite cold. Snow falls in the mountains, frosts are frequent.

South Africa has the potential to ski holidays. Dragon Mountains and Veld are the focus of ski holidays in South Africa. Surprisingly, at the end of the world, on the African continent, there is everything for great skiing or snowboarding. The season in the Dragon Mountains is June-August. There is little natural snow cover here, therefore, using the "minus" at night, on ski resorts launch snow cannons. Thus, a two-meter snow cover and densely groomed slopes create good skiing conditions for skiers.

At this time, the safari season begins in the south of the Kruger Park. In August, you should go to Cape Town. There, off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the whale season begins. It lasts until the end of March.

September-November

September is a great time for a safari in Limpopo. November is the rainy season.

Take a ride on the Rovos Rail retro train through the most picturesque corners! This is a historic train, the carriages of which were specially coupled in 1911 for the European royal family. If there is such an opportunity, be sure to use it and go on a several-day train tour! The season is from September to April.

September 24 is Heritage Day. The national parks of South Africa are a real natural treasure of the planet. The Kruger National Park is amazing place, where the kingdom of animals dominates in their natural habitat over 350 km of the original savannah. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park is best visited from March to November. national park"Mountain Zebra" is famous for its unique zebra population, and "Addo Elephant national park» - elephants.

Weather in cities and resorts by months

Pretoria

Bloemfontein

Durban

East London

Total area: 1,219,912 sq. km. It is 5 times larger than Great Britain, 2 times larger than France and equal in territory to Germany, France and Italy combined. Border length: 4750 km. It borders on Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Coastline: 2798 km.

Population: about 40 million people. Ethnic groups: blacks - 75.2%, whites - 13.6%, colored -8.6%, Indians - 2.6% Official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Sutho, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Pedi. Religion: Christianity (68%), Hinduism (1.5%), Islam (2%), animism, etc. (28.5%).

Capitals: Cape Town (parliament), Pretoria (government), Bloemfontein (Supreme Court). The population of Cape Town - 2,350,157 people, Johannesburg - 1,916,063 people, Pretoria - 1,080,187 people. Form of government: republic Administrative divisions: 9 provinces - Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Northwest Province, Northern Cape, Northern Province, Western Cape.

Natural resources of South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is located in the south of the African continent, in the tropical and subtropical latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. The territory of South Africa is 4.2% of the area of ​​the continent (1221 thousand sq. km). Landscapes are the most typical for the country natural areas savannahs and light forests, semi-deserts and deserts, replacing each other from east to west. Plateaus and plateaus descend steeply to the coastal lowlands in the east and to the depression in the south. The windward slopes are overgrown with subtropical evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs.

In the north, South Africa has land borders that run mainly through sparsely populated semi-desert and desert regions. It borders Namibia to the northwest, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north, Mozambique and Swaziland to the east. The Kingdom of Lesotho is located on the territory of South Africa as an enclave. In the west, the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic, and in the south and east - by the Indian Ocean. This location of the country predetermines the presence of various natural landscapes.

The relief of South Africa is characterized by the predominance of high flat plateaus. About half of the territory has an altitude of 1000 to 1600 m, more than 3/4 is located above 600 m above sea level, only a narrow strip of coastal lowlands in the west, south and east does not exceed 500 m.

AT in general terms the relief is determined by the internal plateaus and coastal plains of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. The plateau slopes from the southeast to the northwest. Its most elevated parts are located on the border with Lesotho (more than 3600 m), and the least elevated parts are in the river basin. Mololo (less than 800 m).

Coastal plains stretch in a narrow strip in the east, south and west of the country. In the extreme south, the coastal lowlands are very narrow; to the north, it gradually expands to 65-100 km.

Statistical indicators of South Africa
(as of 2012)

Diversity geological structure, outcrops of ancient crystalline, often metamorphosed rocks, determined the exceptional wealth of the country in minerals. In total, 56 types of mineral raw materials were found on its territory. On a relatively small area, there is a truly unique set of a wide variety of minerals: chromium, coal, iron, nickel, phosphates, tin, copper, vanadium; the world's largest supplier of gold (more than 15,000,000 troy ounces per year). South Africa occupies the first or one of the first places in the world in terms of reserves and production of platinum, diamonds, antimony, uranium and manganese ores, chromites, asbestos, andalusite, etc. The only drawback mineral resource base is the lack of proven oil reserves. In this regard, the main place in the fuel and energy balance of the country is occupied by coal.

Climate of South Africa

The country is located in the subtropical region, and north of 30 ° S. sh.-tropical climate. Average annual temperatures throughout the territory are positive (from +12° to +23°С). The difference in temperatures between the "coldest" and the "hottest" belts is about 10°C. This difference is determined not so much by latitude as by relief and fluctuations in absolute heights. As the height increases, so do the amplitudes of daily and annual temperatures, the possibility of frosts and their duration.

Rivers of South Africa

The lack of moisture in most of the country does not contribute to the emergence of large lake-river systems. The density of the river network is extremely uneven. Most of the permanent rivers belong to the Indian Ocean basin. The largest of them are: Limpopo, Tugela, Umgeni, Great Cay, Great Fish, Sandys, Gaurits, etc. In most cases, these are short, rapids rivers originating on the eastern and southern windward slopes of the Great Ledge. They are full-flowing, mainly rain-fed, with a summer maximum water flow.

The largest in South Africa, the Orange River (tributaries of the Vaal, Caledon, Brak, etc.) has a length of 1865 km and belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. It flows through arid inland plateaus and becomes very shallow in its lower reaches. On the river and its tributaries, a number of large hydraulic structures. To the north of the middle course of the Orange River, several seasonal rivers (Nosob, Mololo, Kuruman, etc.) flow, belonging to the area of ​​internal flow of the Kalahari Plain.

