East African plateau. Where is the East African Plateau located? East African Plateau Description of the East African Plateau

The East African Plateau is located on both sides of the equator, between the Congo Basin in the west and the Indian Ocean in the east, Eastern Sudan, the Ethiopian Highlands, the Somali Peninsula in the north and the lower reaches of the Zambezi in the south and covers a space from 5 e. sh. to 17°S sh.

The plateau is a mobile, tectonically active part of the African platform. The greatest system of rifts and the greatest heights of the mainland are concentrated here. It is composed of Precambrian crystalline rocks, among which granites are widely developed. The ancient basement is covered in places by Paleozoic and Mesozoic, mainly continental deposits.

The plateau has long been an elevated area. In the Cenozoic, grandiose tectonic faults and rifts arose. They continue the grabens of the Red Sea and the Ethiopian Highlands and branch south of Lake Rudolf, forming the western, central, and eastern fault systems. Rifts are expressed in the relief as narrow depressions with steep stepped slopes; high mountain ranges rise along their edges (the Rwenzori massif, the volcanoes of Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Elgon, etc.). Volcanic activity along the faults has not ended at the present time. The areas not affected by faults have the appearance of a typical peneplain with insular mountains. There are also extensive basins on the plateau (Lake Victoria).

Western fault system runs along the western edge of the plateau and includes deep grabens occupied by the Albert Nile river valley, Albert lakes (Mobutu-Sese-Seko), Edward, Kivu, Tanganyika. From Lake Tanganyika, it stretches through the basin with the endorheic Lake Rukva, the tectonic basin of Lake Nyasa, the valley of the Shire River and the lower reaches of the Zambezi. Fault tectonics is especially pronounced here. This is one of the most seismic zones of the mainland and the arena of modern volcanism.

The grabens of Lakes Albert and Edward are separated by the Rwenzori horst massif, the highest peak in Africa (5119 m) after Kilimanjaro (5895 m) and Kenya (5199 m). The massif is composed of gneisses, crystalline schists and intrusions of basic rocks, has glacial forms of Quaternary and modern glaciation (kars, cirques, trough valleys, terminal moraines), giving an alpine character to the topography of its peaks.

Between the grabens of Lakes Eduard and Kivu is located Virunga volcanic region(seven volcanoes). Here, in addition to active volcanoes new volcanic cones are also formed. Ancient lavas cover the tectonic trough between the basins of the Kivu and Tanganyika lakes.

Adjoins the northern segment of the western fault system from the east lake plateau(Uganda Plateau), located between lakes Edward, Albert, Victoria and the White Nile basin. The plateau has a wavy surface, is composed mainly of crystalline rocks and reaches a height of 1000 to 1500 m. central part the plateau is occupied by a swampy plain with Lake Kyoga. The plateau breaks off with stepped slopes to the East Sudan Basin, in the east it merges with the volcanic plateau of Kenya.

Central fault system serves as a continuation of the Ethiopian graben, runs in the meridional direction from Lake Rudolf in the north to Lake Nyasa in the south, where it merges with the western fault system.

In the northern part of the central faults, within the volcanic plateau of Kenya, the volcanic relief is especially pronounced. Extinct volcanoes Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Elgon and a group of giant craters rise along tectonic cracks, the edges of which are covered with basalts and tuffs. In a group of giant craters, the Ngorongoro volcano stands out with a huge caldera.

Between the western and central fault system, on the one hand, and Lakes Victoria and Nyasa, on the other, is located Unyamwezi plateau. It is composed of granites and is heavily swamped. To the east are the Nyasa and Masai plateaus. These are peneplains on a granite base, broken by faults and crowned with rounded crystalline remnant peaks.

Eastern fault system represented mainly by unilateral faults. From the west, they limit by ledges a narrow coastal lowland, composed mainly of permeable Tertiary sandstones and limestones.

The climate of the East African Plateau is subequatorial, hot, variable-humid, with a pronounced climatic zonality at high mountain ranges. Only in the vicinity of Lake Victoria, on the Lake Plateau, does it approach the equatorial one both in terms of the amount and regime of precipitation, and in the even course of temperatures, which, however, due to the high altitude of the area, are 3-5 ° C lower than the average monthly temperatures of the equatorial strip in the Congo Basin.

Trade winds and equatorial monsoons dominate within the plateau. In the winter months of the Northern Hemisphere, the northeast trade wind, without changing its direction, is drawn into a baric depression over the Kalahari. Passing over the ocean from Southeast Asia to Africa, it is moistened and releases a small amount of precipitation, mainly orographic. In the summer of the Northern Hemisphere, the south trade wind (southeast wind) intensifies; passing through the equator, it acquires the character of a southwest monsoon. The main wet period is also associated with them; most of the precipitation falls on the windward slopes of the mountains.

High temperatures are observed only at low altitudes, especially on the coast indian ocean. In Dar es Salaam, for example, average temperature the warmest month (January) +28 °С, the coldest (August) +23 °С. It becomes cooler with height, although the annual course remains uniform. In the mountains at an altitude of more than 2000 m, the temperature is below 0 ° C, above 3500 m snow falls, and on the highest massifs - Rwenzori, Kilimanjaro and Kenya, there are small glaciers.

Humidification of various parts of the East African Plateau is not the same. The greatest amount of precipitation (up to 2000-3000 mm and more) is received by high mountain ranges. From 1000 mm to 1500 mm of precipitation falls in the northwest and southwest of the country, as well as on the coast of the Indian Ocean south of 4 ° S. sh., where the mountainous meridional coast delays moist winds from the Indian Ocean. In the rest of the plateau, 750-1000 mm of precipitation falls annually, falling in the extreme northeast and in closed depressions to 500 mm or less. Kenya is the driest region of the plateau, with a long rainless period of 7 to 9 months.

For territories located between 5 ° with. sh. and 5°S sh., the equatorial precipitation regime is characteristic, with two rainy seasons (March-May and November-December), separated by two periods of their relative decrease. To the south, they merge into one rainy season (from October-November to March-April), followed by a dry period.

The East African Plateau occupies a watershed position between the basins of the Atlantic, Indian Oceans and mediterranean sea. In the north-west of the region, the Nile originates, to the system of which the lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Albert and Edward belong. Lakes Tanganyika and Kivu belong to river system Congo; Lake Nyasa drains into the Zambezi. In the central part of the plateau there are drainless lakes (Rudolf, Ruk-va, Baringo, etc.). In terms of size, depth, impact on runoff and climate, the plateau lakes are comparable to the Great Lakes of North America.

