"Nyasa" is a Yao word that means "lake".
Geography
The lake fills a crack in the earth's crust at the southern end of the Great Rift Valley, as a result of which it is elongated in the meridional direction and has a length of 584 km, its width varies from 16 to 80 km. The surface of the lake lies at an altitude of 472 m above sea level, its area is 29,604 km², the average depth is 292 m, the maximum is 706 m, that is, the deepest places of the lake are below sea level. The total volume of the lake is 8,400 km³. The depths gradually increase from south to north, where the steep slopes of the mountains surrounding the lake suddenly burst straight into the water. Elsewhere on the coast, the mountains and peaks that rise along the edges of the rift valley are separated from the lake by a wide coastal plain; where large rivers flow into the lake, the coastal plain expands and connects with the river plain, going deeper into the mountain ranges. As a result, the coastline topography varies from rocky cliffs to extensive beaches. The coastal plains are especially wide in the northwest, where the Songwe River flows into the lake, as well as in the southern part of the coast.
The bottom of the lake is covered with a thick layer of sedimentary rocks, in some places up to 4 km thick, which indicates the great age of the lake, which is estimated at least several million years.
The main part of the lake basin is occupied by highlands and mountains, which are the boundaries of the rift valley. The highest of them are the Livingston Mountains in the northeast (up to 2000 m) and the Nyika Plateau and the Vipya and Chimaliro Mountains in the northwest and the Dowa Upland in the west; in the south the terrain gradually decreases. The lake basin is much wider to the west of the lake. In the east, the mountains come close to the water, and the basin narrows, expanding only in the northeast thanks to the Ruhuhu River, which cuts through the Livingston Mountains.
Hydrography
The lake is fed by 14 year-round rivers, including the most important Ruhuhu, Songwe, North and South Rukuru, Dwangwa, Bua and Lilongwe. The lake's only external drainage is the Shire River, which emerges from the lake in the south and flows towards the Zambezi. Despite the large volume of the lake, the volume of its flow is small: of the approximately 63 km³ of water entering the lake annually, only 16% flows through the Shire River, the rest evaporates from the surface. Because of this, the lake has a very long water renewal period: it is estimated that all the water in the lake is renewed within 114 years. Another consequence of the fact that the main losses of water occur due to evaporation, and not runoff, is the increased mineralization of lake water compared to the waters of the rivers flowing into it - the water in the lake is hard and brackish.
Any chemicals that enter the lake can only leave it by accumulation in bottom sediments, evaporation into the atmosphere (if they can pass into the gas phase), or by extremely slow runoff through the Shire River. Substances dissolved in water that do not evaporate and do not fall to the bottom once in the lake will be removed from it by runoff only after about 650 years. This makes the lake highly vulnerable to pollution.
This feature of the hydrological regime also makes the lake very sensitive to changes in climate and precipitation levels. Even a slight increase in the ratio of precipitation to evaporation leads to flooding, as was the case in the -1980s; a slight decrease in this factor leads to a drop in the lake level and the cessation of flow through the Shire River, as happened from 1937 to 1937, when there was practically no flow. In recent years the lake level has also been quite low, and in 1997 the flow almost ceased at the end of the dry season.
Political distribution
The lake is shared by three countries: Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. In the north of the lake, there is a dispute over the distribution of its waters between Malawi and Tanzania. Tanzania believes that the border should follow the surface of the lake according to the boundaries that existed between former German East Africa and Nyasaland before 1914. Malawi claims that it should own the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shore on the basis that this was the post-World War I administrative boundary between British Nyasaland and the Mandatory Territory of Tanganyika: the Tanzanian coasts were sparsely populated, and the British considered it inconvenient to establish a separate administration for the north. -eastern sector of the lake. In the past, this conflict led to clashes, but since then, for many decades, Malawi has not tried to restore its claims, although it does not officially recognize that this part of the lake belongs to Tanzania.
Most of the lake and its basin (68%) are within Malawi; The western border of the country practically coincides with the western watershed. 25% of the basin is occupied by Tanzania, 7% by Mozambique. The Tanzanian sector of the basin is disproportionately important for the hydrological balance of the lake, since the bulk of precipitation falls here, and the lake receives more than 20% of its annual water inflow from the Ruhuhu River in Tanzania alone.
The islands of Likoma and Chizumulu are located in the eastern part of the lake within the Mozambican sector off the coast, but belong to Malawi, forming the Malawian exclave, surrounded on all sides by Mozambican territorial waters.
Hydrology
View of the lake from Likoma Island
The waters of the lake are vertically distributed into three layers, which differ in the density of the water, determined by its temperature. Thickness of the top layer of warm water ( epilimnion) varies from 40 to 100 m, reaching a maximum in the cool, windy season (May to September). It is in this layer that the growth of algae occurs, which is the basic element of the entire food pyramid of the lake. Middle layer metalimnion, several degrees colder than the upper one and extends from its lower edge 220 m deep. In the thickness of this layer, vertical movements of biological substances and oxygen dissolved in water occur. The space from the lower level of the metalimnon to the bottom of the lake occupies hypolimnon. The water here is even colder (has the highest density) and has a high concentration of dissolved nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon - products of decomposition of organic matter. This area is almost completely free of dissolved oxygen, and therefore deeper than 220 m the lake is practically devoid of life.