In conditions of lack of surface waters, The groundwater. They are used both by industrial enterprises and by many farms in the central and western regions of the interior plateau. Desalination plants operate on the West Coast sea ​​water, water purification for reuse at industrial enterprises.

Soils of South Africa

Chestnut and red-brown soils are the most widespread in the country. Etd, two types of soil occupy almost half of the country, from the West Coast to the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains (the Kalahari region, the Middle and almost the entire High Weld, the vast areas of the Bushveld, and in the south the Big and Little Karoo). The presence of these types of soils is determined by climatic conditions, primarily by the amount of precipitation. Light-brown and red-brown soils are characteristic of the desert-steppe regions, and chestnut - for dry steppes.

In the eastern part of the High Weld and in the Bushveld, black, chernozem, and chestnut soils are common. The black, ferruginous soils of the dry savannas, which farmers call "black peat," are fertile. In higher places, more leached red soils are often found.

Coastal areas are characterized by a wide variety of soils. On the East coast, in the most low-lying parts, fertile red soils and yellow soils of subtropical regions are developed. The southwest coast is an area of ​​fairly fertile brown soils.

All soils require the application of mineral and organic fertilizers. Along with this, a constant fight against soil erosion is necessary. Improper plowing of slopes and excessive grazing lead to the destruction of soil structure and erosion. The arid climate creates a problem of artificial irrigation. Only 15% of South African land is suitable for agriculture.

Flora of South Africa

The flora of the country is rich and diverse. In total, there are about 15 thousand plant species that belong to two floristic regions - Cape and Paleotropic. The vegetation of the savannah zone and the zone of semi-deserts and deserts prevails.

The appearance of the savannas changes depending on the amount of precipitation. In the most humid regions, various palm trees, baobabs, podocarpus, valuable tree species and grass stands grow; Low Weld-park savanna, or mopane savanna (from the name of the widespread mopane tree); Bushveld-Acacia Milkweed Savannah, dominated by different kinds acacias, evergreen shrubs and light groves of trees shedding their leaves in the dry season.

The zone of semi-deserts and deserts occupies the western coastal plain, vast expanses of the Upper, Greater and Lesser Karoo, and the most arid parts of the Kalahari.

Succulents, or "stone plants" grow in the northwestern regions of this zone; in the Kalahari, near the Namibian border, grasses predominate on sandy soils. In arid areas, karoo is an abundance of succulents various shapes. From leaf succulents, aloe, acacia are often found, from stem succulents, spurges are widespread, there are shrub succulents.

The High Veld occupies a zone of grassy steppes (grasveld). More than 60% of the territory of Grasveld is covered with cereals, in the wetter eastern regions high temeda (up to 1 m) is common, in drier regions - low (not higher than 0.5 m) - This is the best fodder for livestock on natural pastures. There are also various types of bearded vulture, fescue.

The Cape Floristic Region is the center of decorative flora of world importance. In a relatively small area - 800 km long and less than 10 km wide - more than 6 thousand plant species from 700 genera grow, and most of their endemic. Evergreen hard-leaved shrubs and various perennial plants dominate here. The flora of the Cape has a number common families and childbirth with the flora of Australia, South America(family Proteaceae and genus sundew) and Europe (sedge, reed, flax, nettle, ranunculus, rose, feather grass, etc.).

About 2% of the country's territory is under forest. In light subtropical forests on chestnut soils, valuable species such as iron and fragrant trees grow. reserved coniferous forests made of yellow wood. On the East Coast, small areas of humid subtropical evergreen forests of ficus, Cape boxwood, Cape red and Cape ebony trees with a variety of lianas and epiphytes have been preserved. Significant afforestation work is underway on the slopes of the mountains, plantations of pine and cedar, Australian acacia and eucalyptus are being created. By 1990, artificial forest plantations amounted to more than 1 million hectares.

Fauna of South Africa

The fauna belongs to the Cape subregion of the Ethiopian zoogeographic region. It is represented by predators ( wild cats, hyenas, jackals, panthers, cheetahs, lions), numerous ungulates, elephants. Several species of civet, eared dog, several genera of golden mole rodents, 15 genera of birds are endemic. The country has up to 40 thousand species of insects and 200 species of snakes, up to 150 species of termites, in the northeast there is a center of distribution of tsetse flies and malarial mosquitoes.

During the period of colonization South Africa many species of animals were almost exterminated. Currently animal world well preserved only in reserves and national parks. The largest and most famous of them: Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe, Kalahari-Hemsbok. AT national park Kruger you can see lions, leopards and cheetahs, elephants and hippos, giraffes, buffaloes and antelopes. Anteaters live here, feeding on termites, for which the Boers call them "earth pigs." In Hluhluva, along with the listed animals, in the valleys overgrown with shrubs (rhinos, hippos and crocodiles live in the rivers, white rhinos that have become a rarity have survived. Flamingos, pelicans and various herons nest on the lakes, and African warthogs, water goats live among ungulates. There are many snakes, not infrequently the python The Kalahari-Hemsbok National Park is home to about 20 species of antelopes South Africa is home to many very rare species these graceful, swift-footed animals. Here you can see the wildebeest, and the eland antelope, and the hemobok antelope, and the rare gray-brown nyala, and the dwarf antelope. Until now, in the Kalahari and the arid regions of the Welds, antelopes provide food and clothing to the Bushmen and Hottenton tribes.