Where is the equatorial forest in Africa? Equatorial climate zone

Africa is an amazing continent where it combines a large number of geographical zones. In no other place are these distinctions so noticeable.

The natural areas of Africa are very clearly visible on the map. They are distributed symmetrically relative to the equator and depend on uneven precipitation.

Characteristics of natural areas of Africa

Africa is the second largest continent on Earth. It is surrounded by two seas and two oceans. But the most main feature- this is its symmetry in position in relation to the equator, which divides Africa into two parts along the horizon.

In the north and south of the continent there are hard-leaved evergreens rain forests and shrubs. Next come deserts and semi-deserts, then savannas.

In the very center of the continent there are zones of variable-humid and permanently humid forests. Each zone is characterized by its own climate, flora and fauna.

Zone of variable-humid and moist evergreen equatorial forests of Africa

The evergreen forest zone is located in the Congo Basin and runs along the Gulf of Guinea. More than 1000 plants can be found here. These zones have predominantly red-yellow soils. Many types of palm trees grow here, including oil palms, tree ferns, bananas, and vines.

Animals are placed in tiers. In these places animal world very diverse. The soil is home to a huge number of shrews, lizards and snakes.

The humid forest zone is home to a huge number of monkeys. In addition to monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees, more than 10 species of individuals can be found here.

Lots of anxiety local residents delivered by dog-headed baboons. They are destroying plantations. This species is distinguished by its intelligence. They can only be frightened by weapons; they are not afraid of a person with a stick.

African gorillas in these places grow up to two meters and weigh up to 250 kilograms. The forests are inhabited by elephants, leopards, small ungulates, and forest pigs.

Good to know: The tsetse fly lives in the eucalyptus zones of Africa. It is very dangerous for humans. Its bite infects the deadly sleeping sickness. The person begins to experience severe pain and fever.

Savannah zone

About 40% of the entire territory of Africa is occupied by savannas. The vegetation is represented by tall grasses and umbrella trees towering above them. The main one is baobab.

This is a tree of life that is of great significance to the people of Africa. , leaves, seeds - everything is eaten. The ash of the burnt fruit is used to make soap.

In dry savannas, aloe grows with fleshy and prickly leaves. During the rainy season, the savannah has very abundant vegetation, but during the dry season it turns yellow and fires often occur.

The red soils of the savannah are much more fertile than those in the rainforest zone. This is due to the active accumulation of humus during the dry period.

The African savannah is home to large herbivores. Giraffes, elephants, rhinoceroses, and buffalos live here. The savannah area is home to predators, cheetahs, lions, and leopards.

Tropical desert and semi-desert zones

Savannas give way to zones of tropical deserts and semi-deserts. Rainfall in these places is very irregular. Certain areas may not experience rain for several years.

The climatic features of the zone are characterized by excessive dryness. Occur frequently sandstorms, strong temperature differences are observed throughout the day.

The relief of deserts consists of scattered rocks and salt marshes in places where there once were seas. There are practically no plants here. There are rare spines. There are types of vegetation with a short lifespan. They grow only after rains.

Zones of evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs

The outermost zone of the continent is the territory of evergreen hard-leaved leaves and shrubs. These places are characterized by wet winters and hot, dry summers.

This climate has a beneficial effect on the condition of the soil. In these places it is very fertile. Lebanese cedar, beech and oak grow here.

The highest points of the continent are located in this zone. On the peaks of Kenya and Kilimanjaro, even in the hottest period, there is constant snow.

Table of natural zones of Africa

The presentation and description of all natural zones in Africa can be clearly presented in the table.

Name of the natural area Geographical location Climate Vegetable world Animal world The soil
Savannah Neighboring zones from equatorial forests to the north, south and east Subequatorial Herbs, cereals, palms, acacias Elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals Red ferrollite
Tropical semi-deserts and deserts Southwest and north of the mainland Tropical Acacias, succulents Turtles, beetles, snakes, scorpions Sandy, rocky
Variably humid and humid forests Northern part from the equator Equatorial and subequatorial Bananas, palm trees. coffee trees Gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards, parrots Brown-yellow
Hardleaf evergreen forests Far North and Far South Subtropical Strawberry tree, oak, beech Zebras, leopards Brown, fertile

Position climatic zones The continent is very clearly demarcated. This applies not only to the territory itself, but also to the definition of fauna, flora and climate types.

