South America: the plants and animals that inhabit it. The uniqueness of the nature of South America

South America is the 4th largest continent on our planet. If you look closely at the map, the continent resembles a drop of water. The mainland is located in southern hemisphere Earth.

natural areas

There are 5 climatic zones on the continent:

equatorial;
subequatorial;
tropical;
subtropical;
moderate.

Relief

The relief of the mainland conditionally can be divided into 2 zones- it is a flat plain in the eastern part and a mountain range in the west. The Andes Mountains are a continuation of the mountain range of North America - the Cordillera. This is the longest Mountain chain on our planet.

plant community

The flora of the mainland is diverse. This is facilitated by a mild warm climate and a large number of precipitation. Flora on the continent varies with climate zone.

So in tropical zone jungle dominates. And now scientists are discovering more and more new species of plants and representatives. Jungle South America occupy a larger area than similar zones in Africa.

The rainforest is home to rubber, melon and chocolate trees, different kinds palms, hevea, orchids. In some areas the height of the forest cover reaches 100 meters. It could be a 12 story community with unique flora and fauna on each floor.

To the south of the Amazon selva, rare deciduous forests begin. typical representative flora this part of the mainland is a quebracho tree with strong and durable wood.

Moving south across the continent, travelers will cross the savannahs and get to the famous South American plains - pampas. This is a classic steppe zone with feather grass, wild millet and herbs. Occasionally there are thickets of mimosa and milkweed. The soils in this part of the continent are very fertile.

The closer to the southern extreme point of the mainland, the poorer the landscape becomes. The pampas are replaced by a zone of semi-deserts and deserts. Here there are dry shrubs, which form a kind of perekatipole pillows.

Fauna of South America

The fauna on the mainland also depends on the climate zone.

In the rainforests various types of monkeys live. Many species are adapted exclusively to life in trees. The lower tier of the forest was chosen by tapirs,. Of the predators - the famous jaguar. Entomologists are still discovering new species. A large number of unique species of birds live in the forests - these are toucans, macaws. There are about 320 species of baby hummingbirds in South America alone.

In the savannah zone there are fewer animals, and they are adapted to life in open spaces. These are wild pigs-bakers,. From large birds Nanda ostriches feel great. Live in the savannas and large cats - cougars and jaguars. Of the small predators in the savannas, the savannah fox and maned wolf.

Pampas- this is a habitat for swift-footed representatives of the animal world. These are llamas, deer and predators such as the pampas cat, several types of armadillos.

In the Andes mountains basically the same species of animals live as on the flat part of the mainland. but there are endemics - unique, inherent only in South America, animals. These are mountain llamas, spectacled bear, charming chinchillas.

Detailed information about the diversity of the nature of the South American continent can be found in the reports of various scientific societies.

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Perhaps nowhere else in the world can you find such a variety of flora and fauna as in South America. Nature, which has been preserved in its original form in many regions of the mainland, is still of great interest to researchers and scientists around the world. First of all, the focus is on the plants of South America, among which there are many endemics.

wet forests

The flora of South America is presented in all its amazing diversity in wet or rainy equatorial forests or selva. This forest occupies an impressive territory of the Amazonian lowland.

TO distinctive features selva include:

Wealth species composition . It has been established that 2/3 of the flora of the whole world grows in the jungle. For 10 sq. km of forest thickets account for more than 1,500 different species of flowering plants and 750 species of trees.
High density of vegetation . The selva is so densely populated with a wide variety of vegetation that it is almost impossible to move along it. Lianas are especially difficult to advance.

Rice. 1. Equatorial forests of South America

The South American jungle is not only very dense, but also high. In areas not flooded by rivers during floods, there are up to 5 tiers of various plants. The highest among them are representatives of the upper tier - giant trees up to 80-100 m high.

In the selva you can find a lot of endemics - representatives of the flora that grow only in a particular region. One of prominent representatives is a small psychotria tree, the flowers of which outwardly very much resemble bright red rough, as if folded for a kiss. His extraordinary bright view they attract the main pollinators - butterflies and tiny hummingbirds. Unfortunately, psychotria is on the list of plants that are in danger of extinction. This is due to the uncontrolled deforestation of valuable forests.

Rice. 2. Psychotria

Savannahs and pampas

To the south of the selva there are savannahs, dominated by thickets of shrubs, tall grasses and hard grasses.

desert

In the south of the mainland there is a zone of deserts and semi-deserts. severe climatic conditions are a barrier to lush and diverse vegetation. In the South American deserts, only a few types of grasses and cereals can grow.

Plants that can tolerate prolonged drought and continuous weathering of the soil - Atagonian fabiana, chukuraga, resinous chanyar.

South America is a continent located in the Western Hemisphere of our Planet. It is crossed by the Equator line and divides this continent into two parts. One part (largest) belongs to the Southern Hemisphere, and the second (smallest) belongs to the Northern Hemisphere.

