Climate type of humid equatorial forests of Africa. Natural areas of Africa (Grade 7). Climate of humid equatorial forests of the countries of the world

Equatorial rainforests

This is a natural (geographical) zone stretching along the equator with some shift to the south from 8° north latitude. up to 11°S The climate is hot and humid. All year round, average air temperatures are 24-28 C. The seasons are not expressed. At least 1500 mm of precipitation falls, since here is an area of ​​\u200b\u200blow pressure (see Atmospheric pressure), and on the coast the amount of precipitation increases to 10,000 mm. Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year.

Such climatic conditions of this zone contribute to the development of lush evergreen vegetation with a complex layered structure of the forest. The trees here have little branching. They have disc-shaped roots, large leathery leaves, tree trunks rise like columns and spread their thick crown only at the top. The shiny, as if varnished surface of the leaves saves them from excessive evaporation and burns from the scorching sun, from the impact of rain jets during heavy showers. In plants of the lower tier, the leaves, on the contrary, are thin and delicate.

The equatorial forests of South America are called selva (port. - forest). This zone here occupies much larger areas than in Africa. The selva is wetter than the African equatorial forests, richer in plant and animal species.

The soils under the forest canopy are red-yellow, ferrolitic (containing aluminum and iron).

The equatorial forest is the birthplace of many valuable plants, such as the oil palm, from the fruits of which palm oil is obtained. The wood of many trees is used to make furniture and is exported in large quantities. These include ebony, the wood of which is black or dark green. Many plants of the equatorial forests provide not only valuable wood, but also fruits, juice, bark for use in technology and medicine.
Elements of equatorial forests penetrate into the tropics along the coast of Central America, to Madagascar.

The main share of equatorial forests is located in Africa and South America, but they are also found in Eurasia, mainly on the islands. As a result of significant deforestation, the area under them is sharply reduced.

equatorial forests

Moist evergreen forests are located in narrow bands and patches along the equator. "Green Hell" - this is what many travelers of past centuries called these places, who had to be here. High multi-tiered forests stand like a solid wall, under the dense crowns of which darkness constantly reigns, monstrous humidity, constant high temperature, there is no change of seasons, downpours regularly fall in an almost continuous stream of water. The forests of the equator are also called permanent rainforests. The traveler Alexander Humboldt called them "hylaea" (from the Greek hyle - forest - approx. from geoglobus.ru). Most likely, this is what the humid forests of the Carboniferous period looked like with giant ferns and horsetails. Subequatorial forests are distinguished by the fact that among the evergreens there are also those that shed their leaves for several weeks a year.

Life in the rainforest is located "vertically" - plants and animals have occupied different "high-rise floors" of this amazing world, having adapted to its conditions. In such forests there can be up to five such levels.

The upper floors are at a height of up to 45 m and do not have a closed cover. As a rule, the wood of these trees is the most durable. Below, at a height of 18-20 m, there are tiers of plants and trees, forming a continuous closed canopy and almost not allowing sunlight to pass down to the ground. The rarer lower belt is located at a height of about 10 m. Shrubs and herbs grow even lower, such as pineapples and bananas, ferns. Tall trees have thickened overgrown roots (they are called board-shaped), helping the gigantic plant maintain a strong connection with the soil.

What plants grow in equatorial forests?

Such plants are called "epiphytes", i.e. living at a distance. Such, for example, orchids. Their exquisite flowers with an intoxicating aroma are nothing more than an attempt in a tough competitive struggle to attract insects and birds for pollination and thus support their future life. In the depths of the forest, in constant dampness, the largest flower on the planet, Rafflesia Arnoldi, blooms, exuding a heavy smell of rotting meat. Its flower reaches a diameter of 1 m.

In a warm and humid climate, the decomposition of dead plants occurs very quickly. From the resulting nutrient composition, substances are taken for the life of the gilea plant.

The rainforests of South America are called "selva". According to its species composition (the number of plant species is 2500-3000), the Amazon selva ranks first in the world. Not much, but still inferior to her African equatorial forests. The land in the rain forest is the realm of mosses, mushrooms, algae, plants with broad leaves that catch and retain moisture, insects, including poisonous ones. To survive in the jungle, travelers need the knowledge of local residents who build houses on stilts and sleep in hammocks.

All habitual life is concentrated "between heaven and earth", on the wide branches of trees intertwined with vines. Among such landscapes flow the most full-flowing rivers of our planet - the Amazon in the selva of South America, the Congo in Africa, the Brahmaputra in Southeast Asia.

Selva of the Amazon, as well as the equatorial forests of the Congo, Guinea, Uganda, the forests of the equatorial islands of Oceania, going to the sea coasts, create amazing natural communities in the tide zone - mangrove forests. The aerial roots of plants in such a forest are in themselves impenetrable thickets. Numerous aerial roots capture every opportunity to get air, breaking through from wet sand and liquid mud, and at high tide from sea water. The width of such a mangrove border can reach 10-20 meters.