Africa is a part of the world with an area of ​​30.3 million km 2 with islands, this is the second place after Eurasia, 6% of the entire surface of our planet and 20% of the land.

Geographical position

Africa is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres (most of it), a small part in the Southern and Western. Like all large fragments of the ancient continent, Gondwana has a massive outline, with no large peninsulas or deep bays. The length of the continent from north to south is 8 thousand km, from west to east - 7.5 thousand km. In the north it is washed by waters Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast by the Red Sea, in the southeast by the Indian Ocean, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Africa is separated from Asia by the Suez Canal, and from Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar.

Main geographical characteristics

Africa lies on an ancient platform, which causes its flat surface, which in some places is dissected by deep river valleys. On the coast of the mainland there are small lowlands, the northwest is the location of the Atlas Mountains, the northern part, almost entirely occupied by the Sahara Desert, is the Ahaggar and Tibetsi highlands, the east is the Ethiopian Highlands, the southeast is the East African Plateau, the extreme south is the Cape and Drakensberg mountains The highest point in Africa is the Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m, Masai plateau), the lowest is 157 meters below ocean level in Lake Assal. Along the Red Sea, in the Ethiopian Highlands and to the mouth of the Zambezi River, the largest fault in the world stretches earth's crust, which is characterized by frequent seismic activity.

The following rivers flow through Africa: Congo (Central Africa), Niger ( West Africa), Limpopo, Orange, Zambezi ( South Africa), as well as one of the deepest and longest rivers in the world - the Nile (6852 km), flowing from south to north (its sources are on the East African Plateau, and it flows, forming a delta, into the Mediterranean Sea). Rivers are characterized by high water content only in equatorial belt, due to the large amount of precipitation there, most of them are characterized by high flow rates and have many rapids and waterfalls. In lithospheric faults filled with water, lakes were formed - Nyasa, Tanganyika, the largest freshwater lake in Africa and the second largest lake in area after Lake Superior ( North America) - Victoria (its area is 68.8 thousand km 2, length 337 km, max depth - 83 m), the largest salty closed lake - Chad (its area is 1.35 thousand km 2, located on the southern outskirts the greatest desert Saharan world).

Due to Africa's location between two tropical zones, it is characterized by high total indicators solar radiation, which gives the right to call Africa the hottest continent on Earth (the highest temperature on our planet was recorded in 1922 in Al-Aziziya (Libya) - +58 C 0 in the shade).

In Africa there are such natural areas like evergreen equatorial forests (the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, the Congo basin), in the north and south turning into mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, then there is a natural zone of savannas and woodlands, spreading to Sudan, East and South Africa, in the north and south of Africa savannas are replaced by semi-deserts and deserts (Sahara, Kalahari, Namib). In the south-eastern part of Africa there is a small zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains - a zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs. Natural zones of mountains and plateaus are subject to the laws of altitudinal zonation.

African countries

The territory of Africa is divided between 62 countries, 54 are independent, sovereign states, 10 dependent territories belonging to Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and France, the rest are unrecognized, self-proclaimed states - Galmudug, Puntland, Somaliland, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). For a long time, Asian countries were foreign colonies of various European states and only gained independence by the middle of the last century. Depending on the geographical location Africa is divided into five regions: Northern, Central, Western, Eastern and Southern Africa.

List of African countries

Nature

Mountains and plains of Africa

Most of African continent is a plain. There are mountain systems, highlands and plateaus. They are presented:

  • the Atlas Mountains in the northwestern part of the continent;
  • the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands in the Sahara Desert;
  • Ethiopian Highlands in the eastern part of the mainland;
  • Drakensberg Mountains in the south.

The highest point of the country is the Kilimanjaro volcano, 5,895 m high, belonging to the East African Plateau in the southeastern part of the continent...

Deserts and savannas

The largest desert zone of the African continent is located in the northern part. This is the Sahara Desert. On the southwest side of the continent is another smaller desert, the Namib, and from there into the continent to the east there is the Kalahari Desert.

The savannah territory occupies the bulk of Central Africa. In area it is much larger than the northern and southern parts of the mainland. The territory is characterized by the presence of pastures typical of savannas, low bushes and trees. The height of herbaceous vegetation varies depending on the amount of precipitation. These can be practically desert savannas or tall grasses, with a grass cover from 1 to 5 m in height...