Tectonic fragmentation of the plateau, diversity of relief and climatic conditions determine the variegation and diversity of landscapes. The interior is dominated by typical savannahs with rather large tracts of light forests and shrubs that shed their leaves during the dry season. The vegetation consists of grasses, acacias, mimosas, baobabs, tamarisks, milkweeds, etc. Red-brown soils are developed on the plains under typical savannahs and light forests, black tropical soils are developed in poorly drained relief depressions, and young brown tropical soils are on the main volcanic rocks.

In arid northeastern regions (the plateau of Kenya, north of 2°-3° N), on red-brown soils, deserted savannas and thickets of thorny shrubs of xerophytic, leafless acacias are developed for most of the year, in places turning into semi-desert. Similar and more arid landscapes are characteristic of deep depressions of the central fault system, where drainless lakes are half-filled with sand, covered with a crust of salts, and surrounded by solonchaks with halophytic vegetation.

Sparse, semi-desert vegetation cover has and Northern part coastal lowlands off the coast of the Indian Ocean. In the southern part of the lowland, semi-deserts are replaced by savannahs, red-brown soils give way to red ones; mixed deciduous-evergreen forests appear along the rivers and on the windward slopes of the mountains. Mangroves are developed along the coast.

In abundantly humid areas, moist equatorial forests on red-yellow soils and mixed deciduous-evergreen forests on red soils are common. They are mostly cut down and replaced by secondary formations - wet tall grass savannahs. Evergreen and mixed forests are found mainly in the west (Lake Plateau), where they merge with the hylaea of the Congo Basin, as well as on the windward wet slopes of high mountain ranges.

On the high massifs of the country, altitudinal landscape zonation is well expressed. On the slopes of Kilimanjaro and in other mountains, up to a height of 2100-2800 m, evergreen equatorial forests and mountain hyleys with lianas and epiphytes grow. There is a lot of precipitation here. Trees are represented by coniferous and deciduous species. In the undergrowth, tree-like ferns and heathers form a continuous bowl. Lots of lichens and mosses. Mountain forests at altitudes of 1100-2000 s have been greatly altered by man and have given way to park landscapes, where grassy spaces alternate with groves. Above the mountain hyla (up to 3100-3900 m) there are thickets of bamboo and tree-like juniper, giving way to mountain high-grass meadows with giant tree-like ragworts (senecio) and lobelia. Starting from a height of 4200-4500 m, sparse lichen vegetation grows on stony placers and rocks. The peaks of Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Rwenzori with 4800 m are covered with eternal snows and glaciers.

Animal world the plateau is rich and varied. Monkeys, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, buffaloes, zebras, antelopes (kudu, eland, etc.) find rich food in savannahs, woodlands and forests. From predators there are lions, leopards. In the river and lake thickets and reservoirs there are hippos, crocodiles, birds nest. The avifauna is richly represented: guinea fowl, marabou, secretary bird, African ostrich, shoebill, etc. Dryer places are inhabited by lizards and snakes. On the plateau are world-famous national parks and reserves. In the Kivu National Park (Zaire), which includes the Rwenzori mountain range, landscapes and rich wildlife of forests, savannahs, volcanic regions, including mountain gorillas, are protected. The national parks of Kagera in Rwanda, Serengeti, Ngorongoro in Tanzania and others are world famous.

South Africa

South Africa occupies a high part of the mainland south of the watershed plateau between the Congo and Zambezi river basins. The relief is dominated by plateaus and plateaus. The country is distinguished by a wide variety of landscapes due to the sharp contrasts in moisture and the relief of individual areas. The main part is occupied by the South African Plateau, to which the Cape Mountains adjoin from the south. A special natural area forms the island of Madagascar.

South African plateau lies within the Precambrian African Platform, occupying the Kalahari and Karra syneclises. The Precambrian basement in the Kalahari syneclise is shallow and in some places comes to the surface, forming ledges and uplifts; the sedimentary cover is represented by horizontal Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic continental deposits, mainly sandstones and sands (Kalahari Formation). The blue-clise of the Karoo is a foothill foredeep of the platform, which arose in connection with the formation of the Cape mountain system; within its limits, the crystalline basement is deeply lowered and hidden under a thick layer of lagoonal sediments; Permian-Triassic age, mainly sandstones and shales (karoo formation); in some places these rocks are intruded by lavas. The deposits of the Karoo Formation make up the southern and southeastern plateaus.

In terms of surface structure, the South African Plateau has much in common with the Congo Basin, but is located much higher. The central part of the plateau is occupied by plains kalahari basins, lying at an altitude of 900-1000 m; here, red and white sands are common on the surface, hilly into low dunes.

The Kalahari Basin is surrounded on all sides by marginal plateaus and uplands with numerous insular remnant massifs and mountains. They gradually rise towards the outskirts up to 1200-2500 m and more. Width plateaus are reached in the east and south of the region. To the east are the Matabele and Weld Plateaus, to the south the Upper Karoo Plateau.

Matabele Plateau lies between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. The plateau is composed of crystalline rocks; its surface is slightly hilly, there are separate insular mountains. The marginal parts of the plateau are strongly dissected by river erosion and stand out sharply above the neighboring plains.

South of the Limpopo River is located Weld plateau. It is a series of stepped plateaus (High, Middle, Shrub, and Low Weld) descending towards the Kalahari Basin and the Limpopo River Valley. The plateaus are composed of sandstones, shales and conglomerates of the karru formation, in places intrusive and volcanic rocks.

Upper Karoo, located south of the Orange River, closes the Kalahari Basin in the south, descending to it in several steps. The plateau is composed of horizontally occurring sandstones and shales, penetrated by numerous intrusions, forming remnant elevations, sometimes sharp peaks.

In the west of the plateau, the strip of marginal plateaus narrows. Plateaus are composed of crystalline rocks and continental deposits. They are crowned with insular mountains and remnant massifs, reaching their highest height in the Comas Plateau, where dislocated slates and quartzites are exposed.

The marginal plateaus of the South African Plateau in the west, east and south drop off steeply to the coastal plains and depression Big Karoo by the Great Ledge, the outer slopes of which are deeply dissected by river erosion. The Ledge reaches its highest height in the east, in the Dragon Mountains. The southern part of the mountains - the Basuto Highlands, which has basalt lavas - is the highest massif of the Kalahari ring frame. Its peak Thabana-Ntlenyana (3482 m) is the highest in South Africa.

