Description of the natural zone Savannah and woodlands are a typical natural zone for the subequatorial climate zone. Savannah is a tropical forest-steppe, located between tropical deserts and a zone of evergreen tropical forests. Savannas are characterized by a predominance of grass cover in combination with individual trees or groups of trees. Savannas and woodlands occupy 40% of the continent's area.
Climate and map of climatic zones The natural zone of savannahs and woodlands is characterized by trade wind-monsoon circulation of air masses, where dry tropical air predominates in winter and humid equatorial air in summer. As you move away from the equatorial belt, the duration of the rainy season decreases from 8-9 months to 2-3 months at the outer boundaries of the zone. The annual amount of precipitation also decreases in the same direction (from 2000 mm to 250 mm per year). Also a characteristic feature of savannas is relatively small seasonal temperature fluctuations (from 15 to 32 degrees), but daily amplitudes can be significant, reaching 25 degrees. All these characteristic climatic features are reflected in all components of the natural environment of savannas and woodlands.
Soil Savannah soils directly depend on the duration of the rainy season and are characterized by a leaching regime. Closer to the equatorial forests, where this season lasts up to 9 months, red ferrallitic soils are formed. In areas where the rainy season is less than 6 months, typical savannah red-brown soils are characteristic, and on the borders with semi-deserts the soils are unproductive and have a thin layer of humus.
Flora Savannah vegetation has adapted to the dry continental climate and long droughts and has a strongly xerophytic character. All grasses usually grow in tufts. The leaves of cereals are dry and narrow, hard and covered with a waxy coating. The foliage on the trees is small, protected from excessive evaporation. Many species are distinguished by a high content of essential oils. In savannas, tall grasses grow up to 3 meters. Trees, such as acacias and baobabs, grow here alone or in separate groups.
Baobab Baobab is rightfully considered one of the symbols of Africa. This tree lives for 4-5 thousand years, its height rarely exceeds 25 m, but its girth is up to 40 m. Baobabs are not afraid of fires, but their enemies are elephants. They eat wet bark. Monkeys feast on the fruits of the tree. In a trunk up to 10 m thick, the baobab stores water: its soft wood, like a sponge, can accumulate up to 120 tons of water. The tree can lose weight and gain weight.
Acacia Umbrella acacia. Branched acacias rise like huge umbrellas among the tall grasses. More common are Senegalese, whitish, giraffe acacia and other species. Due to its crown, which has a flattened shape, the acacia is called umbrella-shaped. The adhesives contained in the bark are widely used in industry, and the wood is used to make high-quality expensive furniture.
Fauna The fauna of the savannah is a unique phenomenon. No other corner of the planet has such an abundance of large animals. Before the arrival of white colonizers, countless herds of herbivores roamed the expanses of savannas, moving from place to place in search of watering places. They were followed by numerous predators (lions, cheetahs, hyenas, etc.), and the predators were followed by carrion eaters (jackals and vultures). However, over time the situation has changed radically. The construction of roads, cattle breeding and plowing of large areas, and steppe fires have put wild animals in distress. The salvation was the creation of numerous reserves where hunting and all economic activities are prohibited. Herds of gazelles, antelopes, zebras and buffaloes eat and trample grass vegetation, preventing bushes from settling. It is thanks to these animals that the savanna has its characteristic “park look”. Among the many species of ungulates, the most numerous are wildebeest; next to them you can always find small herds of African horses - zebras.
Insectivores and reptiles with birds The fauna of the savannah and woodlands is rich in representatives of reptiles: Pythons Chameleons Vipers Lizards Rivers and lakes are inhabited by crocodiles, and from the avifauna one can distinguish ostriches, hammer-headed herons and tiny sunbirds. In the South African sub-region, which is not so rich in vegetation, fur-covered insectivores - golden moles - are abundant, as well as kaffir striders, slightly reminiscent of jerboas.
Predators Cheetah The large cat cheetah is the fastest predator on the planet. It can reach a speed of 110 km per hour. When running, a cheetah relies not on three, but only on two paws, this explains its seemingly flying movements. In the vast expanses of the savannah, the animal is required to be strong or to be fast. Speed is the key to being able to catch up with your prey or stay alive while fleeing. The cheetah is both strong and amazingly fast. Its speed and flexibility allow it to catch up and overcome even stronger, but less agile prey, such as an antelope or zebra. The cheetah's coloring is yellow-fawn with black spots, allowing it to hide in thickets of thick grass and sneak up on its prey unnoticed.
King of beasts Leo Lion is the king of beasts and reigns in the savannah. Its prey includes ungulates, buffalos, and wild pigs. The lion is not as fast as the cheetah, but is much stronger. Lions live in pride families: a male, the owner and protector of the pride, several females and their cubs. The male has a luxurious long mane. Females do not have it, and this allows them to be more successful hunters, because the mane prevents them from hiding in open areas and getting close to prey unnoticed.
Seasonal migration of animals In winter, when drought sets in, the savanna dries out, turning into a lifeless, dried-out steppe. Animals migrate to areas where there is still a sufficient amount of water, however, at this time it is still too little. Heat and drought are very difficult conditions even for animals adapted to this climate. When the drought finally ends and summer begins, the rainy season suddenly begins. The dried-out savannah blossoms and fills with greenery, as if by magic. Herds of zebras, elephants and antelope are returning to gain strength before the next drought
Tkachuk Daria
Slide 2
PLAN
- Geographical position
- Climatic conditions
- Vegetable world
- Animal world
- Soils
- Sources
Slide 3
Geographical position
- Savannahs occupy almost 40% of the continent's area. It is located around the equatorial rain forests.