The mainland ranks 4th among the continents in terms of its area - 17,840,000 km². On its territory, which includes the adjacent islands, there are 15 states, three of which are dependent. By clicking on the link, you can see detailed list countries of South America in a table with capitals and characteristics. The population is approximately 400 million people.

In the west, the continent is washed by the Pacific Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north by the Caribbean Sea, which is the boundary between North America and South America.

Extreme points of mainland South America

The northern point - Cape Gallinas is located in Colombia on the Caribbean Sea.

The southern (mainland) point - Cape Frouard is located in Chile on the Brunswick Peninsula on the coast of the Strait of Magellan.

Southern (island) point - Diego - Ramirez - the most south point America and Chile, which consists of a group of islands covering an area of just over one square kilometer.

The western point - Cape Parinas is located in Peru.

Eastern point - Cape Cabo - Branco, located in Brazil.

Relief of South America

The mainland of South America is divided by relief into the Mountainous West and the Plain East.

The Atacama Desert is located in Chile and is the driest place on Earth. There are places in the desert where it rains once every few decades. Here is the lowest humidity. Of the vegetation, only cacti and acacias are found.

The western part of the mainland consists of mountain system The Andes, stretching across the seven states of South America, and the eastern one from the plains. In the North is the Guiana Plateau, 1930 km long and 300 - 1000 m high.

In the east of the mainland, the Brazilian Highlands are located, with an area of about 4 million km2. 95% of the Brazilian population lives here. highest point of this upland is the mountain - Bandeira. Its height is 2897 meters. Because of the huge natural diversity The Brazilian Highlands are divided into three parts: the Atlantic, Central and Southern Plateaus.

South of the Brazilian Highlands is the Laplata Lowland, on the territory of which such states as Paraguay and Uruguay, the northern part of Argentina, South part Brazil and southeastern Bolivia. The area of the lowland is more than 3 million km2.

The Amazonian lowland is a lowland covering an area of over 5 million km2. It is the largest lowland on our planet.

Climate of South America

South America has 6 climate zones: North and South subequatorial belt, Equatorial, Tropical, Subtropical and Temperate.

The climate of South America in most of its subequatorial and tropical, in which dry and wet seasons. Equatorial humid climate characteristic only of the Amazonian lowland. In the south of the continent, subtropical and temperate climate. Temperatures in the northern plains all year round 20-28 degrees. In the Andes, temperatures decrease with altitude. There may even be frost. On the Brazilian plateau, the temperature in winter can drop to 10 degrees, and on the Patagonian plateau to zero degrees.

River systems of South America.

The following river systems are located on the mainland: Parana, Orinoco, Amazon, Paraguay, Uruguay.

The Amazon is the world's largest river in terms of basin area (7180 thousand km²), formed by the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon rivers. Considered one of the seven natural wonders Sveta. Brazil belongs most of pool. It flows mainly through the Amazonian lowland and flows into Atlantic Ocean.

Parana is the second longest river on this continent, flowing in the southern part of the continent. It flows through the territory of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay. Just like the Amazon flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Paraguay - a river, is the right tributary of the Parana. It divides the Republic of Paraguay into Northern and Southern Paraguay, and in its southern part is the state border between Paraguay and Argentina.

Uruguay is a river originating in Brazil and formed by the confluence of the Canoas and Pelotas rivers. It is the border between Brazil and Uruguay. Her river system is the country's main source of water supply. The country's largest hydroelectric power station is also located here.

Orinoco is a river that flows through Venezuela and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its feature is the bifurcation of the river. The Casiquiare River separates from it, which flows into the Rio Negro River. In this river there is a white river dolphin or Amazonian and one of the largest - the Orinoco crocodile.

Lakes of South America

Maracaibo (translated as "Land of Mary") - large lake from brackish water located in Venezuela. The depth of this lake differs significantly in its southern and northern parts. The northern one is shallow, and the southern one reaches (according to different sources) from 50 - 250 meters. This lake is also one of the oldest lakes.

Titicaca (titi - puma, kaka - rock) - the most big lake by reserves fresh water and the second largest after Maracaibo. More than three hundred rivers flow into this lake. It is navigable. Archaeological research show that the city of Wanaku is located at the bottom of the lake.

Patos is a lake located on the coast in Brazil. It is 280 km long and 70 km wide. It is separated from the ocean by a sandy spit 8 km wide. It has large hydroelectric power stations. Salt, fish and oil are mined here.

Flora of South America

Thanks to warm climate and a huge amount of rainfall - the plant world in South America is very diverse. Each climate zone has its own flora. large area occupy the jungle, which are located in the tropical zone. Here grow: chocolate and melon tree - papaya, rubber trees, various palm trees, orchids.

To the south of the jungle, deciduous and evergreen plants grow in the equatorial forests. Here grows such a tree as a quebracho, which has a very durable wood. IN subtropical zone you can find vines and cacti. Further, moving south, there is a steppe zone where feather grass and various herbs grow. Behind this zone, deserts and semi-deserts begin, where dry shrubs grow.