The marginal plateaus in the east are adjoined by a vast Mozambique lowlands. It is composed of Cretaceous and Tertiary deposits and is broken up by tectonic fissures in the northern part. In the west, the plateaus of the marginal plateaus break off to the coastal plain. Its section between the rivers Kunene and Orange is the Namib Desert. The desert stretches from north to south for more than 1500 km, occupying a narrow strip of ancient crystalline peneplain, crushed by faults.

The plateau lies in the subequatorial, tropical and subtropical climatic zones. However, tropical climate types predominate. In the summer of the Southern Hemisphere, a local baric depression forms over the Kalahari. The north of the region (up to the middle reaches of the Zambezi) is irrigated by the summer equatorial monsoon. All East End is influenced by the southeast trade wind, which brings humid tropical air from the Indian Ocean, heated over the warm Mozambican current. Abundant precipitation falls on the Mozambique lowlands, the slopes of the Great Escarpment and the eastern marginal plateaus. To the west of the Great Ledge and the marginal plateaus, marine tropical air quickly transforms into continental air and the amount of precipitation decreases. The western coast is under the influence of the South Atlantic High, which is intensified by the powerful cold Benguela Current. Atlantic air warms up over the surface of the mainland and emits almost no precipitation. On the western marginal plateaus there is a front between the maritime Atlantic and continental tropical air; here the amount of precipitation increases slightly. In the winter of the Southern Hemisphere, a local anticyclone forms over the plateau, merging with the South Atlantic and South Indian baric maxima. Downward currents of air determine the dry season; precipitation does not fall.

The South African Plateau is an area of relatively high temperatures, significant daily and annual fluctuations. But on the plateau temperatures are moderated by a considerable height. Over most of the plateau, summer temperatures are + 20 - ^ - + 25 ° С, not rising above +40 ° С; winter temperatures are +10 - + 16°С. On the Upper Karoo Plateau, frosts occur in winter, and snow falls on the Basuto Highlands.

The plateau is an area of predominantly meager precipitation, which is distributed very unevenly over its territory. Their number decreases when moving from east and north to west and south. In the north of the region, up to 1500 mm of moisture falls annually; here the rainy season brought by the equatorial monsoons lasts up to 7 months. A lot of precipitation falls on the east coast, where the barrier role of the Great Ledge is especially pronounced. Precipitation is brought here by the southeast summer trade wind (more than 1000 mm per year, and on the slopes of the Basuto highlands - over 2000 mm). The most frequent and heavy rains fall from November to April. On the eastern marginal plateaus, precipitation decreases on the Weld Plateau (750-500) and Matabele (750-1000 mm). The summer maximum precipitation is also preserved in the interior regions, but their annual amounts are decreasing. On the central Kalahari plains, the rainy season is reduced to 5-6 months, the annual precipitation does not exceed 500 mm. To the southwest, the amount of precipitation decreases to 125 mm per year. The driest part of the region is the coastal Namib desert (less than 100 mm of precipitation per year). Little precipitation will fall on the western marginal plateaus (up to 300 mm per year).

The river network on the plateau is poorly developed. Most of the channels of the Kalahari, the western and southern marginal plateaus do not have permanent watercourses. The most major river- Zambezi. The large rivers of the region - the Orange and the Limpopo collect their waters from the Matabele plateau and the High Weld. Okovango River - Main water system internal runoff of the Kalahari Basin. During rains, the Okovango basin sometimes overflows with water, its excess being directed from Okovango to the Zambezi and the Makarikari salt marsh.

The large size of the South African plateau, differences in relief and climate create a variety of landscapes.

Almost all landscapes of the mainland are represented in South Africa.

Along with zonal differences, there are also sectoral differences. The eastern humid oceanic, mid-continental and western relatively cool desert oceanic sectors are well expressed in the region.

In the eastern sector, where there is a lot of precipitation, zones of seasonally humid forests change from north to south: subequatorial (up to 20 ° S), tropical (20-30 ° S), and subtropical monsoon. On the slopes of the Dragon Mountains, altitudinal zonality of the forest-meadow type is well expressed. Seasonally humid forests occupy the windward slopes up to a height of 800-1000 m. Above, shrub thickets and mountain-valley, mainly coniferous forests, meadows, and rocky placers appear; similar vegetation is characteristic of the Basuto Highlands (thickets of bushes, individual trees, meadows and stony placers).

In the middle continental sector (Kalahari Basin and marginal plateaus), natural zones of savannas, woodlands and shrubs of the subequatorial and tropical belts, tropical and subtropical semi-deserts, and subtropical mountain steppes are developed. However, semi-desert landscapes dominate. Rare vegetation consists of xerophytic herbs, shrubs and individual acacias, spurges, aloe. The Kalahari is characterized by wild watermelons, the stems of which cover large areas.

In the western oceanic sector is the tropical Namib Desert. In its southern part, along the valleys of dry channels and in places where groundwater is shallow, rather dense vegetation of succulent shrubs and semi-shrubs, low-growing acacias and hard grasses is developed. The most interesting plant of the northern part of the desert is an ancient relic of velvichia.

The South African plateau, with its inherent variety of landscapes, has a rich and varied fauna. But the number of wild animals is now markedly reduced, and many of their species are disappearing. The number of herbivorous animals - antelopes, zebras, giraffes - has especially decreased, and predators have also been greatly exterminated. Lions, leopards, wild cats have almost completely disappeared, hyenas and jackals are more common. The largest nature reserve in the region - national park Kruger in South Africa. Almost all African animals are collected here.

cape mountains located in the extreme southwest and south of the mainland, between the mouth of the Olifants River in the west and the city of Port Elizabeth in the east. They stretch along the coast for 800 km, their average height is 1500 m. From the Great Ledge South African plateau they are separated by the Big Karoo depression.

Fold-forming processes here took place from the second half of the Carboniferous to the second half of the Triassic, which includes their main phases. Therefore, the age of the Cape Mountains is somewhat younger than typical Hercynian structures. Subsequently, they were destroyed and smoothed, and then rejuvenated by later uplifts.

The Cape Mountains consist of several anticline ridges that have a blocky character. The ridges are separated by wide longitudinal synclinal valleys and narrow transverse gorges.

The main part of the Cape Mountains is the southern system of latitudinal ranges. Here are the highest (up to 2324 m) and long mountains Zwartberg (Small and Big) and Langeberg, between which lies the intermountain plateau of the Little Karoo. To the east, the ridges decrease and break into the sea with rocky capes. On far south they break up into small isolated ridges and massifs, rising among the coastal plain. Another system of ridges is extended along Atlantic Ocean in a north-northwest direction. In the southwest and south, the mountains come at an angle to the coast, indented with convenient bays.