Although these water layers are never completely mixed, a slow exchange of water between adjacent layers does occur. The volume and speed of this exchange depends on the place and time of year. The greatest influx of nutrient-rich water from the metalimnon and hypolimnon to the surface occurs during the cool windy season from May to September, when the westerly wind blows continuously, which locals call mvera. This wind disturbs the surface of the lake, sometimes causing strong storms, and mixes the water to a considerable depth. In addition to simple mixing, in some places of the lake during this time of year there is a constant transport of deep water to the surface, the so-called upwelling. Due to the peculiarities of the bottom morphology, the upwelling is especially powerful in the southeastern bay of the lake. As a result, during the windy season and for a short time after its end, the highest concentration of plankton is observed here.
Pelagic (far from the coast) waters are clear most of the year due to the low concentration of dissolved organic components and soil particles. However, large areas of the lake can become cloudy during the rainy season, when rivers begin to carry large amounts of solids washed from the land into the lake.
Biology
Phytoplankton is the basis of all aquatic life in the lake. The composition of phytoplankton masses varies depending on the time of year. During the windy season (and in the southeast of the lake - all year), diatoms are most abundant; at its end, from September to November, an increase in the relative abundance of blue-green algae is observed; Surface blooms of fibrous blue-green algae (Anabaena) are often observed. From December to April, plankton consists primarily of a mixture of diatoms, blue-green, and green algae.
On the trophic scale of productivity, the lake is classified as intermediate between oligotrophic and mesotrophic.
Lake Nyasa has the most diverse ecosystem of any freshwater body in the world; According to various estimates, from 500 to 1000 species of fish live in it. Eleven families are represented in the lake, but one of them - cichlids (Cichlidae) - covers 90% of the lake's fish species, most of which are endemic. Cichlids occupy most of the lake's ecological niches. Lake cichlids are divided into two large groups: pelagic, predominantly predatory species that live in the water column far from the shores, and coastal species, among which there is a rich diversity of shapes, sizes, feeding methods and behavior. Although species diversity of pelagic cichlids is also high by any standard, it is in coastal societies that it reaches its absolute maximum. Near the rocky shores of the lake, in an area of 50 m², up to 500 fish of 22 different species can be counted. There are species and varieties endemic to certain parts of the lake or even to certain bays or areas of the coast. Cichlids are the basis of lake fisheries and provide food for a large part of the population of Malawi, some species are presented as ornamental aquarium fish that are sold abroad.
In addition to fish, the lake ecosystem is characterized by a large number of crocodiles, as well as African whooper eagles, which hunt fish. Every year there is a massive emergence of lake flies, the larvae of which live on the bottom in shallow parts of the lake; Clouds of flies these days obscure the sun and cover the horizon.
Population and economic activity
Shore of a lake near the town of Monkey Bay
The Nyasa basin is not as densely populated as the surrounding area of Lake Victoria, but is much denser than the shores of Tanganyika. The bulk of the population is concentrated in the south of the Malawian sector of the lake basin. The Northern and Central provinces of Malawi, which lie predominantly within the lake basin, account for 12% and 41% respectively of the country's total population, which was 9,900,000 in 1998. The country's average annual population growth is 2.0%, but in the north it is higher and reaches 2.8%. 14% of the population lives in cities, and the urban population is growing at 4.7% per year. The economically active population is 68%, of which 78% live from subsistence agriculture and only 13% are wage earners. Agriculture is the backbone of Malawi's economy, with its products accounting for half of the country's gross domestic product and almost all of its exports.
In contrast to the Malawian sector, the western and northern parts of the basin, which lie within Mozambique and Tanzania respectively, have relatively sparse populations and little economic activity; In these places, primary vegetation, untouched by agriculture, is predominantly preserved.
The hydroelectric dam on the Shire River, which flows from the lake, is Malawi's main source of electricity. The country's energy sector suffers from fluctuations in lake levels and the associated instability of the Shire's flow. In 1997, when the lake level dropped and the flow almost stopped, the country's economy suffered significant losses due to a lack of electricity.
Fishing
Drying small fish on the lake shore
Fisheries contribute 2-4% of Malawi's GDP and employ up to 300,000 people directly or indirectly. Up to 80% of the fish are caught by independent fishermen and small crews, but in the southern part of the lake there is a commercial fishing company called MALDECO, which can fish in areas remote from the shore where individual fishermen cannot reach. For the people of Malawi, fish is the main source of animal protein (up to 70% of the diet), and the majority of fish comes from Lake Nyasa. The most important commercial species are Copadichromis spp. (local name Utaka), (Bagrus spp. and Bathyclarias spp.) (chisawasawa). Catfish (Bagrus spp. and Bathyclarias spp.) and chambo (Oreochromis spp.) fishing, which was significant in the past, has recently declined and accounts for less than 20% of the total catch.
Recently, there has been a decrease in fish production due to overfishing in previous years, which the lake's ecosystem was unable to compensate for. In 1987, the commercial catch was 88,586 tons, of which 101 tons were exported. In 1991, commercial catches had fallen to an estimated 63,000 tonnes, of which only 3 tonnes were exported; in 1992, 69,500 tons were caught, and there were no fish exports at all that year. These figures show a decrease in the available fish resources of the lake, as a result of which catch volumes, which had been constantly growing until 1987, are falling.
