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Semi-Desert

Semi-Desert. What is a Semi- Desert? Usually located “in the semiarid zones between deserts and grasslands” Definition: “This biome is dominated by thorn trees and shrubs adapted to long dry spells followed by brief, sometimes heavy rains.”. Namaqualand

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Semi-Desert

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  1. Semi-Desert

  2. What is a Semi- Desert? • Usually located “in the semiarid zones between deserts and grasslands” • Definition: “This biome is dominated by thorn trees and shrubs adapted to long dry spells followed by brief, sometimes heavy rains.”

  3. Namaqualand Where? Western part of South Africa Description: “Namaqualand is a wide and beautiful semi-desert region, dotted with giant granite boulder stacks. Between these "koppies" the outstretched sandy savannah land becomes in Springtime (August and September) "God's own garden", when the wild spring flowers burst into a kaleidoscope of colours.” www.africa-adventure.org/.../index.htm

  4. Namaqualand’s climate zone • Ususally hot and dry • precipitation is low: less than 200mm or in some other places 100 mm • The cause: the cold Benguela current from the Arctic, it absorbs little amounts of humidity so that rain clouds barely form • During winter some shower can be expected • Avg temp during day: 25-30°C & lower @ night Night time frosts are usual Near the coast it’s cooler and as you move more inland the hotter it becomes Really nice time of the year: in spring; where after the small rainy season, diverse species of wild flowers blossom http://www.southafrica-travel.net/climate/eklima8.htm

  5. Climate Data Climate Data

  6. Vegetation

  7. **Vegetation is diverse among the many sub-regions of N-land** • - it definitely depends on the climate and geography • In the subregion: Sandveld> coastal plain • Dominant vegetation: strandveld • In the subregion: Richtersveld> mountain desert>arid • Dominant vegetation: vygieveld; on higher ground there patches of veld • Huge plant diversity: has at least 355 endemic plants • In the subregion: Hardeveld> mountainous • rainfall & cooler conditions+higher elevation= little more luxuriant veget. • In the subregion: Knersvlatke> huge wavy plain • the dominant vegetation is “vygieveld, a dwarf shrubland dominated by leaf-succulent shrubs” ; it is also known for its white quartz gravel • http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:CrB3cSJbVIIJ:www.plant-talk.org/stories/22namaql.html+vegetation+Namaqualand&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

  8. Animal Life • Many animals need to learn to adapt to the intense heat • Many species are protected in their national reserves • Trophic Levels • Speckled tortoise or cattle>succulent plants>decomposers

  9. Geology • In certain sub-regions there are patches of white quartz gravel • Known for itsdiamond mines • However, the mining is a threat to their diverse plant life

  10. THE END :o)

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