The equatorial forests of our planet are often called its lungs. Indeed, a huge number of hylaea trees emit such an amount of oxygen into the atmosphere that their reduction threatens humanity with a significant deterioration in the composition of the air. Some of the rainforests have already been cleared. In their place, man cultivates various crops, including coffee, oil and rubber palms.

Flora and fauna of Tropical Africa

The vegetation in Africa is rich and varied. Its nature is determined by the amount of precipitation and the duration of the wet season due to the flat relief and the position of the mainland between the tropics. In the equatorial climatic zone, evergreen multi-layered forests rich in species grow. Herbaceous vegetation prevails in the subequatorial belts. In tropical zones, vegetation is poor in species, sparse or absent altogether.

Equatorial climate zone

News and Society

Plants of equatorial forests. Features and meaning

Plants of equatorial forests cannot but arouse increased interest not only among specialists, but also among ordinary inquisitive travelers from all over the world. And there is nothing surprising in this.

Agree, many of us tend to visit overseas countries precisely for the sake of these exotic representatives of the flora. For example, the plants of the equatorial forests of South America or Africa are very different from those herbs, flowers, trees and shrubs that we are used to seeing outside the window of our hometown. They look, smell and bloom completely differently, which means they cause mixed emotions. They want to take a closer look, touch and photograph.

Plants of the equatorial forests is a topic that can be talked about indefinitely. This article is aimed at acquainting readers with the most characteristic properties and living conditions of these representatives of the world of flora.

general information

First of all, let's try to define such a concept as humid equatorial forests. Plants whose habitats are regions with a pronounced equatorial, subequatorial and tropical climate inhabit this type of natural zone. It is worth paying attention to the fact that in this case, not only herbs, but also numerous trees and shrubs can be attributed to various kinds of representatives of the flora.

At first glance, it's hard to even imagine, but there is up to 2000 or even 10,000 mm of precipitation per year.

These land areas are characterized by huge biodiversity, it is here that 2/3 of all plants and animals of our planet live. By the way, not everyone knows that millions of species are still not described.

On the lower tier in tropical rainforests, there is not enough light, but the undergrowth, as a rule, is weak, so a person can easily move along it. However, in the event that for some reason the deciduous canopy is absent or weakened, the lower tier can quickly become covered with impenetrable thickets of vines and intricately woven trees. This is called the jungle.

The climate of the equatorial forest

Animals and plants of the equatorial forests, as we have already said, are diverse. This is due to the prevailing climate, which means that we need to talk about it in more detail.

This zone stretches along the equator with a shift to the south. The average year-round temperature is 24-28 degrees. The climate is quite hot and humid, although the seasons are implicitly expressed.

This area belongs to the area of ​​low pressure, and precipitation here falls evenly throughout the year. Such climatic conditions contribute to the development of evergreen vegetation, which is characterized by the so-called complex structure of the forest.

Related videos

The flora of the equatorial territories of the planet

As a rule, moist evergreen forests, located in narrow stripes or peculiar spots along the equator, are diverse and have a huge number of species. It is difficult to imagine that today there are more than a thousand of them only in the Congo Basin and on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea.

Plants of the equatorial forests of the upper tier are represented by giant ficuses and palm trees, of which there are over 200 species. In the lower ones, mainly bananas and tree ferns grow.

The largest plants are often entwined with vines, blooming orchids. By the way, it is worth noting that sometimes in the equatorial forests there are up to six tiers. Among the plants there are also epiphytes - mosses, lichens, ferns.

But in the depths of the forest you can find the largest flower of our planet - Rafflesia Arnoldi, the transverse diameter of which reaches 1 meter.

Fauna of the equatorial forest

It is unlikely that anyone will be surprised if we note that the fauna of the equatorial forests, first of all, is rich in monkeys. Monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas, howler monkeys and bonobos are especially common and in huge numbers.

Of the land inhabitants, you can often meet small ungulates, for example, in Africa, tourists often admire okapi, African deer and other unusual animals. The most common predators of the selva of South America, of course, are the jaguar and puma. But in the African tropics, the owners are fast leopards and huge tigers.

Due to the humid environmental conditions, many frogs, lizards and insects live in the equatorial forests. The most common birds are hummingbirds, parrots and toucans.

As for reptiles, who does not know about the pythons of Africa and Asia or the anaconda from the Amazon jungle? In addition, poisonous snakes, alligators, caimans and other no less dangerous representatives of the fauna are common in the equatorial forests.

What will happen if the plants of the equatorial forests are destroyed?