\ The climate of the Cape Mountains is subtropical. In the southwest, it is of the Mediterranean type, with rainy warm winter and dry hot summers. Temperatures are tempered by altitude and sea. In Cape Town, the average temperature in January is + 21 ° С, in July + 12 ° С. Rains begin in April, are heavy from June to September, and then stop as moist westerly winds give way to subtropical anticyclone winds. In winter, snow falls on the tops of the mountains. In the western part of the mountains, on their windward slopes, the greatest amount of precipitation falls (up to 1800 mm per year). To the east, their number decreases to 800 mm. East of 22° E. in the precipitation regime, the typical features of the Mediterranean climate disappear, and the summer maximum begins to predominate due to the penetration of humid oceanic monsoons onto the mainland. There is little precipitation on the coastal plain (in Cape Town - 650 mm per year). The climate of the inner parts of the mountains is subtropical continental.

The Cape Mountains are covered mainly with vegetation of the Mediterranean type, with a predominance of evergreen hard-leaved shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Here the landscapes have much in common with the Atlas Mountains. They are also characterized by brown (typical and leached) and mountain forest brown soils. However, the floristic composition of vegetation is different, specific to the Cape flora. Various heathers, proteas, pelargoniums, mesembryanthemums, aloe, cactus-like spurges, crassula, etc. are very characteristic. Cape nightshade with yellow poisonous fruits, a silver tree with silvery fluffy leaves, a Cape water lily with red flowers, wild watermelon, etc. are interesting. flora few trees. Species of evergreen shrubs and perennial grasses predominate.

Thickets of evergreen hard-leaved shrubs form the fynbosh formation (an analogue of the Mediterranean maquis), which arose on the site of reduced forests that previously covered mountain slopes. The composition of the fynbos includes representatives of the Proteaceae family (including the silver tree), heather, legumes, bellflowers and rue.

Forests have survived only on inaccessible, well-moistened mountain slopes. In the west, in deep and inaccessible valleys, you can find a few groves of southern conifers (podo-carpus, etc.), in the east, on the slopes of the mountains, there are dense monsoon mixed forests, consisting of coniferous and evergreen deciduous trees (olive laurel, Cape beech, etc. .) trees. Palm groves grow on the coastal lowlands.

Vast areas in the Cape Mountains are covered with herbs with a predominance of bulbous, tuberous and rhizomatous forms from the amaryllid, iris, orchid and labiate families. Immortelle, cineraria and other Compositae are characteristic. Semi-desert landscapes with succulent shrubs and semi-shrubs are developed on especially dry and hot lee slopes and in hollows. Thickets of acacias and aloe are widespread along the rivers in the Small Karru depression, in other parts the vegetation is represented by rare shrubs.

Madagascar - one of the largest islands of the Earth (590 thousand km 2). In size, it is second only to Greenland, New Guinea and Kalimantan.

Madagascar is an ancient crystalline, obliquely placed block of the African platform, separated from the mainland in the Mesozoic. The relief of the island is asymmetrical. Its entire eastern part is occupied by a highly elevated Central plateau. It is composed mainly of crystalline (granites, diabases) and metamorphic (mica stanzas, gneisses and quartzites) rocks broken through and overlapped in places by volcanic formations. The surface of the plateau is an ancient peneplain, gently inclined from east to west and dissected by faults and rivers into isolated plateaus, remnant hills and massifs, between which there are depressions and wide valleys with a flat bottom, partially occupied by lakes and swamps. The prevailing heights of the Central Plateau are 800-1200 m, near the eastern outskirts - up to 1500 m. The highest heights are in the middle part (Ankaratra massif, 2644 m) and in the north (Tsa-ratanana volcanic massif, 2880 m, the highest point of the island).

In the east, the Central Plateau descends in two fault ledges, deeply dissected rivers to a narrow (10–20 km) coastal lowland composed of Quaternary deposits. From the west, it is adjoined by relatively low plateaus (less than 800 m high) and a wide strip of hilly lowland, on the ancient foundation of which Cretaceous and Cenozoic marine deposits lie.

The climate of Madagascar is mostly tropical and hot. In the north, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is +20 °С, the warmest (January) is +27 °С. In the south, the average July temperature drops to + 13°C, the average January temperature drops to + 33°C. On the plateau, the climate is temperate, with temperatures decreasing with altitude. In Antananarivo at an altitude of 1400 m, the average January temperature is below + 20 °C, the average July temperature is +12 - + 13 °C. The amount of precipitation in different parts of the island is not the same. The main mass of precipitation is brought by the southeast trade wind from the Indian Ocean. Therefore, on east coast(lowlands and slopes of the plateau) rainfall is almost uniform throughout the year and the amount of precipitation reaches 3000 mm per year. On the eastern plateaus, the amount of precipitation decreases, but exceeds 1500 mm. In the west of the island there are rainy and dry periods. The amount of precipitation decreases from 1000 to 500 mm per year. In the extreme southwest, inaccessible to humid air currents, less than 400 mm of moisture falls annually.

Most of Madagascar is covered by a dense network of high-water rivers. Large rivers are located in the western part. They start on the Central Plateau and flow into the Mozambique Channel. There are rapids in the rivers where they cross the ledges of the plateau. Rivers are high in summer (November-April) and low in winter. Many of them dry up in winter.

The flora and fauna of Madagascar is poorer than on the mainland, and is characterized by high endemism. This is the result of the long isolation of the island. Over 6,700 species of endemic angiosperms are known here. There are almost no ungulates, higher predators and real monkeys on the island.

The vegetation cover of the island has undergone great changes. The natural vegetation on 4/5 of the area of Madagascar has been brought down by man. Previously, the island was covered with moist evergreen forests in the east and dry deciduous forests and savannahs in the west. Now no more than 13% of the island's surface is occupied by forests.

Moist evergreen forests are now preserved only in small areas in the eastern part of the island (valuable iron, black, rosewood trees, many gum, rubber, traveler's tree).

The western part of the island is dominated by low-grass savannas with baobabs, palms and tamarinds. Tropical light forests are found only in small areas (most often in the form of gallery forests along the banks of rivers) and consist of rocks with foliage falling in the dry season. The southwestern outskirts of Madagascar are occupied by semi-desert landscapes. Prickly bushes and hard grasses grow here. Especially numerous are aloe, candelabra-like euphorbia, and various bulbous ones.