In addition to fishing, export trade in ornamental fish species is of commercial importance. Some species are simply caught in the lake, others are bred in special nurseries.
Transport
Regular freight and passenger transportation on the lake is carried out by the Malawi State Transport Company Malawi Lake Service. Cargo ships are primarily engaged in transporting agricultural products - cotton, natural rubber, rice, tung oil, peanuts, etc. - from lake ports to Chipoca on the southern shore, from where they are exported by rail to the Mozambican ocean ports of Beira and Columbus. Passenger ships sail between lake towns, as well as to the islands of Likom and Chizumulu. The islands do not have any harbor, so ships anchor close to the shore, and cargo and passengers reach the islands by boat.
The main ports on the lake are Monkey Bay, Chipoka, Nkhotakota, Nkata Bay and Karonga in Malawi, Manda in Tanzania and Kobwe in Mozambique. The Malawian port town of Mangochi is located on the Shire River a few kilometers below its source from Lake Nyasa.
Environmental threats
Fishing
Lake Nyasa is relatively safe ecologically, but serious problems are expected in the future. The main threat is overfishing, a problem fueled by the population explosion Malawi has seen in recent decades. Malawi's population is growing at 2% per year, and almost half of the country's population are children under 15 years of age. Fish provides up to 70% of the animal protein in the Malawian consumer diet, and demand for it is constantly growing. The annual fish catch in the lake is decreasing slowly, but this is a consequence of increasing fishing activity and the use of prohibited fishing gear to catch smaller fish. In addition, most of the annual catch comes from independent artisanal fishermen, whose boats only access the coastal areas of the lake. However, it is in the coastal areas that the fish spawn, and therefore it is the artisanal fishermen who put the greatest pressure on the lake's ecology, catching juvenile fish and causing losses to the lake's fish population that it cannot compensate for.
The problem of overfishing is currently limited to Malawi; The coastal areas of Mozambique and Tanzania are sparsely populated, and pressure on the lake's fish stocks from local fishermen is minimal. The existing territorial dispute between Malawi and Tanzania in the north-eastern sector of the lake is purely political in nature and does not lead to conflicts over fish resources: boats of artisanal fishermen can cross the lake to reach fishing grounds off the coast of Tanzania, and large commercial fishing companies fish in the southern, most fish-rich part of Nyasa. However, with the start of exploitation by large vessels of shoals of pelagic fish, large reserves of which in areas far from the shores of the lake became known relatively recently, disputes over fish resources will not be avoided.
Land use
Another problem of the lake is the increase in agricultural activity within its basin, again mainly in its Malawian parts, which is also associated with the rapid growth of the country's population. The majority of Malawians (up to 80%) live on a subsistence, not very productive economy; this type of land use requires more land to feed one person, as a result of which people are forced to use land unsuitable for agriculture; There is already a land famine in the country. This, as well as overexploitation of pastures, leads to increased soil erosion, which is washed into the lake by rain and rivers. In turn, this contributes to the turbidity of lake water, a decrease in the amount of sunlight reaching the bottom, the decline of lake vegetation and a reduction in the volume of phytoplankton - the food base of all lake life.
Due to land hunger, forest areas are also decreasing. This leads to an increase in runoff into the lake (due to reduced evaporation of water from tree leaves), but makes the flow more unstable and also increases soil erosion.
In addition, due to the overwhelming poverty of the Malawian population and the use of unproductive agricultural methods, the lake as a whole is free from the problem of pollution from mineral fertilizers and pesticides. Their use is limited to commercial crop farming areas, mainly large cotton and sugarcane plantations. However, with the intensification of agriculture in the region, this can become a significant problem, because the lake has a very long flushing period (the ratio of the lake volume to the annual runoff), which contributes to the accumulation of harmful substances in it.
Introduced species
The introduction of foreign fish species did not have such a great impact on the ecology of Nyasa as, for example, on Lake Victoria, where the acclimatization of the Nile perch led to a radical change in the entire lake ecosystem. However, water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes), which first came to the lake. Nyasa in the 1960s, now found throughout the lake and its tributaries. In the mineralized and nutrient-poor lake water it does not grow very well, and plants carried by rivers into the lake die, but in rivers hyacinth feels very good and grows rapidly, even causing problems for hydroelectric power plants built on the Shira River. If the amount of dissolved nutrients in the lake begins to increase due to, for example, intensification of agriculture and the introduction of fertilizers in the lake basin, water hyacinth will turn into a real environmental problem. The concentration of nutrients and, accordingly, the number of water hyacinths will be maximum near the shores of river mouths, and this is where the spawning grounds of most species of lake fish are located. The Malawi government initiated a program to control hyacinth through the weevils Neochetina spp., but this program was not ultimately successful.