During the deforestation of the equatorial forest, a person, sometimes without realizing it, destroys the habitat of many animals and takes away food from termites. In addition, this forest also holds back the onset of deserts that are detrimental to all living things.

But that's not all. The fact is that humid equatorial forests, although they occupy a relatively small part of the Earth, are the so-called green lungs of our planet. It is here that about 1/3 of the Earth's oxygen is produced, so the destruction of the equatorial forest will cause irreversible environmental consequences, including an increase in carbon dioxide. The latter, in turn, will lead to an increase in the average temperature, increase the likelihood of glacier melting, and therefore entail the subsequent flooding of many fertile lands.

Comments

Similar content

Education
Plants of mixed forests: features. Plants of mixed forests of Russia and animals

The zone of mixed forests in Russia extends in the form of a triangle.

ENVIRONMENTAL BLOG

Its base lies near the western borders of Russia, and the top rests against the Ural Mountains. This zone of the country has good conditions for plants and animals. Medium…

home comfort
Description, features and meaning of flowers. irises

These exquisite flowers, which are affectionately referred to by the people as irises or cockerels, have been known since ancient times and are widely distributed throughout the world. Outwardly, they are a bit like orchids and can be painted just right ...

Spiritual development
Veles - an ancient Slavic amulet: history, features and meaning

Ancient Slavic culture is of interest to modern people for good reason: to understand how ancestors lived (even very distant ones) means to fully know oneself. In the case of the customs of the Slavic people, the task becomes the maximum ...

Law
Flag of Paraguay: history, features and meaning

Each country has well-defined state symbols, which include the flag. The Republic of Paraguay is no exception; moreover, the images of this state are unique. Initially…

Law
Causality in criminal law: concept, features and meaning

In order for an act to be recognized as criminal, it is necessary to have a number of signs, which together are called the corpus delicti. But there is an institution without which it is impossible to establish a fact unlawfully ...

Fashion
Tattoo on the side, their features and meaning

Since ancient times, drawings on the body had a certain meaning. Today, the fashion for tattoos has reached a new level. Now the drawings adorn not only those who wish to convey belonging to something (clan, society ...

News and Society
Oksana and Ksyusha - the same thing? Features and meaning of the name

Oksana and Ksyusha - the same thing, or not? Many people ask this question. Some agree, others believe that these are different names. Let's try to figure it out. If you delve into the origin of the names, it becomes clear…

News and Society
Algae living in unusual conditions. Types of algae, their features and significance in nature

Algae can live and reproduce in such special conditions that seem to us, at first glance, completely unacceptable for life. These may be hot springs, the temperature of which sometimes reaches the boiling point ...

News and Society
Red Book of the Kaluga region: animals and plants, mushrooms. List, features and description

The Red Book of the Kaluga Region (its animals and plants are the subject of our article) is a document released in 2006. It is based on the Decree of the regional government of 1998. This includes those living...

News and Society
Polish names: features and meaning

For people interested in different cultures, it would be useful to learn a little about the life of other countries. This article will give you a piece of Poland, namely, you will learn a little about the history of Polish names: their features, distribution…

These interesting plants, so eagerly bred for the beauty of their originally built flowers, and familiar to all, also belong predominantly to the tropics. Most often they come across in the mountains of the equatorial belt; there you can always find a few representatives of innumerable forms of orchids. They grow along trunks, branches, along branching branches, developing especially magnificently on fallen trunks, covering rocks and cliffs from top to bottom; some, like our northern species, grow on the ground between other herbs. Many trees, the bark of which is especially conducive to the growth of orchids, are completely covered with them and thus form, as it were, natural orchid gardens. Some orchids are particularly fond of the rotted petioles of palm leaves and tree ferns. Many grow most readily near the water, while others, on the contrary, need air and the light of high tree tops. Everyone knows the original diversity of the structure of orchids and the beautiful colors of their flowers, but our richest orchid collections do not give any complete idea of ​​the whole multitude of their species that come across under the tropics; however, many of them have flowers too plain to be worth breeding. More than 30 years ago Lindley (Lindley) estimated the number of orchid species known at that time at about 3000, Bentham and Hooker in Genera plantarum estimate them already at 5000; it is very likely that in our time the number of known orchid species reaches 6000.

Vegetation of the equatorial forests

But no matter how great the number of species already collected and described, the number still to be discovered must be colossal.

Orchid Grammatophyllum speciosum (Java)

In contrast to ferns, individual species of orchids have a relatively small distribution; therefore, for an exhaustive acquaintance with all the species belonging to only one more or less extensive area, for example, an island the size of Java, many years of work by a good botanist would be required. It is very possible that this remarkable family will eventually prove to be the most species-rich of all the flowering plants.