Rivers

The longest river in the world, the Nile, is located on the African continent. The direction of its flow is from south to north.

The list of major water systems of the mainland includes the Limpopo, Zambezi and Orange River, as well as the Congo, which flows through Central Africa.

On the Zambezi River is the famous Victoria Falls, 120 meters high and 1,800 meters wide...

Lakes

The list of large lakes on the African continent includes Lake Victoria, which is the second largest freshwater body of water in the world. Its depth reaches 80 m, and its area is 68,000 square km. Two more large lakes continent: Tanganyika and Nyasa. They are located in faults of lithospheric plates.

There is Lake Chad in Africa, which is one of the world's largest endorheic relict lakes that have no connection with the world's oceans...

Seas and oceans

The African continent is washed by the waters of two oceans: the Indian and the Atlantic. Also off its shores are the Red and Mediterranean Seas. From the outside Atlantic Ocean in the southwestern part the waters form the deep Gulf of Guinea.

Despite the location of the African continent, the coastal waters are cool. This is influenced by the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean: the Canary in the north and the Bengal in the southwest. From the Indian Ocean, the currents are warm. The largest are Mozambican, in northern waters, and Agulnoye - in the southern...

Forests of Africa

Forests make up a little more than a quarter of the entire territory of the African continent. Here are located subtropical forests, growing on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains and valleys of the ridge. Here you can find holm oak, pistachio, strawberry trees, etc. They grow high in the mountains conifers, represented by Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar, juniper and other types of trees.

Closer to the coast there are cork oak forests; in the tropical region, evergreen equatorial plants are common, for example, mahogany, sandalwood, ebony, etc...

Nature, plants and animals of Africa

The vegetation of equatorial forests is diverse; about 1000 species of different species grow here. different types trees: ficus, ceiba, wine tree, oil palm, wine palm, banana palm, tree ferns, sandalwood, mahogany, rubber trees, Liberian coffee tree, etc. Many species of animals, rodents, birds and insects live here, living directly on the trees. On the ground live: brush-eared pigs, leopards, African deer - a relative of the okapi giraffe, large apes- gorillas...

40% of Africa's territory is occupied by savannas, which are huge steppe areas covered with herbs, low, thorny bushes, milkweed, and separately standing trees(tree-like acacias, baobabs).

Here there is the largest concentration of such large animals as: rhinoceros, giraffe, elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, buffalo, hyena, lion, leopard, cheetah, jackal, crocodile, hyena dog. The most numerous animals of the savannah are herbivores such as: hartebeest (antelope family), giraffe, impala or black-footed antelope, various types of gazelles (Thomson's, Grant's), blue wildebeest, and in some places rare jumping antelopes - springboks - are also found.

The vegetation of deserts and semi-deserts is characterized by poverty and unpretentiousness; these are small thorny bushes and separately growing tufts of herbs. The oases are home to the unique Erg Chebbi date palm, as well as plants that are resistant to drought conditions and salt formation. In the Namib Desert, unique plants such as Welwitschia and Nara grow, the fruits of which are eaten by porcupines, elephants and other desert animals.

Animals here include various species of antelopes and gazelles, adapted to the hot climate and capable of traveling vast distances in search of food, many species of rodents, snakes, and turtles. Lizards. Among mammals: spotted hyena, common jackal, maned sheep, Cape hare, Ethiopian hedgehog, Dorcas gazelle, saber-horned antelope, Anubis baboon, wild Nubian ass, cheetah, jackal, fox, mouflon, there are resident and migratory birds.

Climatic conditions

Seasons, weather and climate of African countries

The central part of Africa, through which the equator line passes, is located in the region low pressure and receives sufficient moisture, the territories north and south of the equator are in the subequatorial climate zone, this is a zone of seasonal (monsoon) moisture and arid desert climate. The far north and south are in the subtropical climate zone, the south receives precipitation brought by air masses from the Indian Ocean, the Kalahari Desert is located here, the north has minimal precipitation due to the formation of a high pressure area and the characteristics of the movement of trade winds, the largest desert in the world is the Sahara, where the amount precipitation is minimal, in some areas it does not fall at all...