The fauna of the island is very peculiar. It has been preserved since the separation of Madagascar from the mainland. Lemurs (35 species) are widespread here. In other parts of the world they are absent or few (represented by one or two species). On the island there are representatives of primitive predators - civet; there are ferret cats, wild boars, endemic representatives of insectivores - tenrecs, some species of bats. The avifauna is rich, and it contains many endemic species, genera and even families (almost half of all birds are endemic). Reptiles are diverse, including chameleons, geckos, turtles, two types of crocodiles. Insects are numerous and varied.

see also photos of the nature of the South African plateau(with geographical and biological captions for photographs) from the section Natural landscapes of the world:

On the gentle slopes of the eastern plateaus, facing the interior of the continent, there is still quite a lot of precipitation; treeless terrain prevails there with a dense cover of tall grasses (). Such a landscape in South Africa is called "weld".

As we move to the west, the amount of precipitation decreases and the vegetation takes on an increasingly xerophytic appearance. It consists of various bulbs that turn green and bloom only during a short period of rains, low-growing thorny acacias, numerous types of aloe. In the Kalahari there are completely barren rocky areas where plants do not form a continuous cover (). Wild watermelons are very characteristic of the Kalahari, the lashes of which cover large areas. Apparently, all known cultivated types of watermelons originate from here. With a large lack of moisture, watermelons with their water reserves save people and animals from thirst.

The vegetation of the Namib Desert is even poorer, where there are only individual specimens of velvichia, fixed on the sands with powerful roots, and undersized thorny shrubs ().

The shores of drying lakes and swamps in the Kalahari depressions and the upper reaches of the Zambezi are covered with more moisture-loving vegetation (), which serves as a refuge for wild animals.

in which countries is the east African plateau thanks in advance and got the best answer

Answer from Alexander[guru]
East African Plateau
stretches between the Ethiopian highlands in the north and north. end of the lake Nyasa in the south at 1750 km, between the Congo depression in the west and the coastal plains of the Indian Ocean in the east - at 1400 km (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi). Altitudes 500–1500 m, in the west of the Rwenzori mountains (Margherita peak, 5109 m), Virunga massif. To the south are the flat-topped Mitumba Mountains (3305 m). On SW. plateau cones of volcanoes Elgon (4221 m), Kenya (5199 m), Meru (4566 m), Kilimanjaro (5895 m); in the center is the Crater Highlands with the Ngorongoro Caldera. A large uplift of the ancient African platform, broken by a system of faults, united under the name of the East African Rift System. Composed of ancient crystalline and young volcanic rocks. High seismicity and modern volcanism are characteristic. Deposits of coal, fluorite, polymetallic ores and rare metals; placers of precious stones, diamond-bearing kimberlite pipe Mwadui. The largest rivers in Africa originate on the plateau: the Nile, the Congo, the Zambezi. A series of large lakes (Victoria, Edward, Tanganyika, Rudolf, etc.); modern glaciers on the volcanoes of Kilimanjaro, Kenya and in the Rwenzori massif. The climate is equatorial and subequatorial, seasonally humid, hot. Savanna woodlands and shrubs predominate. In the mountains, tropical rainforests, subalpine and alpine meadows. National parks Virunga, Serengeti and a number of others. Investigated by Europeans in the second half of the XIX century. (D. -H. Speke, R. -F. Burton, D. -O. Grant, D. Livingston, G. -M. Stanley, etc.).

Answer from Yoi Pidril[newbie]
Ethiopia

Answer from Sewerka[guru]
The East African Plateau is a plateau in Africa, located in the southeast of the mainland, in the eastern part of Central Africa. In the north of the plateau are Mount Meru, Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as the largest African lake Victoria. The plateau is highly fragmented by the East African Rift Valley and limited to its southern part. In the center is the Crater Highlands with the Ngorongoro Caldera. On the plateau are the sources of the largest rivers in Africa: the Nile, the Congo, the Zambezi.

Answer from 3 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: in which countries is the East African plateau located in advance ATP

Geographical position

Remark 1

The East African Plateau is a territory located on both sides of the equator, between the Somali Peninsula, the Ethiopian Highlands, Eastern Sudan in the north and the lower Zambezi in the south and between the Indian Ocean in the east and the Congo Basin in the west. The plateau lies from 5 ° N. sh. to 17°S sh.

The East African Plateau is a tectonically active, mobile part of the African Platform. It is here that highest points continent of Africa and the largest rift system. The platform consists of Precambrian crystalline rocks, mainly granite. The basement is covered with Mesozoic and Paleozoic continental deposits.

Figure 1. East African Plateau. Author24 - online exchange of student papers

The plateau has been uplifted for a long time. Rifts and tectonic faults arose in the Cenozoic. They are a continuation of the Ethiopian highlands, the Red Sea grabens, to the south of Lake Rudolf they branch out and form three fault systems: central, western and eastern.

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Rifts are narrow depressions with steep stepped slopes. On their periphery there are high mountain systems: the Rwenzori massif, the volcanoes of Kenya, Kilimanjaro, Elgon, etc. At present, volcanic activity continues along the faults.

Areas not affected by faults have the appearance of a peneplain with insular mountains.

On the East African plateau there are vast basins, in one of which Lake Victoria is located.

Fault systems of the East African Plateau

In the East African Plateau, the following fault systems are distinguished:

The western fault system stretches along the western regions of the plateau. It was a deep grabens occupied by lakes Edward, Albert (Mobutu-Sese-Seko), Tanganyika, Kivu, the valley of the Albert Nile river. From Tanganyika, this system of faults stretched through the tectonic basin of about. Nyasa, the depression with Lake Rukva, the valley of the Shire River, the lower course of the Zambezi. This territory is one of the most seismically active zones of the continent. The grabens of Lakes Eduard and Albert separate the Rwenzori Massif. The massif includes crystalline schists, gneisses, intrusions of mafic rocks. Rwenzori has glacial forms of Quaternary and modern glaciation (circuses, kars, terminal moraines, trough valleys). Between the grabens of the Kivu and Eduard lakes is the Virunga volcanic region, on the territory of which there are seven volcanoes. Currently, new volcanic cones continue to form. Between the basins of Lakes Tanganyika and Kivu there is a tectonic trough covered with ancient lavas. At the bottom of lakes Nyasa and Kivu, constant volcanic eruptions occur. Between the lakes Victoria, Albert, Edward and the White Nile basin there is the Lake Plateau (1000-1500 m), composed mainly of crystalline rocks. In the central part of the plateau there is Lake Kyoga and a swampy valley.
The Central Fault System is a continuation of the Ethiopian Graben, which runs north-south from Lake Rudolf to Lake Nyasa, where it joins the western fault system. In the northern regions within the boundaries of the volcanic plateau of Kenya, volcanic relief is clearly manifested. Along tectonic fissures covered with tuffs and basalts rise extinct volcanoes Elgon, Kenya, Kilimanjaro, a group of giant craters (Ngorongoro Volcano).
The eastern fault system is characterized mainly by one-sided normal faults, which limit the narrow coastal lowland from the west by ledges. The lowland is composed mainly of limestones and tertiary sandstones.