Despite the fact that any orchid can be recognized by its peculiar appearance, even not during flowering, yet both their size and appearance are extremely diverse. Some small climbing species do not exceed moss in size, while the large Grammatophyllum from the island of Borneo, growing in the forks of tree branches, have densely leafed trunks up to 10 feet long; some terrestrial species, such as the American Sobraliae, reach the same size. Most orchids look extremely peculiar due to their fleshy aerial roots, which often hang far down, crawl along rocks, or are slightly attached to the bark of a tree; They feed on rainfall and atmospheric moisture in general. Despite so many different types of orchids in the equatorial forests, their flowers are relatively few striking. This is partly because in many orchids they are generally inconspicuous, and partly because the flowering time of each species lasts only a few weeks and falls on different months for different species. In addition, the very type of growth of orchids, which are found in most cases separately, in separate specimens or in groups that rarely reach a large size and therefore do not stand out among the mass of plants surrounding them, also has an influence. Only rarely does a traveler find himself in a place where orchids remind him of the beauties of our orchid greenhouses and exhibitions. Slender golden Oncidiae of the flooded forests of the upper Amazon, magnificent Cattleya of drier forests, marsh Caelogynae, and finally, the wonderful Vanda lowii of the wooded hills of Borneo - these are the main examples of beautiful orchids, especially etched into the memory of the author of these lines during his 12 years of wandering through the tropical forests. The Vanda mentioned above stands out decisively from all orchids: from a relatively small tuft of its foliage, numerous pedicels protrude, hanging down like cords up to 8 feet long, and completely dotted with large star-shaped, red-speckled flowers.

<<Назад | Оглавление | Вперед >>
PandanusesBamboo

Tropical forests are overflowing with flora and fauna. Representatives of ancient groups of mammals have been preserved here - the most primitive marsupials - possums, woolly wings. Also in the forests there is a multiple variety of monkeys and semi-monkeys (lemurs, lorises). The lizards of the Old World and the armadillos and anteaters live in the tropical forests. Among the birds that live in the crowns, there are many that do not fly very well, but mostly jump and climb (toucans, turacos, hornbills, birds of paradise). And Nicobar pigeons, crowned pigeons, bowerbirds are excellent flyers, and parrots (cockatoo, macaws, Amazon, Jaco) climb well and fly. Tree-dwelling animals can be divided into two groups: gliders, which have a well-developed flying membrane (large flying possum, woolly wing, spiny tail) and climbers, which, in addition to strong and dexterous paws, have a tenacious tail used as a fifth full-fledged limbs (kinkajou, anteaters, howler monkeys, pangolins). Among them are leaf-eating (sloths, colobus), frugivorous forms (gulda, kalong, small flying fox, kinkajou) and animals with a wider range of plant foods (monkeys, ratuf, woolly wing, kangaroo, spiketail). Others, such as the gorilla, mandrill, porcupine, although they can climb trees, are often found on the ground. Insects, goulda, kalong, little flying fox, some birds are pollinators of rainforest flowers. There are also the largest inhabitants of the tropics, which control the number of animals - these are jaguars, leopards and tigers. The boa constrictor, which can swallow prey whole, is also very dangerous. It can be either a big monkey or a small hippo.

Trees in tropical rainforests share several characteristics that are not seen in plants in less humid climates.

The base of the trunk in many species has wide, woody ledges. Previously it was assumed that these ledges help the tree to maintain balance, but now it is believed that water with dissolved nutrients flows down these ledges to the roots of the tree. Broad leaves are also common in lower forest trees, shrubs and grasses. Tall young trees that have not yet reached the topstory also have broader foliage, which then decreases with height.

Plants of equatorial forests. Moist equatorial forests

The wide leaves help the plants absorb sunlight better under the tree edges of the forest, and they are protected from the wind from above. The leaves of the upper tier, which form the canopy, are usually smaller and heavily cut to reduce wind pressure. On the lower floors, the leaves are often tapered at the ends so that this facilitates the rapid runoff of water and prevents the growth of microbes and moss on them that destroy the leaves.

The tops of trees are often very well connected with each other with the help of vines or plants - epiphytes, fixed on them.

Other characteristics of the tropical rainforest are unusually thin (1-2 mm) tree bark, sometimes covered with sharp thorns or thorns; the presence of flowers and fruits growing directly on tree trunks; a wide variety of juicy fruits that attract birds, mammals and even fish that feed on the sprayed particles.

In humid tropical forests, there are edentulous (families of sloths, anteaters and armadillos), broad-nosed monkeys, a number of families of rodents, bats, llamas, marsupials, several orders of birds, as well as some reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Many animals with tenacious tails live on trees - tenacious monkeys, pygmy and four-toed anteaters, opossums, tenacious porcupines, sloths. A lot of insects, especially butterflies (one of the richest fauna in the world) and beetles; many fish (as many as 2000 species - this is approximately one third of the freshwater fauna of the world).