History of the study
Rumors of the existence of a large inland sea in Central Africa had reached Europeans for centuries. On medieval maps of the 17th-18th centuries, the outline of the lake was already depicted quite accurately, probably according to the testimony of Arab traders who penetrated here starting from the 10th century. In 1860, David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary and famous explorer of Africa, after an unsuccessful attempt to climb up the Zambezi on a ship that was blocked by the Kebrabassa rapids, began exploring the Shire River and reached the southern outskirts of Lake Nyasa along it. Livingston was hardly the first European to see Nyasa, but it was he who introduced the world to his discovery and declared his priority as a discoverer. Livingstone described Nyasa as a "lake of stars" due to the glare of the sun on its surface.
In the reports about this expedition, which were published in England in
Hello to all readers of the blog site! Today I have prepared for you a lot of interesting information about the creation of nature reserves in Africa, a little about this incredible beauty of nature, about all sorts of animals living there, etc. Enjoy...
Due to man's irresponsible attitude towards nature, many species of the once richest flora and fauna of the African continent have irrevocably disappeared from the face of the planet. National parks and reserves are being created on the “dark continent” to prevent such devastation of nature.
National parks of Africa.
Almost 4% (about 1,170,880 sq. km) of the entire African territory was taken under protection by 1990. Pongola, the first African nature reserve, was established back in 1894 in South Africa, although most of the current protected areas have appeared relatively recently.
862,940 sq. km of the continent's territory, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCNR), is under full protection and excludes any mining or forestry activities.
These areas contain national parks (where visitors are allowed only subject to minimal changes to the landscape), natural monuments, nature reserves and other attractions.
Partial protection applies to the remaining 307,940 sq. km, this means that in these territories the land can be used for resort and tourism infrastructure and for some types of mining operations.
There are many protected areas throughout Africa, but in the south and east of the continent there are the most picturesque and extensive reserves, and UNESCO has classified some of them as world natural and cultural heritage.
World Heritage of Humanity.
There are 601 protected areas with an area of over 1000 hectares in Africa. The International World Heritage Committee has classified 26 of them as official List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity.
The objects included in this List are "outstanding value of universal significance" due to their cultural and historical importance, natural features, or a combination of all these factors.
World Heritage Sites in the early 80s. last century, were declared together with the adjacent conservation area in central and northern Tanzania.
In the southeast of Algeria, Tassili-Ajjer, with its combination of cultural monuments and unique natural conditions, is another site on the World Heritage List. This sandstone plateau, due to erosion of the rock, dotted with intricate patterns, is known for its unique geological formations.
Scientists have discovered examples of rock art on these formations that are perfectly preserved. The age of the drawings is approximately determined at 10 thousand years; the climate of the Sahara at that time was quite rainy, and lush grasses grew in what is now the desert.
North Africa.
Most North African countries had almost no protected areas until the 1960s. In 1884, only in Tunisia did a state forestry service appear, and subsequently restrictions on hunting were introduced. And in Algeria, the first North American national park was approved in 1923.
Today, to protect certain species of animals, national parks have been created in North Africa. For example, in the Taza National Park - Barbary macaques, in the Toubkal Park, in the middle of the High Atlas ridge in Morocco - representatives of the mountain fauna, in the Tenere and Aire natural reserves in Nigeria - oryx and rare mendes antelopes.
Several nature reserves have also been created in the coastal areas of this region. For example, on the coast of Mauritania, Ban d'Arguin is a wetland where millions of birds spend the winter. The rare Berber deer and caracals are found in the same wetland in Algeria's El Kala National Park.
Deforestation, combined with overgrazing and drought in the depleted grasslands of the Sahel plain, have taken a huge toll on wild North Africa. This effect was also aggravated by wars, including in Algeria, where chemical defoliants were actively used during the fighting for independence of 1952 - 1962. Awareness of the need for environmental protection is growing along with the importance of tourism for the development of these countries.
West and Central Africa.
In one of the most densely populated regions, West Africa, demographic growth has led to the disappearance of a significant part of the rain forests and savannas that once existed there, and consequently of many biological species.
Over 100 years, up to 90% of the forests in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire have been cleared due to logging. Even in the forests of the Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire, poaching, gold exploration and timber logging continue unabated. Ecologists in a number of countries are actively searching for optimal methods of environmental protection that would be consistent with the needs of the population, often living in poverty.
In 1979, a campaign was organized within the framework of the project "Mountain Gorilla", the goal of which was to develop a caring attitude towards nature among the local population. One of the most densely populated countries is Rwanda.
A 1980 study in Rwanda found that areas Volcanoes National Park, the habitats of unique gorillas - more than half of Rwandan farmers are not averse to using them to create farms there.
Almost all the villages were visited by environmentalists, convincing local residents of the need to save gorillas, in particular, pointing out the importance of these animals for the development of one of the main sources of employment in the country - tourism.
The same survey in 1984 showed that the number of people wishing to use park lands for agricultural needs had already decreased to 18%. The gorilla population began to increase towards the end of the 80s, but in the 90s. mass migration of residents and war reduced all previous efforts to zero.
East Africa.
It is quite difficult to protect and manage forest reserves, and not everyone gets to see animals there. Therefore, in Africa, the most popular reserves are in the savannah - a tropical steppe with rare individual trees.
Both predatory (leopards, lions, cheetahs) and herbivorous (rhinoceros, antelopes, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, etc.) wild animals are found in the savannah of East Africa.