Between the central and western fault systems, between lakes Nyasa and Victoria, there is the Unyamwezi Plateau. The plateau is heavily swamped and composed of granites. To the east are the Masai and Nyasa plateaus.

Climatic conditions

The climate of the East African Plateau is subequatorial. It is variable-humid, hot, with a clearly defined zonality on high mountain ranges. On the Lake Plateau and in the vicinity of Lake Victoria, the climate is approaching equatorial, which is evidenced by the precipitation regime, their quantity, and the even temperature course.

Equatorial monsoons and trade winds dominate on the territory of the plateau. In winter (in the Northern Hemisphere), the northeast trade wind blows, which over the Kalahari is drawn into a baric depression. Passing from South-East Asia to Africa over the ocean, it emits little rainfall. In summer, the southeast wind intensifies, the south trade wind, which, passing through the equator, acquires the character of a southwest monsoon.

High temperatures are observed along the coast of the Indian Ocean and at low altitudes. The average temperature in January (the warmest month) is +28 °С, in August (the coldest) - +23 °С. The temperature decreases with height, while the annual figures remain uniform. Above 2000 m the temperature can drop below 0 °C, and above 3500 m snow falls. On the highest mountain ranges - Kilimanjaro, Kenya and Rwenzori there are small glaciers.

Precipitation on the territory of the East African Plateau falls unevenly:

2000-3000 mm - highland areas;
from 1000 to 1500 mm - the coast of the Indian Ocean, the northwest and southwest of the plateau;
750-1000 mm - central regions plateaus;
500 mm and less - closed depressions and the territory of the extreme northeast.

The driest region of the East African Plateau is Kenya. Here periods without precipitation can last up to 7-9 months.

The equatorial precipitation regime can be observed between 5° N. sh. and 5°S sh. For these territories, there are two rainy seasons (November-December, March-May) and two periods of decreasing precipitation. IN southern regions one rainy season can be observed, lasting from October to April, which is replaced by a long dry weather.

The East African Plateau separates the basins of the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

In the north-west of the plateau, the Nile River originates, to the system of which the Kyoga, Victoria, Edward and Albert lakes belong. Lakes Kivu and Tanganyika belong to the Congo system, and Lake Nyasa has a drain in the Zambezi. There are many endorheic lakes in the central part: Rukva, Rudolf, Baringo, etc. In terms of size, depth, influence on climate and runoff, the lakes of the plateau can be compared with the Great Lakes of North America.

The variety and variegation of landscapes is determined by: the diversity of the relief, tectonic fragmentation, the variety of climatic conditions. In the interior, there are many typical savannahs with large tracts of shrubs and light forests that shed their leaves in the dry season. The vegetation is represented by cereals, mimosas, acacias, tamarisks, baobabs, etc.

That is why mountain-building processes on the mainland are very poorly developed - young mountains grow only in the north of the continent.

More than 4/5 of Africa is occupied by plateaus. Lowlands on the mainland are virtually absent. Not only the mainland is located on the African-Arabian platform, but also Madagascar, Seychelles and the Arabian Peninsula.

The African Highlands are located in the southeastern part of the mainland. The average heights here exceed 1000 m above sea level. In this region, the African-Arabian platform rises somewhat.

The Ethiopian highlands are located in southeastern Africa. This part of the continent is called High Africa, this is where highest peak continent - Mount Kilimanjaro.

These areas are characterized by frequent earthquakes, which provoke the eruptions of the Karisimbi and Cameroon volcanoes. Highlands are also found in the Sahara desert, the highest of them being the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands.

Mountains of Africa

On the coast of the Indian Ocean are the Cape and Dragon Mountains - their height decreases towards the center of the mainland. The Cape Mountains formed during the Upper Paleozoic.

The region of the Cape Mountains is characterized by a Mediterranean type of climate. The Cape Mountains are a vivid example of the revived mountains that were formed on the ancient destroyed mountain systems and inherited from them the folded structure that can be traced in the modern relief.

The highest peak of the Cape Mountains is Mount Compasberg, whose height reaches 2500 m. In the north of the mainland, as a result of the displacement of the spirit of the lithospheric plates, young Atlas Mountains were formed.

These mountains are a continuation of the young mountains of Europe, which are located in the Gibraltar region. The length of the mountain ranges of the Atlas Mountains is 2500 km: they originate in the north of Morocco and stretch to Tunisia.

The highest peak of the Atlas Mountains is Mount Toubkal (4100m). Due to tectonic faults, earthquakes often occur in the Atlas Mountains region.

Lowlands of Africa

The lowlands of Africa occupy only 9% of its territory. The lowest point on the continent salt Lake Assal, which is located on the territory of the state of Djibouti (Red Sea coast). Lowlands are also common in some countries of Central Africa.

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Previous topic: The history of the discovery and exploration of Africa: the expeditions of Henry the Navigator and the Cape Good Hope
Next topic: Minerals of Africa: characteristics of minerals in different regions of Africa

Africa is part of the world. Geography of African countries

Mining regions of Africa

Over the past decades, Africa has become one of the largest producers of mineral raw materials.

Its share in the world mining industry is approximately 1/7, but in the production of diamonds, gold, cobalt, manganese ores, chromites, uranium concentrates, phosphorites, it is much larger. Much copper and iron ore, bauxite, oil and natural gas are also mined.

Let us add that Africa dominates the market of such "metals of the 20th century" as vanadium, lithium, beryllium, tantalum, niobium, and germanium. Almost all extracted raw materials and fuel are exported from Africa to economically the developed countries which makes its economy very dependent on the world market.

In particular, this applies to countries such as Algeria, Libya, Guinea, Zambia, Botswana, where the mining industry provides more than 9/10 of all exports.

For the development of the mining industry, Africa has very favorable natural preconditions.

Its minerals are genetically related, firstly, to the outcrops of the folded basement of the African Platform, secondly, to the sedimentary deposits of the cover of this platform, thirdly, to the areas of Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic (Alpine) folding, fourthly, to the sedimentary deposits of foothill and intermountain troughs, fifthly, with lateritic weathering crusts, and, finally, sixthly, with intrusions of igneous rocks.