The article contains information about the climatic zones of the continent. Forms an idea of ​​the features of the geographical location.

Climate zones of Africa

The characteristic features of the continental climate are determined by the orientation of most of it in the latitudes of the equator and the tropics.

At elevated temperatures of air masses, the climatic difference of individual regions depends on the amount of precipitation and the duration of the rainy season.

Rice. 1. Zonality of climatic zones of the mainland.

Large areas of the continent regularly need moisture. The mainland is characterized by the transfer of air from the tropics by the trade winds. The height of the banks prevents the entry of wet winds.

Western territories located in the latitudes of the tropics are dominated by cool currents.

TOP 3 articleswho read along with this

There are seven climatic zones:

• equatorial;
• a couple of subequatorial;
• a couple of tropical;
• a couple of subtropics.

Due to Africa's location in these climatic zones, its climate is determined by its geographic location.

Rice. 2. Flora of climatic zones of the mainland.

Table "Climatic zones of Africa"

natural area	Climate	The soil	Flora	Fauna
Hardwood evergreen forests and shrubs	Mediterranean	Brown	Holm oak, jujube, wild olive	Leopards, zebras, antelopes
Semi-deserts and deserts	Tropical	Desert, sandy, rocky	Acacias, saltworts, spurges, thickets of thorny bushes	Scorpions, beetles, turtles, locusts, snake hedgehogs, jerboas
	subequatorial	Red, iron-containing	Baobabs, cereals, palm trees	Giraffes, buffaloes, lions, gazelles, elephants, antelopes, rhinos, zebras
Variable-moist, moist forests	equatorial, subequatorial	Red-yellow, iron-containing	Ficuses, ceiba, bananas, coffee	Gorillas, chimpanzees, termites, parrots, okapis, leopards

Rice. 3. Mainland fauna.

To get an idea of ​​the climatic zones in which Africa is located, it is necessary to understand that the mainland is cut by the contour of the equator. The zonation of climatic zones starts here from the equatorial one.

At zero latitude lies the wettest continental natural region. The area accounts for the maximum amount of precipitation. Over two thousand mm. in year. Then follows the subequatorial belt. Here, the level of precipitation is significantly reduced. During the calendar year, about one and a half thousand mm of precious moisture falls.

The tropical belt, among others, is a significant area of ​​​​the continent.

Regarding orientation to the hemisphere, the level of precipitation can vary: from three hundred to fifty mm. per year.

The subtropical climatic zone captures only the edge of the coast in the northern part of the mainland and the "corner" that belongs to the southern part of South Africa.

It is windy and humid here all year round. In winter, the temperature can drop by about 7°. The total amount of precipitation does not exceed five hundred mm. in year.

What have we learned?

We found out in which climatic zones the continent lies. Determine what factors affect the climate of Africa. We learned in which climatic zone of Africa the greatest and least amount of precipitation falls.

Topic quiz

Report Evaluation

Average rating: 4.2. Total ratings received: 97.

Africa is the hottest continent on planet Earth. The equator line passing through the center of the Black Continent symmetrically divides its area into different natural zones. The characteristic of the natural zones of Africa allows you to form a general idea of ​​the geographical position of Africa, about the features of the climate, soil, flora and fauna of each of the zones.

What natural areas is Africa located in?

Africa is the second largest continent on our planet. This continent is washed by two oceans and two seas from different sides. But its main feature is its symmetrical arrangement to the equator. In other words, the equator line horizontally divides the continent into two equal parts. The northern half is much wider than southern Africa. As a result, all the natural zones of Africa are located on the map from north to south in the following order:

• savannas;
• variable-humid forests;
• humid evergreen equatorial forests;
• variable humid forests;
• savannas;
• tropical deserts and semi-deserts;
• subtropical evergreen hardwood forests and shrubs.

Fig.1 Natural areas of Africa

Moist equatorial forests

On both sides of the equator is a zone of humid evergreen equatorial forests. It occupies a rather narrow strip and is characterized by numerous precipitations. In addition, it is rich in water resources: the deepest Congo River flows through its territory, and the Gulf of Guinea washes its banks.

Constant heat, numerous rainfall and high humidity have led to the formation of lush vegetation on red-yellow ferralite soils. Evergreen equatorial forests surprise with their density, impenetrability and variety of plant organisms. Their feature is versatility. It became possible due to the endless struggle for sunlight, in which not only trees, but also epiphytes and climbing vines take part.

The tsetse fly lives in the equatorial and subequatorial zones of Africa, as well as in the wooded part of the savannah. Her bite is deadly to humans, as she is a carrier of a "sleeping" disease, which is accompanied by terrible pain in the body and fever.