Fauna of South America

The fauna of the mainland is as diverse as the flora. Monkeys, sloths, jaguars, anteaters, parrots, hummingbirds, toucans and many other animals live in the tropics. Crocodiles, anacondas, piranhas, a rodent - a copybaru, river dolphins are found in the Amazonian selva. Only here you can meet a wild cat - an ocelot, similar to a leopard. In the savannah live: armadillos, peccary pigs, spectacled bear, ostriches, cougars, fox and maned wolf. In the plains zone live: deer, llamas, pampas cat. Only in South America can you find deer - pudu, only 30-40 cm high. Galapagos Islands belonging to South America, inhabited by huge turtles.

South America is the fourth largest continent and lies in the southern hemisphere. Five climatic zones determine the characteristics of flora and fauna: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate, most of the mainland has a warm climate.

The flora and fauna are very rich, many species are found exclusively here. South America is a record holder in many ways, the longest and most deep river in the Amazon world, there is the longest mountain range of the Andes, the largest mountain lake Titicaca is located, it is the rainiest continent on earth. All this significantly influenced the development of wildlife.

Nature different countries South America:

Flora of South America

The flora of South America is rightfully considered the main wealth of the mainland. Such well-known plants as tomatoes, potatoes, corn, chocolate tree, rubber tree were discovered here.

The tropical rainforests of the northern part of the mainland still amaze with the richness of species, and today scientists continue to discover new plant species here. These forests are found different types palm trees, melon tree. There are 750 species of trees and 1,500 species of flowers per 10 square kilometers of this forest.

The forest is so dense that it is extremely difficult to move through it, vines also make it difficult to move. characteristic plant for rainforest is ceiba. The forest in this part of the mainland can reach a height of over 100 meters and spread over 12 levels!

South of the selva are variable moist forests and savannas, where the quebracho tree grows, which is famous for its very hard and very heavy wood, a valuable and expensive raw material. In the savannas small forests are replaced by thickets of cereals, shrubs and hard grasses.

Further south are the pampas - the South American steppes. Here you can find many types of herbs, common for Eurasia: feather grass, bearded vulture, fescue. The soil here is quite fertile, as there is less rainfall and it is not washed out. Shrubs and small trees grow among the grasses.

The south of the mainland is desert, the climate there is more severe, and therefore the vegetation is much poorer. Shrubs, some types of grasses and cereals grow on the stony soil of the Patagonian desert. All plants are resistant to drought and constant weathering of the soil, among them are resinous chanyar, chukuraga, Patagonian fabiana.

Fauna of South America

The animal world, like vegetation, is very rich, many species have not yet been described and qualified. The richest region is the Amazonian selva. It is here that such amazing animals as sloths, the smallest hummingbirds in the world, a huge number of amphibians, among which poisonous frogs, reptiles, including huge anacondas, the world's largest rodent capybara, tapirs, jaguars, river dolphins. At night, a wild cat ocelot hunts in the forest, resembling a leopard, but found only in America.

According to scientists, 125 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and an unknown number of species of insects and invertebrates live in the selva. rich and water world Amazons, its most famous representative - predatory fish piranha. Other famous predators are crocodiles and caimans.

The savannahs of South America are also rich in fauna. Armadillos are found here, amazing animals covered with plates - “armor”. Other animals that can only be found here are anteaters, rhea ostriches, spectacled bear, puma, kinkajou.

In the pampas of this continent, there are deer and llamas that live in open spaces, and who can find here grasses that they feed on. The Andes have their own special inhabitants - llamas and alpacas, whose thick wool saves them from the high mountain cold.

In the deserts of Patagonia, where only hard grasses and small shrubs grow on stony soil, mainly small animals, insects, and various types of rodents live.

South America includes the Pacific Galapogos Islands, which are home to amazing turtles, the largest representatives of the family on earth.

South America is a unique continent and due to its length from north to south, climatic zones here are unusually diverse, and with them the local flora and fauna.

In the northern part of the mainland there is a humid equatorial forest(selva). In it you can see a huge number of trees such as cocoa, hevea and ceiba. Monkeys, frogs and snakes, among which the largest is the anaconda, live everywhere. Sloths live on trees, so named because of the speed of their movement - no more than 3 m per minute. In the so-called Amazonian jungle a lot of birds, most of them live only here. The smallest bird on planet Earth, the hummingbird, is also a local resident. The fauna is diverse with parrots and toucans.

Constantly wet forests turn into variable wet, and then into stunning savannahs (campos, llanos). The most famous tree in this part of South America is the quebracho. Of the animals, there are many armadillos and anteaters, of birds - ostriches-nandu.

In the south, the savannas turn into steppes ( local name- pampas). The fauna is mainly represented by mammals: llamas and deer are local favorites. They are provided with the necessary food, because. the soil here is more fertile than in the north, and there are many plants.

Deserts are located in the very south of the mainland. This area is called Patagonia. natural conditions it is the least favorable, there is little rainfall and frost in winter time. Therefore, the flora and fauna are not so diverse - cereals with evergreen shrubs and small rodents.