Resources

Natural Resources of Africa

By reserves water resources Africa is considered one of the least affluent continents in the world. The average annual volume of water is only sufficient to satisfy primary needs, but this does not apply to all regions.

Land resources are represented by large areas with fertile lands. Only 20% of all possible lands are cultivated. The reason for this is the lack of adequate water volume, soil erosion, etc.

African forests are a source of timber, including valuable species. The countries in which they grow, export raw materials. Resources are being used unwisely and ecosystems are being destroyed little by little.

In the depths of Africa there are deposits of minerals. Among those sent for export: gold, diamonds, uranium, phosphorus, manganese ores. There are significant reserves of oil and natural gas.

Energy-intensive resources are widely available on the continent, but they are not used due to the lack of proper investment...

Among the developed industrial sectors of the countries of the African continent, the following can be noted:

  • the mining industry, which exports minerals and fuels;
  • oil refining industry, widespread mainly in South Africa and North Africa;
  • chemical industry specializing in the production of mineral fertilizers;
  • as well as the metallurgical and engineering industries.

Main products Agriculture are cocoa beans, coffee, corn, rice and wheat. Oil palm is grown in tropical regions of Africa.

Fishing is poorly developed and accounts for only 1-2% of the total agricultural output. Livestock production indicators are also not high and the reason for this is the infection of livestock by tsetse flies...

Culture

Peoples of Africa: culture and traditions

There are approximately 8,000 peoples and ethnic groups living in 62 African countries, totaling approximately 1.1 billion people. Africa is considered the cradle and ancestral home of human civilization; it was here that the remains of ancient primates (hominids) were found, which, according to scientists, are considered the ancestors of people.

Most peoples in Africa can number several thousand people or several hundred living in one or two villages. 90% of the population are representatives of 120 nations, their number is more than 1 million people, 2/3 of them are peoples with a population of more than 5 million people, 1/3 are peoples with a population of more than 10 million people (this is 50% of the total population of Africa) - Arabs , Hausa, Fulbe, Yoruba, Igbo, Amhara, Oromo, Rwanda, Malagasy, Zulu...

There are two historical and ethnographic provinces: North African (the predominance of the Indo-European race) and Tropical African (the majority of the population is the Negroid race), it is divided into such areas as:

  • West Africa. Peoples speaking the Mande languages ​​(Susu, Maninka, Mende, Vai), Chadian (Hausa), Nilo-Saharan (Songai, Kanuri, Tubu, Zaghawa, Mawa, etc.), Niger-Congo languages ​​(Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, Nupe, Gbari, Igala and Idoma, Ibibio, Efik, Kambari, Birom and Jukun, etc.);
  • Equatorial Africa . Inhabited by Buanto-speaking peoples: Duala, Fang, Bubi (Fernandans), Mpongwe, Teke, Mboshi, Ngala, Como, Mongo, Tetela, Cuba, Kongo, Ambundu, Ovimbundu, Chokwe, Luena, Tonga, Pygmies, etc.;
  • South Africa. Rebellious peoples and speakers of Khoisani languages: Bushmen and Hottentots;
  • East Africa. Bantu, Nilotes and Sudanese people groups;
  • Northeast Africa. Peoples speaking Ethio-Semitic (Amhara, Tigre, Tigra), Cushitic (Oromo, Somali, Sidamo, Agaw, Afar, Konso, etc.) and Omotian languages ​​(Ometo, Gimirra, etc.);
  • Madagascar. Malagasy and Creoles.

In the North African province, the main peoples are considered to be Arabs and Berbers, belonging to the southern European minor race, mainly professing Sunni Islam. There is also an ethno-religious group of Copts, who are direct descendants of the Ancient Egyptians, they are Monophysite Christians.

Equatorial forests are considered one of the most ancient natural areas. They are common in the equatorial regions of Africa, which is where they got their name. In addition to the African continent, the equatorial forest is found on the Indonesian islands, in the Amazon, in the north of Australia and in the southern regions of the Malacca Peninsula, and covers 6% of the entire surface of the Earth.

Wet equatorial forests on the World map.

Wet equatorial forests grow in peculiar “spots”, most often in lowland areas. Their main feature is the absence of changing seasons, that is, the weather here is stable - hot, humid and rainy all year round. Because of this, the second name for equatorial forests is rain forests.