Savannah-dwelling jackals, wild dogs and hyenas feed on carrion. Crowds of tourists are of course attracted by this diversity of fauna. In Kenya in 1990, tourism income was US$467 million, more than the combined volume of the country's two main exports - tea and coffee.
IUCN in 1990 compiled a list of 36 protected areas in Kenya, including 3 national parks of historical and archaeological significance, 3 marine national parks and 16 major national reserves, reserves and parks.
Tsavo Park, located along the Nairobi-Mombasa road, is the largest national park. This park is famous for its unique population of elephants; the area of Tsavo Park is 20,807 square meters. km.
Nairobi National Park is located only 6 km from the capital of Kenya, the park area is only 114 square meters. km., but despite its size, the park accommodates an amazing variety of animal species, including lions, leopards and cheetahs, and natural environments.
Tourism in Tanzania is not as developed as in Kenya, however, the potential of nature reserves and game reserves in this country is truly enormous. There are 6 major national parks in Tanzania (in addition to the Ngorongoro Crater and the famous Serengeti) and several game reserves, which may well be awarded the status of national parks in the near future.
Serengeti is a national park in northern Tanzania, one of the largest parks in the world. It is located at a distance of 320 km from Arusha, at an altitude of 910 m to 1820 m above sea level, its area is 1.3 million hectares. "Serengeti" means "endless plains" in the Maasai language.
The Serengeti is the first of all African reserves in terms of the total number of animals and the number of species that inhabit it. More than 1.5 million large mammals, mainly ungulates, live within the reserve.
About 35 different species of animals can be seen here, including the "big five" - leopards and lions, elephants, hippopotamuses and buffaloes. Other animals include rhinoceroses, giraffes, zebras, Thomson and Grant's gazelles, wildebeest, cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles, baboons and other monkeys, as well as more than 500 species of birds - jabiru stork, flamingos and others.
- an extinct shield volcano, up to 2338 m high, located near the western edge of the Rift Zone, in northern Tanzania, on the border with Kenya. Steep cliffs of the crater walls border on spacious valleys covered with bushes and grass.
The reserve, spread around the Ngorongoro Crater, covers an area of about 800 thousand hectares, after it received the official status of an International Conservation Zone and Biosphere Reserve, its importance has increased.
This area was once part of the Serengeti National Park. but as a reserve, it fulfills two main tasks - preserving the natural resources of the region, as well as protecting the interests and traditional way of life of the Maasai tribe, which grazes herds of cattle, goats and sheep here.
The center of the reserve is the Ngorongoro Caldera, one of the largest calderas in the world. Its total area is 264 km2, depth – 970 to 1800 m, length 22 km. Two destroyed craters are located in the southwestern part, one of these craters is filled by Lake Magadi Ngorongoro.
Many different herbivores feed the savannah, especially during the dry season, when there is enough food for more than 2 million herbivores of various sizes. Like a catalog of African fauna, here begins the list of animals: zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, Thomson and Grant's gazelles, giraffe, eland and warthog, two-horned rhinoceros, elephant.
Most of these animals roam the vast Serengeti, while others, such as the hippopotamus, live near swamps and. Where there is plenty of prey, there are also predators; Ngorongoro Reserve supports spotted hyena, lion, jackal, leopard, cheetah and serval populations.
Uganda has some wonderful parks, but in the 70s and 80s. last century, during the civil wars, they suffered enormous damage, and the desperate population, in order not to die of hunger, shot many animals.
South Africa.
The list of the most unique protected regions in the world includes the continental part of South Africa. About 7% of the territory is under state protection, although in the 80s - 90s. During the civil wars in Mozambique and Angola, this did not go unnoticed for wildlife.
Botswana has the largest concentration of parks and game reserves, with 17% of the country's territory being protected areas. Back in the 90s. XX in the environmental movement originated in Africa. Of the 43 government protected areas by 1929, 27 were in South Africa.
The most famous national park in this region has its origins from the Sabi and Shingwedzi reserves. The merger of these reserves occurred with the adoption of the National Parks Act in 1926, in what was then the Transvaal, a province in the northeast of the region.
Occupying an area of 19,485 sq. km, the Kruger Park on its territory shelters a huge number of animals taking advantage of the diversity of natural environments. Such rare species of animals as white rhinoceroses are found in this park.
In South Africa, according to the IUCN, in 1990 there were 178 conservation areas with a total area of 63 100 km2. km, this is 5.2% of the total area of the country. In addition to the Kruger Park, the picturesque Golden Gate Highlands, the Kalahari Jemsbok, through which the migration routes of a huge number of antelopes pass, and the Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth are famous.
Zimbabwe and Madagascar.
The amazingly picturesque Victoria Falls Park and the neighboring Zambezi National Park are located in Zimbabwe. - one of the most remarkable nature reserves in the world, inhabited by rare animals, is located in the north-west of the country. The Zimbabwe Grand National Monument and Park is of extraordinary historical interest.
The island of Madagascar in eastern Africa is striking in the number of living animals. It is the island nature of the state that determines the uniqueness of this biodiversity.
Madagascar fauna and flora have evolved and been enriched with new species over many millennia. But the destructive impact of civilization has not escaped the environment - 45 species and subspecies of the rarest lemurs are under threat of extinction, and almost 4/5 of the forests have been cut down.