In this case, for example, deposits of iron and copper ores can occur both in the outcrops of the crystalline basement and in the cover of sedimentary deposits, and iron ore can also be found in the lateritic weathering crust.

It must also be borne in mind that the bowels of Africa have not yet been studied enough. In recent decades, prospecting and exploration activities have been expanded and have led to a significant increase in the reserves of most minerals.

But nevertheless, many, especially deep, horizons in this sense still remain "terra incognita", which opens up prospects for new great geological discoveries - just as it happened in the 1950s-1960s. with African oil.

In total, in Africa, one can distinguish seven major mining regions.

Three of them are in North Africa and four are in sub-Saharan Africa (Figure 149).

Two of the North African mining regions predate World War II and have been further developed in recent decades.

This is the region of the Atlas Mountains, where rather large deposits of iron, manganese, and polymetallic ores are associated with mineralization processes that took place during the Hercynian folding period.

But the main wealth of this region is the world's largest phosphorite-bearing belt, stretching along the southern slopes of the Atlas through the territory of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The thickness of the phosphorite suite here reaches 80-100 m, and the total reserves of phosphorites (in terms of P205) amount to 22 billion tons, of which 21 billion are in Morocco. In terms of phosphorite mining, this country is second only to the United States and China, and in terms of their export it ranks first in the world.

Second mining region North Africa is located in Egypt. Here, deposits of oil and natural gas, iron, titanium and other ores, phosphorites, rock salt and other fossil raw materials are connected with the sedimentary cover of the Nubian-Arabian massif and with the rift basins of the Red Sea.

Rice. 149.

Mining areas in Africa

But, of course, the main mining region of North Africa is the youngest of them, located within the Algerian and Libyan parts of the Sahara desert.

The territorial combination of mineral resources in it is much more limited and is actually represented only by oil and natural gas, but in terms of the size of their reserves, production and the overall role of the region in the world economy, it is far ahead.

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Physical and geographical characteristics of South Africa.

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High Africa. South Africa occupies a high part of the mainland south of the watershed plateau between the Congo and Zambezi river basins. The relief is dominated by plateaus and plateaus. The country is distinguished by a wide variety of landscapes due to the sharp contrasts in moisture and the relief of individual areas.

The main part is occupied by the South African Plateau, to which the Cape Mountains adjoin from the south. A special natural area forms the island of Madagascar.

South African plateau lies within the Precambrian African Platform, occupying the Kalahari and Karoo syneclises. The Precambrian basement in the Kalahari syneclise is shallow and in some places comes to the surface, forming ledges and uplifts; the sedimentary cover is represented by horizontal Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic continental deposits, mainly sandstones and sands (Kalahari Formation).

The Karoo syneclise is a piedmont trough of the platform, which arose in connection with the formation of the Cape mountain system; within its limits, the crystalline basement is deeply lowered and hidden under a thick layer of Permian-Triassic lagoonal sediments, mainly sandstones and shales (Karru Formation); in some places these rocks are intruded by lavas.

The deposits of the Karoo Formation make up the southern and southeastern plateaus.

The Kalahari Basin is surrounded on all sides by marginal plateaus and uplands with numerous insular remnant massifs and mountains.

They gradually rise towards the outskirts up to 1200-2500 m and more. The greatest width of the plateau is reached in the east and south of the region.

To the east are the Matabele and Weld Plateaus, to the south the Upper Karoo Plateau.

South of the Limpopo River is located Weld plateau. It is a series of stepped plateaus (High, Middle, Shrub, and Low Weld) descending towards the Kalahari Basin and the Limpopo River Valley.

The plateaus are composed of sandstones, shales and conglomerates of the karru formation, in places intrusive and volcanic rocks.

Upper Karoo, located south of the Orange River, closes the Kalahari Basin in the south, descending to it in several steps.

The plateau is composed of horizontally occurring sandstones and shales, penetrated by numerous intrusions, forming remnant elevations, sometimes sharp peaks.

The Ledge reaches its highest height in the east, in the Dragon Mountains. The southern part of the mountains - the Basuto Highlands, which has basalt lavas - is the highest massif of the Kalahari ring frame. Its peak Thabana-Ntlenyana (3482 m) is the highest in South Africa.

The marginal plateaus in the east are adjoined by a vast Mozambique lowlands.

It is composed of Cretaceous and Tertiary deposits and is broken up by tectonic fissures in the northern part. In the west, the plateaus of the marginal plateaus break off to the coastal plain. Its section between the rivers Kunene and Orange is the Namib Desert. The desert stretches from north to south for more than 1500 km, occupying a narrow strip of ancient crystalline peneplain, crushed by faults.

The plateau lies in the subequatorial, tropical and subtropical climatic zones.

However, tropical climate types predominate. In the summer of the Southern Hemisphere, a local baric depression forms over the Kalahari.

The north of the region (up to the middle reaches of the Zambezi) is irrigated by the summer equatorial monsoon. The entire eastern part is influenced by the southeast trade wind, which brings moist tropical air from the Indian Ocean, heated over the warm Mozambique Current.

Abundant precipitation falls on the Mozambique lowlands, the slopes of the Great Escarpment and the eastern marginal plateaus. To the west of the Great Ledge and the marginal plateaus, marine tropical air quickly transforms into continental air and the amount of precipitation decreases.

The west coast is under the influence of the South Atlantic High, which is intensified by the powerful cold Benguela Current. Atlantic air warms up over the surface of the mainland and emits almost no precipitation.

On the western marginal plateaus there is a front between the maritime Atlantic and continental tropical air; here the amount of precipitation increases slightly.

In the winter of the Southern Hemisphere, a local anticyclone forms over the plateau, merging with the South Atlantic and South Indian baric maxima. Downward currents of air determine the dry season; precipitation does not fall.

The South African Plateau is an area of relatively high temperatures, significant daily and annual fluctuations. But on the plateau temperatures are moderated by a considerable height. Over most of the plateau, summer temperatures are + 20- * + 25 ° C, not rising above + 40 ° C; winter temperatures are +10 - + 16°С.

On the Upper Karoo Plateau, frosts occur in winter, and snow falls on the Basuto Highlands.

Precipitation is brought here by the southeast summer trade wind (more than 1000 mm per year, and on the slopes of the Basuto highlands - over 2000 mm). The most frequent and heavy rains fall from November to April. On the eastern marginal plateaus, precipitation decreases on the Weld Plateau (750-500) and Matabele (750-1000 mm). The summer maximum precipitation is also preserved in the interior regions, but their annual amounts are decreasing.