Climate of equatorial forests

The climate of equatorial forests is characterized by high humidity, usually 85%, approximately the same air temperature and intense precipitation. Average daytime temperature is about 28ºC, at night the temperature can drop below 22ºC.

There are two main seasons in this natural area: the dry season and the heavy rainy season. The dry season lasts from July to September. During the year, the equatorial forest receives from 250 cm to 450 cm of precipitation. Strong gusts of wind are almost never observed in the equatorial forest.

Such climatic conditions of the equatorial forest led to the rapid growth of vegetation, due to the density of which the equatorial forests are still difficult to navigate and poorly explored.

Answering the question of what contributes to the formation of such a climate, we can say that the main factor is location. The equatorial forest is located in the intertropical convergence zone. This is an area with relatively low atmospheric pressure and weak winds of variable directions.

Besides, Feedback between convection processes and high level soil moisture, along with the interception of precipitation from dense vegetation, leads to transpiration. This feedback results in a daily repeating climate pattern: hot, humid air, dry but foggy mornings, evening showers and convective storms.

Plants of equatorial forests

Life in equatorial forests is distributed “vertically”: plants populate the space on several levels, the number of so-called floors can reach four. Photosynthesis in the humid equatorial forest zone occurs without interruption all year round.

The flora of the equatorial forest is mainly represented by trees that reach a height of 80 meters and have wide roots that serve not only for support, but also for maximum absorption of nutrients from poor soil. Trees in rain forests, although deciduous, are mainly classified as .

In addition to trees, equatorial forests contain many woody vines - climbing plants that can climb to any height in pursuit of sunlight. Lianas twine around trunks, hang on branches, spread from tree to tree, like snakes crawl along the ground in wide coils or lie on it in tangled balls. Some vines of equatorial forests have thin, smooth, aerial-like roots, others are rough and knotty. Often the vines are woven together like real ropes. Woody vines have a long lifespan and have an almost limitless ability to grow in length.

Being so varied in length, thickness, hardness and flexibility, the vines of the equatorial forest are widely used by the natives in their Everyday life. Almost all rope products are woven from vines. Some vines do not rot in water for a long time and therefore are widely used in the manufacture of ropes, twine for attaching fishing nets and wooden anchors.

In addition to the many species of trees and vines that mainly make up the equatorial forests, various types of palm trees are also widely found here. The middle and lower floors are represented by herbs, mushrooms and lichens, with reeds appearing in places. Rain forest plants have a lot of foliage, but the taller they are, the smaller the leaves become. Where forests are located near the coast, you can find swamps covered with.

Below is a short list of the most famous plants of the equatorial forest:

  1. cocoa tree;
  2. Hevea brazilica is a source of rubber from which rubber is made;
  3. banana tree;
  4. a coffee tree;
  5. oil palm, which is a source of palm oil used in the manufacture of soap, ointments, creams, as well as candles and margarine;
  6. fragrant tsedrela, from the wood of which cigarette cases are made;
  7. ceiba. From the seeds of this plant, oil is extracted, which is necessary for soap making, and from the fruits, cotton is obtained, which serves as a filler for soft toys and furniture, and is also used for sound and heat insulation.

Animals of the equatorial forests

The fauna of the equatorial forest, like the plant world, is located in several tiers. The lower floor is a habitat for insects, including butterflies, small rodents, small ungulates, as well as predators - reptiles and wild cats.

The moist equatorial forests of Africa are inhabited by leopards and African elephants, in South America Jaguars live, and in India there are Indian elephants, which are smaller and more mobile than their African counterparts. The rivers and lakes are home to crocodiles, hippos and water snakes, including the most big snake of our planet - anaconda.

Among the diversity of fauna of equatorial forests, a large number of birds can be distinguished. These include toucans, sunbirds, banana eaters, turacos, and hummingbirds. One of the most famous inhabitants Parrots of different species are traditionally considered to be part of the rain forest. All feathered birds of the equatorial forests are united by exotic beauty and bright plumage. Among all this beauty, the birds of paradise stand out the most - their multi-colored crests and tails reach a length of 60 cm.