The country does not have sufficient resources to ensure control over compliance with environmental legislation, even despite the creation of nature reserves in 1927.
Forecast.
African ecologists face many serious problems caused by the growing agro-industrial potential of countries and demographic factors. But there are still reasons for optimism.
It can be expected, especially in countries dependent on tourism, that the area of protected areas will still expand. It is also encouraging that awareness of the benefits of environmental protection is increasing among the African population, with community-based environmental organizations being established everywhere.
The creation of biosphere reserves is a reflection of the current trend in environmental activities. In these reserves, the central area is fully protected; it is surrounded by a buffer zone and then by an external territory; industrial exploitation and tourist visits are allowed.
Modern technologies play an important role. Radio tracking devices record the migrations of animals, and any changes in the nature of vegetation are noted by satellite devices. Large animals, if necessary, are immobilized and transferred to a safe place, and rare species are allowed to breed in captivity, then released into their usual habitat.
And yet it seems to me that this is a fairy tale... It’s so tempting and beautiful there, lakes, volcanoes, pink flamingos... Oh... I JUST WANT TO THERE!!!
The African continent has the highest concentration of national parks on the planet. As of 2014, there are 335 national parks. They protect more than 1,100 species of mammals, 100,000 species of insects, 2,600 species of birds and 3,000 species of fish. In addition, there are hundreds of game reserves, forest, marine and national reserves, as well as natural parks.
The Black Continent is rich in habitat diversity. The tropical rainforests and arid savanna plains of the Sahara Desert are home to a wide variety of wildlife. Africa is home to many fascinating animals, including some that are endangered. It is also considered as the birthplace of human civilization.
Serengeti National Park
Zebra migration in Serengeti National Park. .
Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is one of the oldest and most famous reserves in Africa. The park is famous for the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of gazelles and zebras, as well as the predators that hunt them. This is one of the most impressive natural spectacles in the world. The Great Migration, which spans 1,000 kilometers of annual circular trek, passes through uniquely scenic settings with vast treeless expanses and dramatic rolling meadows dotted with exposed rocks and interspersed with rivers and forests. This park has one of the world's largest and most diversified populations with predator-prey interactions.
Serengeti National Park covers an area of 12,950 square kilometers and is considered one of the least disturbed natural ecosystems on Earth.
Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara is a national reserve located in the Narok district of Kenya. It borders the Serengeti National Park and was named after the Maasai people who inhabited these regions. It is famous for its exceptional population of lions, leopards and cheetahs, as well as the annual migration of zebras, Thomson's gazelles and wildebeest, which travel to this place from July to October each year from the Serengeti. The event is known as the "great migration".
The Masai Mara occupies a relatively small area, but boasts an amazing concentration of wildlife. The park is home to 95 species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and more than 400 species of birds. The Big Five (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhinoceros) abound throughout the park. Leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, wildebeest, topi, baboons, warthogs, buffalos, zebras, elephants, hippos and crocodiles converge on the Mara River.
Aerial photograph of a herd of wildebeest following several leading zebras in the Masai Mara.
Bwindi National Park
Bwindi National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in East Africa. It occupies 331 square kilometers of jungle and, as the name suggests, this place can only be reached on foot. Situated on the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, the park has a rich ecosystem and possibly the highest number of tree species in East Africa. It is also home to a diverse fauna, including a number of endemic butterflies and one of the richest assemblages of mammals in Africa.
Bwindi is home to almost half of the world's mountain gorilla population, which sadly numbers only 340 individuals.
Mountain gorilla in Bwindi National Park.
Amboseli National Park
Amboseli National Park is one of the most popular parks in Kenya. It is located in the south of the country, on the border with Tanzania. The park offers one of the most classic and breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro with its 5,985 meter peak rising above the plains. Amboseli attracts visitors primarily because of its huge herds of elephants, although the park is also inhabited by many predators such as lions, cheetahs and leopards.
An elephant crosses a dirt road in Amboseli National Park. Mount Kilimanjaro is visible in the background.
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest nature reserves in Africa and one of the largest national parks in the world. Its area is 19,485 square kilometers. It is also the first national park in South Africa, which opened in 1926, although the park has been protected by the state since 1898.
Kruger National Park contains more species of large mammals than any other African reserve, including the Big Five - lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses and buffalo.
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park is located in the northwestern part of Botswana, close to the border of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. It is famous for its stunning elephant population. Experts estimate there are 50,000 of these large animals, possibly the highest concentration of elephants in Africa. The best time to visit Chobe is during the dry season from April to October, when the ponds dry up and the animals congregate close to the riverbank, where they are easy to spot.
An elephant calf on the banks of the Chobe River in the national park of the same name.
Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park is located in northwestern Namibia and covers an area of 22,270 square kilometers. It gets its name from the silvery-white salt crystals that cover the large panoramas that cover almost a quarter of Etosha. The park is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds and reptiles, including several rare and endangered species such as black rhinoceroses.
The Etosha Salt Flat covers an area of 4,800 square kilometers and was formed 16,000 years ago. .
Central Kalahari National Game Reserve
The Kalahari Game Reserve covers an area of 52,800 km² in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. It is approximately twice the size of Massachusetts, making it the second largest nature reserve in the world. Its territory is characterized by vast open plains, salt lakes and ancient river beds. The land is mostly flat and slightly undulating, covered with bushes and grass, and also covers sand dunes and areas with large trees.