Rice. 2 Moist evergreen equatorial forests

Savannah

The amount of precipitation is directly related to the richness of the plant world. The gradual reduction of the rainy season leads to the appearance of a dry one, and the humid equatorial forests are gradually replaced by variable wet ones, and then they turn into savannahs. The last natural zone occupies the largest area of ​​the Black Continent, and makes up about 40% of the entire continent.

TOP 4 articleswho read along with this

Here, the same red-brown ferrallitic soils are observed, on which various herbs, cereals, and baobabs grow mainly. Low trees and shrubs are much rarer.

A distinctive feature of the savannah is a dramatic change in appearance - juicy tones of green during the rainy season fade sharply under the scorching sun during dry periods and become brown-yellow.

Savannah is unique and rich in wildlife. A large number of birds live here: flamingos, ostriches, marabou, pelicans and others. It impresses with an abundance of herbivores: buffaloes, antelopes, elephants, zebras, giraffes, hippos, rhinos and many others. They are also food for the following predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, hyenas, crocodiles.

Rice. 3 African Savannah

Tropical deserts and semi-deserts

In the southern part of the mainland, the Namib Desert dominates. But neither it nor any other desert in the world can compare with the greatness of the Sahara, which consists of rocky, clay and sandy deserts. The amount of precipitation per year in sugar does not exceed 50 mm. But this does not mean that these lands are lifeless. The flora and fauna is quite scarce, but it exists.

Of the plants, it should be noted such representatives as sclerophyd, succulents, acacia. The date palm grows in the oases. Animals have adapted to the dry climate. Lizards, snakes, turtles, beetles, scorpions can do without water for a long time.

In the Libyan part of the Sahara, one of the most beautiful oases in the world is located, in the center of which there is a large lake, the name of which literally translates as “Mother of Water”.

Rice. 4 Sahara Desert

Subtropical evergreen hardwood forests and shrubs

The most extreme natural zones of the African continent are subtropical evergreen hardwood forests and shrubs. They are located in the north and southwest of the mainland. They are characterized by dry, hot summers and wet, warm winters. Such a climate favored the formation of fertile brown soils, on which the Lebanese cedar, wild olive, arbutus, beech and oak grow.

Table of Natural Areas of Africa

This table for grade 7 in geography will help you compare the natural areas of the mainland and figure out which natural area prevails in Africa.

natural area	Climate	The soil	Vegetation	Animal world
Hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs	Mediterranean	brown	Wild olive, Lebanese cedar, oak, strawberry, beech.	Leopards, antelopes, zebras.
Tropical semi-deserts and deserts	Tropical	Desert, sandy and rocky	Succulents, xerophytes, acacias.	Scorpions, snakes, turtles, beetles.
Savannah	subequatorial	Ferrolitic red	Herbs, cereals, palms, acacias.	Buffaloes, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, antelopes, elephants, hippos, hyenas, jackals.
Variable-humid and humid forests	Equatorial and subequatorial	Ferrolitic brown-yellow	Bananas, coffee, ficuses, palms.	Termites, gorillas, chimpanzees, parrots, leopards.

What have we learned?

Today we talked about the natural areas of the hottest continent on Earth - Africa. So let's call them again:

• subtropical evergreen hardwood forests and shrubs;
• tropical deserts and semi-deserts;
• savannas;
• variable-humid forests;
• moist evergreen equatorial forests.

Topic quiz

Report Evaluation

Average rating: 4 . Total ratings received: 869.

Africa has unique climatic conditions. Since the continent crosses the equator, except for the equatorial belt, all other climatic zones are repeated.

equatorial belt of africa

The equatorial belt of the African continent is located in the Gulf of Guinea. Here the air is warm and the climate is humid. The temperature maximum reaches +28 degrees Celsius, and approximately the same temperature above +20 degrees lasts all year round. Rainfall is more than 2000 mm per year, which is distributed relatively evenly throughout the territory.

On both sides of the equator there are two subequatorial zones. The summer season is humid and warm with a maximum of +28 degrees, and the winter is dry. Depending on the seasons, air currents also change: equatorial wet and dry tropical. This climatic zone has long and short rainy seasons, but the total annual precipitation does not exceed 400 mm.

tropical zone

Most of the mainland lies in the tropical zone. The air mass here is continental, and under its influence deserts were formed in the Sahara and in the south. There is practically no precipitation and the air humidity is negligible. It may rain once every few years. During the day, the air temperature is very high, and at night the degrees can drop below 0. A strong wind almost always blows, which can destroy crops and activate sandstorms. A small area in the southeast of the mainland has a tropical humid climate with a significant amount of precipitation that falls all year round.

Table of climatic zones of Africa

The extreme territories of the continent are located in the subtropical zone. The average temperature is +20 degrees with noticeable seasonal fluctuations. The southwestern and northern part of the mainland lies in the Mediterranean type zone. In winter, precipitation falls in this area, and summers are dry. Humid climate with regular rainfall throughout the year formed in the southeast of the mainland.