Next to the birds, sloths and monkeys live on the treetops: monkeys, howler monkeys, orangutans and others. Tree crowns are their main place of residence, as there is a lot of food in this layer - nuts, berries and flowers. In addition, this layer provides protection from terrestrial predators and winds. The forest canopy is so dense that it serves as a “superhighway” for arboreal mammals. Large primates - chimpanzees and gorillas - inhabit the lower tier of equatorial forests, where they feed on fruits that have fallen from trees, as well as young shoots and roots of plants.

Soil of equatorial forests

Due to the high content of aluminum and iron, the soils of equatorial forests have acquired a red-yellow color.

Despite the fact that the equatorial forest is the habitat of a myriad of plant species, the soils of this zone are relatively infertile and poor. The reason for this is the hot climate, due to which plants quickly decompose under the influence of bacteria, which in turn prevents the formation of a fertile (humus) layer. High precipitation in turn leads to leaching, the process of water washing away soluble salts and minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Over millions of years, weathering and heavy rainfall have caused the soil to lose nutrients. Also Negative influence The process of deforestation, which has worsened over the past few decades, has a significant impact on the rapid leaching of elements necessary for plants.

What is the significance of equatorial forests?

The importance of the equatorial forest, both for humanity and for nature as a whole, cannot be assessed. Equatorial forests are called “the lungs of our planet”, as they absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and in return release huge amounts of oxygen, on which the survival of all living organisms depends.

While the problems of the equatorial forests may seem remote, these ecosystems are critical to our well-being. Equatorial forests stabilize the climate, provide habitat for countless plants and wildlife, and create and influence precipitation across the planet.

The role of equatorial rain forests:

  • help stabilize the world's climate;
  • provide a home for many plants and animals;
  • maintain the water cycle, protect against floods, droughts and erosion;
  • are a source of medicines and food;
  • support for the population of indigenous tribes of the equatorial forests;
  • and also they are interesting place for visiting and relaxation of tourists from all over the world.

Remember: 1. What is a natural area? 2. What patterns exist in the change of natural zones on the plains? What are they due to? 3. What natural areas do you know?

Patterns of distribution of natural zones in Africa. You already know that within each of the natural zones there are similar climates, soils, vegetation and fauna. Since the equator crosses Africa approximately in the middle, it is characterized by a clear alternation of identical natural zones to the north and south of the equator, that is, latitudinal zoning is observed. Wet equatorial forests give way to savannas and woodlands, and these give way to tropical deserts and semi-deserts.

By map geographical zones and natural zones of the world (see flyleaf 2 of the textbook) find out in which areas of Africa and for what reasons latitudinal zoning is violated.

The extreme north and south of the continent are occupied by subtropical hard-leaved forests and shrubs.

The location of natural zones on the mainland is determined by climatic conditions, which are associated with geographic latitude, altitude, influence sea ​​currents, redistribution of precipitation depending on the relief. Therefore, latitudinal zonality is disrupted in some places and natural zones stretch along the meridians.

Wet equatorial forests. The equatorial rain forest zone covers the coast of the Gulf of Guinea north of the equator and the Congo River basin. It extends 1600 km from north to south and 5000 km from west to east. This natural area is peculiar and unique. There are practically no seasons here: in both winter and summer the air temperature is approximately +24 °C. More than 2000 mm of precipitation falls annually. It rains every day, usually in the afternoon. Water and heat create ideal conditions for the development of all living things, which is why moist equatorial rain forests grow here - hylea (from the Greek hile - forest). From an airplane they resemble a green sea (Fig. 23).

In the zone of moist equatorial forests, rivers are always deep. During floods, they often flood low banks, and the water covers vast areas.

In the conditions of the equatorial forest, red-yellow ferrallite soils (from lat, ferrum - iron) were formed. It is the iron compounds that give them their red color. These soils are very poor in nutrients, because organic residues are quickly decomposed by microorganisms due to high humidity and heat, and nutrients are quickly absorbed by plants. Therefore, cutting down equatorial forests causes an environmental disaster. The soil in bare areas is washed away by rain, and the sun turns the surface of the earth into a dry crust, where nothing can grow.

There are over 25,000 plant species in the equatorial forests of Africa. There are almost 1000 species of trees alone. These forests are always stuffy, humid and dark. The forest is so dense that it is impossible to see anything nearby: there are bushes all around, trees entwined with vines, fallen giant logs.