The park is home to wildlife species such as giraffe, brown hyena, warthog, cheetah, wild dog, leopard, lion, blue wildebeest, eland, gemsbok, kudu and red tambourine.
Bushmen have inhabited the Kalahari for thousands of years since the Stone Age. They still live here and move around the territory as nomadic hunters.
Bushmen in the Kalahari.
Nechisar National Park
Nechisar National Park occupies only 514 square meters. km., located in an excellent scenic part of the Rift Valley between two lakes. The park in the east is bordered by the Amaro Mountains, which rise to 2000 m, and in the north by Lake Abaya with eternally red waters (1070 sq. km.). In the south - with a small transparent lake Chamo with an area of 350 km. To the east is the town of Arba Minch.
Hot and welcoming Africa happily opens the doors of its most intimate and interesting places. Safari - please, wild and exotic animals - please. The entire animal world of Africa is open to visitors, and you can see it in the most beautiful and famous national parks and reserves in Africa.
It is with them that we want to introduce you in this article, take you into the world of animals and birds and show what secrets mysterious Africa keeps.
This park is famous for the annual migration of zebras, wildebeest, gazelles and, accordingly, the predators that hunt them. The national park is considered one of the most intact ecological systems in the world. It is also the oldest park in Africa.
The park is located in Tanzania, the coordinates of the park are 2°19′51″ S. w. 34°50′00″ E. d. Upon arrival, you can stay at the Serengeti Safari Camp and spend an unforgettable time traveling through the valleys and expanses of Tanzania.
Perhaps this is the most famous and popular nature reserve in Africa. It is located in one of the districts of Kenya called Narok. The coordinates of the reserve are 1°29′24″ S. w. 35°08′38″ E. d. It is named after the tribe that lives here.
From September to October, an impressive event takes place in this reserve - the wildebeest migration. In general, the reserve is a continuation of the Sarengeti National Park. But most of all it is famous for the lions that live here in large numbers.
Upon arrival, you can stay at one of the many campsites located on site.
Unlike the previous two, this park is located in the jungle, and you can only travel through it on foot. This park is located in the Albertine Valley, the coordinates of the park are 1°03′29″ S. w. 29°42′01″ E. d.
Here you can enjoy the largest variety of trees in Africa. The park is also home to exotic and stunningly beautiful butterflies.
Gorilla safari is popular here and there is even a cottage called Gorilla Safari Lodge. The official website of the park will inform you about all the details of your stay.
This is both a nature reserve and a national park at the same time. Also, this is the very first national park in Africa. It has the largest number of mammals, the most popular being lions, rhinoceroses, elephants, leopards and buffaloes. The park coordinates are 24°00′41″ S. w. 31°29′07″ E. d.
It is open from 6.00 to 17.30, and on its territory you can stay in both private campsites and regular recreational sites. You can book your safari and arrival time on the official website.
Already from the name it becomes clear that it is located in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. This is the second largest nature reserve in the world. The desert, you might think, what to do there. Despite this, the park contains salt lakes and ancient riverbeds along with sand dunes. This park has the largest concentration of wild animals in the world.
The most famous residents are white rhinoceroses, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, giraffes, wild dogs, cheetahs, hyenas and, of course, lions and leopards. The coordinates of the reserve are 21°53′22″ S. w. 23°45′23″ E. d. Of course, the infrastructure is developed here and anyone can visit and even hunt wild animals.
National parks and reserves of Africa have a special charm, and the point is not even in the famous safaris, the point is, rather, in the fact that they have retained their pristine beauty, pristineness, grandeur and a certain inaccessibility. These factors attract millions of tourists from all over the world to unravel the mysteries and mysteries of the beautiful African nature.
Africa is an amazing continent with outlandish beauties: unusually towering mountain formations, the sources of mountain rivers with thundering waterfalls; evergreen tropical thickets; silent deserts; grassy and wooded savannas; diverse fauna and flora. Most of its territory is under state protection and is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List, so Africa can rightfully be considered a huge national park for all humanity.
All over the world, African national parks are recognized as the legitimate pride of all humanity. In various areas of the continent, people of many nationalities continue to take part in the work of parks. Thus, thanks to everyone’s efforts, hundreds of species of rare animals have been saved from extinction and extermination.
The continent of Africa has an excellent natural basis for the prosperity and development of tourism. South Africa is home to many different national parks and reserves, where people come to see how animals behave in their natural habitat, as well as to admire the exotic nature of this mysterious continent. The largest number of national parks are concentrated in Kenya.
For visitors to African national parks, certain rules of conduct are established. So, for example, it is permissible to drive cars only on special paths designated for this purpose, from which you cannot move to the side, or pick anything up from the ground; Driving is permitted only in the car of a park ranger and in his direct accompaniment; you can't shout; It is prohibited to feed animals, smoke, litter, etc.
The main reserves and national parks of Africa
National parks of Kenya
Tsavo is the largest national park in area, occupying the territory of the entire island of Jamaica. This is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world where wild African safaris are allowed.