On the central Kalahari plains, the rainy season is reduced to 5-6 months, the annual precipitation does not exceed 500 mm. To the southwest, the amount of precipitation decreases to 125 mm per year. The driest part of the region is the coastal Namib desert (less than 100 mm of precipitation per year). Little precipitation will fall on the western marginal plateaus (up to 300 mm per year).

The river network on the plateau is poorly developed.

Most of the channels of the Kalahari, the western and southern marginal plateaus do not have permanent watercourses. The largest river is the Zambezi.

The large rivers of the region - the Orange and the Limpopo collect their waters from the Matabele plateau and the High Weld. The Okovango River is the main internal water system of the Kalahari Basin. During rains, the Okovango basin sometimes overflows with water, its excess being directed from Okovango to the Zambezi and the Makarikari salt marsh.

The large size of the South African plateau, differences in relief and climate create a variety of landscapes.

Almost all landscapes of the mainland are represented in South Africa..

Along with zonal differences, there are also sectoral differences.

The eastern humid oceanic, mid-continental and western relatively cool desert oceanic sectors are well expressed in the region. In the eastern sector, where there is a lot of precipitation, zones of seasonally humid forests change from north to south: subequatorial (up to 20 ° S), tropical (20-30 ° S) and subtropical monsoon.

On the slopes of the Dragon Mountains, altitudinal zonality of the forest-meadow type is well expressed. Seasonally humid forests occupy the windward slopes up to a height of 800-1000 m. Above, shrub thickets and mountain-valley, mainly coniferous forests, meadows, and rocky placers appear; similar vegetation is characteristic of the Basuto Highlands (thickets of bushes, individual trees, meadows and stony placers).

However, semi-desert landscapes dominate.

Lowlands, plains, plateaus

Rare vegetation consists of xerophytic herbs, shrubs and individual acacias, spurges, aloe. The Kalahari is characterized by wild watermelons, the stems of which cover large areas.

In the western oceanic sector is the tropical desert of Nami b. In its southern part, along the valleys of dry channels and in places where groundwater is shallow, rather dense vegetation of succulent shrubs and semi-shrubs, stunted acacias and hard grasses is developed.

The most interesting plant of the northern part of the desert is an ancient relic of velvichia.

The South African plateau, with its inherent variety of landscapes, has a rich and varied fauna.

But the number of wild animals is now markedly reduced, and many of their species are disappearing. The number of herbivorous animals - antelopes, zebras, giraffes - has especially decreased, and predators have also been greatly exterminated. Lions, leopards, wild cats have almost completely disappeared, hyenas and jackals are more common. The largest reserve in the region is the Kruger National Park in South Africa. Almost all African animals are collected here.

cape mountains located in the extreme southwest and south of the mainland, between the mouth of the Olifants River in the west and the city of Port Elizabeth in the east.

They stretch along the coast for 800 km, their average height is 1500 m. They are separated from the Great Ledge of the South African Plateau by the Big Karoo depression.

Fold-forming processes here took place from the second half of the Carboniferous to the second half of the Triassic, which includes their main phases.

Therefore, the age of the Cape Mountains is somewhat younger than typical Hercynian structures. Subsequently, they were destroyed and smoothed, and then rejuvenated by later uplifts.

The Cape Mountains consist of several anticline ridges that have a blocky character. The ridges are separated by wide longitudinal synclinal valleys and narrow transverse gorges.

The main part of the Cape Mountains is the southern system of latitudinal ranges.

Here are the highest (up to 2324 m) and long mountains Zwartberg (Small and Big) and Langeberg, between which lies the intermountain plateau of the Little Karoo. To the east, the ridges decrease and break into the sea with rocky capes. In the extreme south, they break up into small isolated ridges and massifs rising among the coastal plain. Another system of ridges is extended along the Atlantic Ocean in a north-north-west direction.

In the southwest and south, the mountains come at an angle to the coast, indented with convenient bays.

The climate of the Cape Mountains is subtropical. In the southwest, it is of the Mediterranean type, with rainy, warm winters and dry, hot summers. Temperatures are tempered by altitude and sea. In Cape Town, the average temperature in January is + 21 ° С, in July + 12 ° С. Rains begin in April, are heavy from June to September, and then stop as moist westerly winds give way to subtropical anticyclone winds.

In winter, snow falls on the tops of the mountains. In the western part of the mountains, on their windward slopes, the greatest amount of precipitation falls (up to 1800 mm per year). To the east, their number decreases to 800 mm. East of 22° E. in the precipitation regime, the typical features of the Mediterranean climate disappear, and the summer maximum begins to predominate due to the penetration of humid oceanic monsoons onto the mainland.

There is little precipitation on the coastal plain (in Cape Town - 650 mm per year). The climate of the inner parts of the mountains is subtropical continental.

The Cape Mountains are covered mainly with vegetation of the Mediterranean type, with a predominance of evergreen hard-leaved shrubs and herbaceous perennials.

Here the landscapes have much in common with the Atlas Mountains. They are also characterized by brown (typical and leached) and mountain forest brown soils.

However, the floristic composition of vegetation is different, specific to the Cape flora. very typical times

personal heathers, proteas, pelargoniums, mesembryanthemums, aloe, cactus-like spurges, crassula, etc. Interesting Cape nightshade with yellow poisonous fruits, silver tree with silvery fluffy leaves, Cape water lily with red flowers, wild watermelon, etc.

There are few trees among the Cape flora. Species of evergreen shrubs and perennial grasses predominate.

Thickets of evergreen hard-leaved shrubs form the fynbosh formation (an analogue of the Mediterranean maquis), which arose on the site of reduced forests that previously covered mountain slopes.

The composition of the fynbos includes representatives of the Proteaceae family (including the silver tree), heather, legumes, bellflowers and rue.

Forests have survived only on inaccessible, well-moistened mountain slopes.

In the west, in deep and inaccessible valleys, you can find a few groves of southern conifers (podo-carpus, etc.), in the east, on the slopes of the mountains, there are dense monsoon mixed forests, consisting of coniferous and evergreen deciduous trees (olive laurel, Cape beech, etc. .) trees. Palm groves grow on the coastal lowlands.

Vast areas in the Cape Mountains are covered with herbs with a predominance of bulbous, tuberous and rhizomatous forms from the amaryllid, iris, orchid and labiate families.

Immortelle, cineraria and other Compositae are characteristic. Semi-desert landscapes with succulent shrubs and semi-shrubs are developed on especially dry and hot lee slopes and in hollows. Thickets of acacia and aloe are common along the rivers in the Small Karru depression, in other parts the vegetation is represented by rare shrubs.

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