KwaZulu-Cape coastal forest mosaic
Encyclopedia
The Kwazulu-Cape coastal forest mosaic is a subtropical moist broadleaf forest
ecoregion of South Africa
. It covers an area of 17800 square kilometres (6,872.6 sq mi) in South Africa's Eastern Cape
and KwaZulu-Natal
provinces.
The Kwazulu-Cape coastal forest mosaic occupies the humid coastal strip between the Indian Ocean
and the foothills of the Drakensberg
mountains. It is part of a strip of moist coastal forests that extend along Africa's Indian Ocean coast from southern Somalia
to South Africa. The northern limit of the ecoregion is at Cape St. Lucia in KwaZulu Natal, where the forests transition to the Maputaland coastal forest mosaic
. The southern limit is at Cape St. Francis
, east of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province, where the KwaZulu-Cape forests transition to the Knysna-Amatole montane forests
.
The ecoregion has a seasonally moist subtropical climate. Rainfall ranges from 1500 mm to 900 mm per year. The northern portion is generally receives more rainfall, typically in the summer months, while the southern portion receives most of its rainfall in the winter months, which is typical of the Mediterranean climate
region to the west. Rainfall diminishes away from the coast, and the coastal forest mosaic yields to the drier Maputaland-Pondoland bushland and thickets
in the Drakensberg foothills, above 300 to 450 meters elevation.
The ecoregion comprises a mosaic of different plant communities, including coastal belt forest, sand forest, dune forest, short, dry forests known as Alexandria forest, grasslands, palm woodlands, and thorn scrublands. Forests are typically made up of evergreen trees, interspersed with dry-season semi-deciduous and deciduous trees.
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
ecoregion of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It covers an area of 17800 square kilometres (6,872.6 sq mi) in South Africa's Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
and KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
provinces.
The Kwazulu-Cape coastal forest mosaic occupies the humid coastal strip between the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and the foothills of the Drakensberg
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
mountains. It is part of a strip of moist coastal forests that extend along Africa's Indian Ocean coast from southern Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
to South Africa. The northern limit of the ecoregion is at Cape St. Lucia in KwaZulu Natal, where the forests transition to the Maputaland coastal forest mosaic
Maputaland coastal forest mosaic
The Maputaland coastal forest mosaic is an ecoregion of the subtropical moist broadleaf forests Biome, in Southern Africa. It covers an area of in southern Mozambique, Swaziland, and the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Mozambique's capital Maputo lies within the ecoregion.The Maputaland...
. The southern limit is at Cape St. Francis
Cape St. Francis
Cape St. Francis is a town in South Africa, situated on a headland in the Eastern Cape Province. It is popular for its clean beaches and as a surfing location.The town is home to a Penguin Rescue and Rehabilitation Center as well as the Seal Point Lighthouse....
, east of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province, where the KwaZulu-Cape forests transition to the Knysna-Amatole montane forests
Knysna-Amatole montane forests
The Knysna-Amatole montane forests ecoregion, of the Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Biome, is in South Africa. It covers an Afromontane area of in South Africa's Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces.-Setting:...
.
The ecoregion has a seasonally moist subtropical climate. Rainfall ranges from 1500 mm to 900 mm per year. The northern portion is generally receives more rainfall, typically in the summer months, while the southern portion receives most of its rainfall in the winter months, which is typical of the Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
region to the west. Rainfall diminishes away from the coast, and the coastal forest mosaic yields to the drier Maputaland-Pondoland bushland and thickets
Maputaland-Pondoland bushland and thickets
The Maputaland-Pondoland bushland and thickets ecoregion, of the montane shrubland Biome, is in South Africa. The ecoregion occupies the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains, covering an area of in South Africa's Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces...
in the Drakensberg foothills, above 300 to 450 meters elevation.
The ecoregion comprises a mosaic of different plant communities, including coastal belt forest, sand forest, dune forest, short, dry forests known as Alexandria forest, grasslands, palm woodlands, and thorn scrublands. Forests are typically made up of evergreen trees, interspersed with dry-season semi-deciduous and deciduous trees.