Africa is the only continent that is located on both sides of the equator, which has influenced the formation of unique climatic conditions. So on the mainland there is one equatorial belt, and two subequatorial, tropical and subtropical belts. It is much hotter here than on other continents with similar climatic zones. These climatic conditions have influenced the formation of a unique nature in Africa.

Since childhood, we all know such a large and beautiful mainland as Africa. We also know that the first life originated there. I have always been interested in the question why Africa became the center of the origin of civilization? Studying geography at school, we learn that this continent is the second in area after Eurasia and lies in several climatic zones. The African continent extends from the northern subtropical zone to the southern subtropical.

Climate zones of Africa

I'll start with the equator. He practically divides Africa in half because of this, the belts of the southern and northern parts are duplicated. The following climatic zones are distinguished:

• 2 subtropical belts.
• 2 tropical belts.
• 2 Subequatorial belts.
• 1 Equatorial belt.

equatorial belt

equatorial belt- goes through central part mainland. Mostly humid and warm air currents prevail here, so there is only one type of climate - equatorial.

subequatorial belt

Subequatorial belts- located on either side of the equator. The temperature in these zones is the same as in the equatorial zone - quite high (+25…28°C). However, the change between the wet and dry cycles is clearly visible here. A feature of the subequatorial belts is Availabilitytwo rainy periods. People call them "long rains" and "short rains". Rainy periods alternate with dry winters.

tropical belt

tropical belts- occupy vast area of ​​the continent. Continental tropical air currents form in the Sahara and South Africa desert climate. In the Sahara, for several years, absent any precipitation, and the smallest dust hangs in the sky, which makes it almost impossible to see it blue. suffocating heat afternoon and cruel cold at night, severe aridity and incessant winds kill all life in the area.

So why did life originate in Africa? I think the whole point is in its natural conditions of the equatorial zone. According to one of the hypotheses, active volcanism existed in the region of the East African Rift Belt. He gave rise to many hot springs that warmed primitive people and their offspring on cold nights.

In what climate zones is the continent of Africa located?

Africa is a large continent (the second in the world after Eurasia), strongly elongated from north to south on both sides of the equator. There are four climatic zones. In the very north and south of the mainland - Subtropical(southern South Africa and northern Sahara). Next comes tropical belt(almost the entire Sahara, northern South Africa, Namibia, Angola, southern Madagascar). It takes up a small space near the equator equatorial belt. And around it, almost throughout central Africa, the largest in area - subequatorial belt.




A continent like Africa is located in the following climatic zones:

first climatic zone: subtropical,

second climatic zone: tropical,

third climatic zone: subequatorial,

fourth climatic zone: equatorial,

fifth climatic zone: subequatorial,

sixth climatic zone: tropical,

seventh climatic zone: subtropical.

The belts are listed in order from north to south.

Africa is not in vain called the hottest continent on Earth, it really is. The central part of this continent lies in the equatorial zone, characterized by high temperature and humidity. The famous equatorial forests and impenetrable jungles grow here. To the south, east and north lie subequatorial climatic zones characterized by a mixed climate - both humid equatorial air masses and tropical dry ones can enter here. Farther from the equator lie the tropics, the driest places on the planet with high temperatures. Here lie the Sahara, the Kalahari and the Namib. The most extreme points of the continent belong to the subtropical climate and in winter, air masses from temperate latitudes can even bring snow here.

Africa is divided almost in half by the equator line. What climate zones is Africa in?

• equatorial;
• tropical;
• subequatorial and subtropical.

Features of Africa's climate are due to its location on the climate map of the world. Because of its position, the largest desert, the Sahara, is located there.




Africa is located in the following climatic zones. table

The climate of the African belts is very similar, but there are differences. There are areas where precipitation occurs seasonally, and there are areas where the climate is milder. Animals of Africa move in a caravan in search of water bodies. During the drought, crocodiles and giraffes drink from the same stream, establishing a truce for this time.

The climate of Africa is quite hot since it is located in the following climatic zones, namely this: equatorial, 2 subtropical, tropical and subequatorial. The equator passes through this continent, and it is washed by two oceans, the Indian and the Atlantic. Also in Africa is one of the largest deserts in the world, the Sahara.

The African continent is the only continent in the world located on both sides of the equator. In Africa, there are already seven climatic zones, and each of them has its own characteristics.

For example, equatorial The climate zone is supported by winds that constantly bring moisture and heat. It rains evenly throughout the year and there is no division into seasons.

North and south occupies subequatorial a belt where winds from the equator bring heat and moisture in summer. Tropical, hot and dry winds are typical for winter time.

The largest part of Africa is subject to tropical climate where tropical winds rule the whole year. Which creates a climate with savannahs and deserts.