Slide 4
Climatic conditions
- Savannas are located in the subequatorial belt. Savannahs have two distinct seasons - a dry and hot winter and a rainy, hot summer. The average temperature in July and January is +22C. The average annual precipitation is from 500 to 2000 mm.
Slide 6
- The baobab is rightfully considered one of the symbols of sub-Saharan Africa. This tree lives for 4-5 thousand years, its height rarely exceeds 25 m, but its girth is 40 m. Baobabs are not afraid of fires, but their enemies are elephants. They eat wet bark. Monkeys feast on the fruits of the tree.
Slide 7
- Umbrella acacia. Branched acacias rise like huge umbrellas among the tall grasses. But there is no shade to be found under this umbrella. Small acacia leaves, positioned edge-on to the sun, transmit vertically falling rays. If you stand under an acacia umbrella and look up, the green crown against the background of the bright blue sky will seem lacy.
Slide 8
Slide 9
Animal world
- The fauna of savannas is very diverse. The grass is eaten by termites, ants, herbivorous rodents. But the main lovers of grass are ruminants, which are hunted by large predators - lions, cheetahs, hyenas. The savannahs of Africa are home to real giants, elephants and rhinoceroses.
Slide 10
- The African elephant is the largest land animal, its mass is 5 tons, its height is 3.5 m. And the body length is 4.5 m. African elephants used to live all over the continent. Now there are few of them left. They were exterminated for their valuable ivory - tusks. Now reserves have been created to preserve elephants. But it is difficult to restore the elephant population, since young elephants become adults only at 10-15 years of age.
Slide 11
- Giraffes protect themselves from enemies by running, and sometimes their spotted color helps them hide. Despite their clumsy appearance, they run faster than a horse.
The tallest are giraffes (up to 6 m). They feed on leaves and shoots of trees, which they can easily reach due to their high growth.
But to take food from the ground, they either have to kneel or spread their legs wide apart.
Slide 12
Soils
- Savannas are dominated by red-brown soils with a fertile layer thickness of up to 30 cm. It is quickly washed away during the rainy season if the soil is not fixed by vegetation.
Slide 13
Economic activities of people
- Residents of the savannah have long been engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture. They clear new areas of savannas, burning out natural vegetation.
- Grows corn, pearl millet - sorghum, coffee tree, groundnut. Excursions are organized for tourists.
Slide 14
Sources:
- Kondratyev B. A., Matreveli P. M. Geography lessons: 6th grade. – Enlightenment, 1990
- Korinskaya V. A. et al. Geography of continents and oceans: Textbook for 7th grade. avg. school-M.: Education, 1993.
- Photo gallery “Animal World” - thematic selection and software shell Absolut soft, 2002
View all slides
Slide 1
Slide 2
PLAN Geographical location Climatic conditions Flora Animal world Soils Economic activities of people Sources
Slide 3
Geographical location Savannah covers almost 40% of the continent's area. It is located around the equatorial rain forests.
Slide 4
The climatic conditions of Savannah are in the subequatorial zone. Savannahs have two distinct seasons - a dry and hot winter and a rainy, hot summer. The average temperature in July and January is +22C. The average annual precipitation is from 500 to 2000 mm.
Slide 6
The baobab is rightfully considered one of the symbols of sub-Saharan Africa. This tree lives for 4-5 thousand years, its height rarely exceeds 25 m, but its girth is 40 m. Baobabs are not afraid of fires, but their enemies are elephants. They eat wet bark. Monkeys feast on the fruits of the tree.
Slide 7
Umbrella acacia. Branched acacias rise like huge umbrellas among the tall grasses. But there is no shade to be found under this umbrella. Small acacia leaves, positioned edge-on to the sun, transmit vertically falling rays. If you stand under an acacia umbrella and look up, the green crown against the background of the bright blue sky will seem lacy.
Slide 8
Slide 9
Fauna The fauna of savannas is very diverse. The grass is eaten by termites, ants, herbivorous rodents. But the main lovers of grass are ruminants, which are hunted by large predators - lions, cheetahs, hyenas. The savannahs of Africa are home to real giants, elephants and rhinoceroses.
Slide 10
The African elephant is the largest land animal, its mass is 5 tons, its height is 3.5 m. And the body length is 4.5 m. African elephants used to live all over the continent. Now there are few of them left. They were exterminated for their valuable ivory - tusks. Now reserves have been created to preserve elephants. But it is difficult to restore the number of elephants, since only by 10-15 years old do young elephants become adults.
Slide 11
Giraffes protect themselves from enemies by running, and sometimes their spotted color helps them hide. Despite their clumsy appearance, they run faster than a horse. The tallest are giraffes (up to 6 m). They feed on leaves and shoots of trees, which they can easily reach due to their high growth. But to take food from the ground, they either have to kneel or spread their legs wide apart.
Slide 12
Soils Savannahs are dominated by red-brown soils with a fertile layer thickness of up to 30 cm. It is quickly washed away during the rainy season if the soil is not fixed by vegetation.
After watching our presentation, children will learn what savanna is, where it is located and what its climate is like.
Thanks to beautiful bright slides and interesting texts, children will get acquainted with the animals and birds that inhabit the savannas, learn what a scrub is, see what beautiful flowers bloom on a baobab tree and remember that the pattern on a giraffe’s skin is never the same as fingerprints! In our Savannah report contains even more beautiful illustrations and interesting facts.
The structure of our presentation:
What is savanna
Where are the savannahs located?
Savannah climate
Baobab - how it blooms, how it grows, what fruits it has
All about eucalyptus
What is a scrub
Savannah African elephant
All about giraffes
Lion is the king of the animals
Zebras are sun horses
Greater Kudu - African antelope species
Grant's Gazelle
Warthog
Hyenas
Snakes inhabiting the savannah
African ostrich
Vulture
Eagles
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