Rice. 23. Equatorial rainforest

Rice. 24. Tiering of the African Hylea

The equatorial forest has two character traits: It is evergreen and multi-tiered.

An evergreen forest because the plants never completely shed their leaves. Thanks to warm and humid weather throughout the year, the leaves can survive on the shoot for 2-3 years.

Layering is the distribution of plants by height in accordance with the need for light.

In forests temperate zone 3-4 tiers of plants. There are 6-8 of them in gileas (Fig. 24)! Below is the kingdom of shade-tolerant mosses and creeping plants. Shrubs and young trees, unpretentious to light, rise higher. There are many tree ferns and bananas here. Trees grow even higher, 15-20 m tall, which need more light. There are many among them valuable species, such as red, ebony, sandalwood, yellow trees. There are also bread and nutmeg trees. Ficus trees and various types of palm trees reign even higher. There are tall light-loving Seibi trees, the spreading crowns of which reach 60-80 m. In such tall trees The leaves are hard and evaporate little water. After all, raising it to such a height is difficult even for the most powerful root system. Wide support roots help keep the trunk upright.

The branches of the trees of the lower tier are intertwined so tightly that the crowns of the trees of the upper tier are not visible through them. At the very surface of the earth there is complete darkness. Only 1/120th of the sunlight gets here, so there is no grass at all. But vines rise from the ground - trees with flexible and long (up to 300 m) stems, which, wrapping around the trunks, bring leaves and flowers to the light. Making your way through such a forest without a path is difficult and dangerous.

African Hylea is the birthplace of valuable economic tree species: coffee tree, oil palm. Cocoa is also cultivated here.

The fauna of the equatorial rainforests is rich and diverse.

All layers of the forest are inhabited. Great apes live here - gorillas and chimpanzees. A real giant is a two-meter gorilla (Fig. 25) with thick black hair. She has great physical strength. Most spends its life on the ground, although from time to time it climbs trees. A chimpanzee is smaller than a gorilla (height is up to 1.5 m), has a large brain volume, and is different difficult behavior. Lives in trees. Among other monkeys, monkeys and baboons are known.

Rice. 25. Gorilla

Rice. 26. Okapi

Various birds flutter among the trees: fruit pigeon, various types of parrots, hornbills, woodpeckers, sunbirds, bananas. There are a lot of insects: termites, mosquitoes, beetles, butterflies, bees, dragonflies, scorpions, spiders. Some insects are dangerous to humans: malaria mosquitoes carry tropical fever pathogens, and tsetse flies carry sleeping sickness.

Common land animals include lizards, shrews, earth vipers, pythons, kites and forest pigs, African deer (40 cm high), and forest antelopes. Amazing creatures of nature, okapi (Fig. 26) is an animal with striped hind limbs, like a zebra. In fact, it is a dwarf giraffe, three times shorter than its tall relative. Occasionally occurs pygmy hippopotamus, which weighs 10-12 times less than the real one.

As if a giant chain envelops the humid equatorial forests from the north and south of the zone variable-humid forests. This is a transition zone from moist equatorial forests to open savannas. The flora and fauna of this zone are similar to the equatorial forest, but the rhythm of their life is determined by the seasons (wet and dry).

Variable-humid forests are more developed by humans than equatorial forests. The population living near or in the forests themselves is small. Local tribes engage in hunting and fishing. Large areas of forests are being cut down for valuable tree species. Animals die along with the forest.

Briefly about the main thing!

In Africa, the latitudinal zonation of natural zones is clearly visible, which is mirrored on both sides of the equator. The main natural areas of the mainland are moist equatorial forests (hylea), savannas and woodlands, tropical desert and semi-deserts.

African equatorial rainforests grow predominantly on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and in the Congo Basin in warm and humid conditions. equatorial climate. Nutrient-poor red-yellow ferrallite soils were formed here.

Equatorial rain forests are evergreen and multi-story. They amaze with the richness of their vegetation.

The most common representatives of the animal world are monkeys (gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys), birds (parrots, hornbills, sunbirds, bananas), and numerous insects.

1. What are the features of the change in natural zones in Africa?

2. Name and show on the map the main natural areas of the continent.

3. What soils were formed in the hyleas?

4. Name the representatives of the flora and fauna of the equatorial rainforest zone.

5. Think about how plants have adapted to living conditions in humid equatorial forests.

would. Do you think animals living in humid equatorial forests will be able to survive if they are moved to temperate forests? Justify your answer.