Subtropical the belt is represented by two regions in the northern and southern territories. Available in Africa and subtropical-mediterranean climatic zone in the northern and southwestern parts of the continent.




The entire territory of Africa is one way or another included in various hot climate zones. It is crossed by the equator line approximately in the middle.

But the specific manifestations of the hot climate in Africa are heterogeneous. Dry deserts (such as the Sahara and Kalahari) predominate in the north and south of the continent. The central part is dominated by tropical forests, separated from the desert belt by savannah steppes, which are characterized by alternating wet and dry seasons.

Accordingly, the center of Africa is a zone of the equatorial climate, then subequatorial, tropical, and at the southern and northern extremities a zone of subtropical climate is distinguished.

Africa, in size, is the second continent after Eurasia and is washed by two oceans:

• Atlantic
• Indian.

The climatic zones of Africa begin with the equatorial, followed by the subequatorial, then the tropical climatic zone, the subtropical zone.

Africa is located in seven climatic zones, namely:

1. in the equatorial
2. in two subequatorial
3. in two tropical
4. in two subtropical

The largest area is occupied by the subequatorial belt.

It should be noted that although Africa is considered a very hot continent, it is conditionally divided into several climatic zones, the conditions for existence on which are different. Therefore, when choosing a place of residence, it is imperative to coordinate climatic preferences.

So, there are 7 (SEVEN) belts. We look in more detail.

In what climatic zones is Africa located, its climate, precipitation

The African continent is the only continent in the world that lies on the sides of the equator. By the way, it has seven climatic zones, since the same zone, depending on which hemisphere it is located in, has its own climatic features.

Yes, equatorial climatic belt, forms winds that carry heat and moisture all year round. The temperature here is +25°-28°C, the rain falls evenly throughout the year and there is no division into seasons.

subequatorial the belt occupies the north and south of the land. Depending on the dry or rainy season of the year, clearly formed, the types of air masses change. In the summer season, equatorial winds carry heat and moisture, and in winter, tropical winds are drier and hotter.

The temperature stays within +24-28°C all year round, there is little rain, they fall during the summer season. By the way, no matter what climatic zones Africa is located in, everywhere on this continent there is a lack of moisture.

African tropics

The tropics cover the largest part of the country. Tropical winds dominate the whole year and form a climate with deserts and savannahs. The temperature in July is 32°С, in January +18°С. Precipitation is rare, no more than 100 mm per year. It is precisely in which climatic zones that Africa is located that led to the absence of severe cold on the continent, and even more so frost.

Subtropical the belt consists of two regions: the extreme northern and southern territories of the African continent. The temperature here is +24°С in summer, +10°С in winter. In the northern and southwestern regions of Africa, the subtropical-Mediterranean type of climate.

From the above, we can conclude in which climatic zones Africa is located. The map also demonstrates that it can safely be considered the hottest continent on our planet.

distant australia

Australia is the smallest and driest continent on Earth. It has three climatic zones: subequatorial, tropical and subtropical.

Subequatorial occupies the northern part of the mainland. In summer, equatorial wind blows here, in winter - tropical. The air temperature is +25°C all year round. Uneven rainfall affects the clear separation of the seasons. Summers are warm, with frequent thunderstorms and showers up to 2000 mm per year, while winters are hot and dry.

Tropical the belt has two types of climate. Depending on the location of the territory and the amount of precipitation falling on it, there are continental (desert) and tropical climates.

An area with a particularly dry climate is located far from the ocean. There are desert areas here. The air temperature in the summer season here is +30 °С, in winter +16 °С. The west of the tropical zone was formed under the influence of the West Australian Current. Deserts stretch to the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The eastern part receives a sufficient amount of moisture in the form of rain. Warm air coming from the Pacific Ocean has formed a favorable climate here, in which a tropical forest grows.

Subtropical the belt covers the southern territory of Australia and is divided into three zones. The southwest is characterized by dry and hot summers and warm and rainy winters. The air temperature in January rises to +23°C, in June - up to +12°C.

The central part is completely desert. It has a continental climate with its characteristic strong temperature fluctuations all year round - hot summers and not very warm winters, with little rain.

The southeast is a humid climate, the rains here fall equally throughout the year, in summer the air warms up to + 24 ° C, in winter - up to + 9 ° C.

If we compare the climatic zones in which Africa and Australia are located, we can see a great similarity in the weather conditions of both continents.

Land of ice and snow

Antarctica is a continent of cold and ice. It is located in two climatic zones: Antarctic and subantarctic.

Antarctic the belt makes up almost the entire territory of the mainland, which is covered by a layer of ice up to 4.5 km thick. And this is of great importance in shaping the climate of Antarctica, since the ice reflects up to 90% of the sunlight, which makes it difficult to warm the surface of the mainland.