The park is divided into two equal parts, each of which is unique and unique: East Tsavo, characterized by flat terrain covered with thorns and low-growing acacias, and West Tsavo - this is a volcanically active part of the park with rocky mountains and hills, which is also considered more rich and vibrant .
Tsavo Park has a fairly diverse fauna, numbering about 500 species: zebras, giraffes, impalas, antelopes, waterbucks, buffalos, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles, lions. The park is particularly famous around the world for its many rhinoceroses and a huge herd of “red” elephants, so named because their skin has a pink tint caused by the red-pink dust that covers their bodies.
The main attractions of Tsavo are the Mzima springs - a real fragrant oasis in the middle of a lifeless and dusty savannah; Growling rocks, from where the most beautiful panoramic views of the park open; volcanic block and crater of Chaumu volcano; Kanderi swamps - a natural source of fresh water; Lugard Falls and rapids on a raging river, disappearing from view in a narrow gorge.
Amboseli - a beautiful ancient park, located near the slope of Mount Kilimanjaro, which offers the best views of its snow-capped peaks. Most of the territory of Amboseli is occupied by lakes, so the flora and fauna here are quite diverse: 425 species of birds, more than 50 species of mammals (lions, hippos, leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, rhinoceroses and others). There are many types of acacia growing in the park - such a variety of them is not found anywhere else.
One of the most breathtaking sights to witness here is the tranquil stroll through the savannah of huge herds of elephants. Amboseli is also home to a rare and critically endangered species of rhinoceros: the black rhinoceros.
Located close to the financial and economic center and capital of Kenya, Nairobi, this fact, in turn, contributes to its popularity among foreign tourists. The park was opened earlier than other similar parks and is considered the oldest in the country. It incomprehensibly combines the beauty of untouched wild nature and the silhouettes of tall office buildings visible from afar.
On the territory of Nairobi there are many savannas, steep gorges, plains, and forests, which are home to various species of animals and birds. In addition, it is famous for being the site of ivory burning. In order to stop the extermination of elephants by poachers, President Moi ordered the burning of 10 tons of ivory in Nairobi.
Located in the Aberdare mountain range, rich in picturesque landscapes. Its views are amazing: forests of huge trees, picturesque rocks with crystal clear waterfalls erupting from them; bamboo jungle; cascades of icy rivers; moorlands. Aberdare has a very diverse flora and fauna. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
National parks of Tanzania
The Serengeti is the world's most famous wildlife sanctuary., located in the Great African Gorge area at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, covering an area of about 30 thousand square meters. km. Its name translated from the Maasai language means “elongated platform.” The park is characterized by a changing landscape: from short and long grass to hills covered with green forests. Africa's Serengeti National Park has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. It is rightfully considered the main treasury of wild nature.
Representatives of the local fauna, due to the unique climatic conditions, are very diverse: more than one million large animals live on endless savannas, plains, lakes and rivers. These are leopards, crocodiles, buffalos, lions, rhinoceroses, hyenas, giraffes, baboons, foxes, antelopes, zebras; more than 300 species of reptiles; about 450 species of birds. It was in this park that the world's largest flock of lions, consisting of 41 individuals, was discovered. One of the most interesting events in the life of the Serengeti is the migration of artiodactyl animals that occurs every year, in particular wildebeest and zebra, moving from the hilly northern regions to the plains of the south.
Every year attracting the attention of millions of tourists from all over the world. It is also called the “eighth wonder of the world” and is rightfully considered a world heritage. Most of this giant tropical park is located in the huge volcanic crater of the same name. The diameter of the volcano's funnel is 20 km, and the area of the crater is 265 square meters. km. The uniqueness of this crater is that over the course of several years, many species of animals have formed their own habitat there. More than 30 thousand species of fauna live on its territory.
At the very bottom of the crater is the alkaline Lake Magami, a favorite habitat of flamingos. The area also contains pastures for zebras, antelopes and gazelles.
Another attraction of the Ngorongoro Nature Reserve is the Olduvai Gorge, famous for the fact that excavations were constantly carried out on its territory. Thus, archaeologist Jonathan Leakey discovered the remains of Homo Hablis (“handy man”). Also in the area of this gorge there is a 100-meter high rock, Nazara Rock, known for the presence of man there in the prehistoric period.
Other African countries
Zambia
Kafue is the largest and oldest park, the largest in Zambia. Its area is 2.24 million hectares, which is comparable to the area of Wales. Almost the entire park area is a large strip of forest savannah. Kafue is striking for its lush dambos; the beautiful grass plains of Busanga; ancient savannas; the amazing rivers Lafuta, Kafue and Lunga with hydropower facilities; teak forests with a variety of insects.
Africa's Kafue National Park, like other parks, provides habitat for huge populations of animals: 150 species of mammals, 480 species of birds, 70 species of reptiles.
Congo
Verunga is a national park located in the north-east of the Congo, characterized by an outstanding diversity of natural habitats: alpine meadows, peat swamps, snow-capped mountains Rwenzori and Verunga, grassy and woody savannas, bamboo thickets, extensive lava plateaus, low-altitude rainforests. Its area is 7800 sq. km. The park has a fairly diverse flora - about 2000 plant species. And its fauna is represented by 110 species of reptiles, 197 species of mammals and 89 species of amphibians.
Loading...