The size and extent of Africa allow it to be located in several climatic zones at once, the main zones being equatorial and tropical. This has led to diversity natural conditions, reflected in African flora and fauna.

Despite the fact that in many areas there is almost year-round heat, there are also humid equatorial forests of Africa, which are characterized by lush vegetation and constant freshness. They are respectively located in the equator region along south coast

Then they go east, but not in a continuous line to the Indian Ocean, but only to the Congo River, which spreads over a large area and includes its tributaries. In the Gold Coast region, the climate is much drier, so the same forests cannot develop here.

Also, rain forests are found on almost the entire surface of the island, although it is located slightly south of the main body of the African equatorial belt.

These forests owe their formation and lushness to the equatorial air masses, which are constantly located above the specified zones. However, the climate even in one zone is slightly different. The Congo Basin is constantly wetted by rain, so there is no concept of seasons. Year-round hydration and high temperatures(+ 20-30 degrees Celsius and above) and became the reason for such an active development of forest vegetation.

However, the Guinean coast has differences - there are “winter” months, during which it rains, and the rest of the time the precipitation decreases sharply. However, the amount of precipitation still remains within the limits that allow the equatorial rainforests of Africa to form and develop no worse than in the first case.

In general, all these forests make up about 8% of the entire area of ​​the mainland, and the local forest is especially diverse and rich. And this despite the fact that the soils in such forests are poor, they contain little:

  • minerals;
  • organic substances.

In addition, they contain a large proportion of aluminum and iron, and this prevents the formation of a fertile layer.

Among the plants known to scientists, there are more than 3 thousand of them, and they all form tiers, thereby creating the effect of absolutely filling the space with greenery. The very first, highest tier is formed by trees, average height of which - 40-50 meters, maximum - 80 meters, mainly:

  • ficus;
  • palm trees;
  • ceiba;
  • combret trees.

Then there are lower trees, making up the second to fifth or sixth tiers, among them there are:

  • palm trees;
  • rubber plants;
  • banana trees;
  • coffee trees;
  • creepers.

Naturally, it practically doesn’t hit the ground. sunlight, therefore, there is very little grass and shrubs here, and yet some spore-bearing plants that quietly exist in such an environment are also found here:

  • selaginella;
  • fern;
  • clubmoss

And some representatives of the flora that produce fruits and flowers have adapted to life on branches or trunks more large trees, a striking example is orchids.

The moist equatorial forests of Africa are so densely populated with vegetation that one hectare can contain from 400 big trees and up to 700, all of which belong to different 100 species. All this looks like a huge green ocean, the waves of which are composed of trees of different heights. The same greenery reigns inside - foliage, bark or covering the trunks of plants - all of this is painted in green shades, which are especially impressive in raindrops.

These forests are important for the local economy and the entire planet. Valuable trees with beautiful and durable wood grow here:

  • sandalwood;
  • red;
  • black (ebony);
  • rosewood.

They are used to make expensive furniture, windows, doors, and handles for kitchen appliances. The latter wood is also suitable for parquet and musical instruments.

Many plants donate their leaves, fruits or bark to produce medicines. However, much more important for the health of all inhabitants of the Earth is the fact that it is precisely such abundant equatorial thickets that are a serious source of oxygen, and they also “recycle” a lot of carbon dioxide.

Animals of the equatorial rainforests of Africa

In such conditions, animals of humid equatorial forests are accustomed to living mainly in trees, so the corresponding species are found here, especially common:

  • birds;
  • insects;
  • rodents.

There are many in the jungle for which the habitat is almost ideal - they feast on constant shoots, leaves and exotic fruits. Most often found here:

  • chimpanzee;
  • baboons;
  • monkeys.

But gorillas choose hard-to-reach areas to live, as they have a very calm and secretive character.

Ungulates of humid equatorial forests are represented by those species that feed not on grass, but on leaves:

Local predators usually also hunt in trees:

  • leopards;
  • civets;
  • wild cats.

In addition to the animals of the humid equatorial forests, there are a lot of birds on all levels, among them a wide variety of parrots. There are also snakes in the trees; they camouflage themselves well, and the mamba is generally considered very dangerous.

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