Africa is the oldest continent on our planet. No wonder it is called the cradle of civilization. The age of the continent reaches 270 million years. But, despite this, Africa has managed to maintain harmony and unity with nature to this day.
The oldest mountains on the continent are the Cape Mountains. Africa is even younger than them. After all, the age of the mountains is 380 million years! These mountain ranges formed before the continent was formed in the form in which it is familiar to us today.
Where are the Cape Mountains?
As mentioned above, this is the oldest mountain system on the continent and the largest. Find the Cape Mountains on the map of labor will not be. It is worth paying attention to the southern part of the African continent. These mountain ranges are considered the territory of the Republic of South Africa and are located in the extreme south of the country.
The Cape Mountains occupy a vast territory of the continent: from the mouth of the Olifantes River to the African city of Port Elizabeth, capturing the Ethiopian Highlands.
The Cape mountain system includes parallel ridges such as Langeberg, Matrusberg, Picketberg, Svartberg and others.
Highest point
The highest Cape Mountain is Compassberg Peak. It reaches 2504 meters above sea level. His discovery was made by Colonel Robert Jacob Gordon during his campaign, in which he accompanied the governor to the eastern borders of the Cape Colony. This mountain served as a kind of compass for the German colonel and his team and helped not to get lost while traveling through a complicated mountain system. Hence the name - Compassberg.
The second highest point of the Cape Mountains is the Matrusberg Range. Its height reaches 2249 meters. On the territory of this mountain range there are numerous green meadows and pastures for livestock. There is a temperate Mediterranean climate, which allows you to engage in livestock farming without any problems.
Svartberg mountain range
This mountain range also makes up the Cape Mountains. It runs along the border of the Western Cape in South Africa.
The people of Swartberg received the name "Black Mountain". Since the area around the mountains is mostly wild and desert. However, small settlements settled here. Somewhere around 200 people, no more. The narrow valley "dead hell", as locals call it, is located in the very center of the mountains and is used to grow tobacco, grain, tea and even vegetables with fruits. Communication with the big world is supported by horses or cars. Svartberg is also known for the pass with the same name and the impressive Gret Karu desert.
Flora and fauna of the mountains
The Cape Mountains have a very changeable climate. Since they occupy a significant area of the continent, they are distinguished by a rather large original nature. Part of the mountains is located off the coast of the ocean, part is on desert lands, and part is covered with green meadows. And the climate here is subtropical and tropical with dry summers and cold winters.
In this unique climate, the most diverse and amazing plants grow. More than seven thousand bushes, heather and other types of ancient plants adorn the Cape Mountains. Beautiful flowers of the most diverse forms and types, colors and smells, as if specially created in order to seduce pollinators.
Rare breeds of sugar birds live here. They fly only in the Cape Mountains and nowhere else. The slopes are full of mice, which, attracted by the smell of flowers, also play the role of pollinators.
The most beautiful and “smartest” flower in the Cape Mountains is the Diza orchid. She is not only the most beautiful, but also very cunning. While a butterfly or a bee drinks nectar from its buds, it “glues” its pollen to the insect’s abdomen.
The rare animals that hide in the Cape Mountains are mountain gorillas. There are only 700 left in the world. So to meet them is tremendous luck.
Mountains problems
The Cape Mountains is a unique combination of fertile soil, a stable climate, strong rocky rocks and an isolated position. However, this beautiful place has its own problems. They begin with the end of spring. During this period, cold winds subside, the air in the mountains becomes extremely dry, creating excellent conditions for fires, which occur here quite often.
In summer, fires are also not uncommon. They start from rockfalls, and from lightning strikes, and from specially caused arsons.
It seems that the only trouble from fires is that this destructive force destroys everything around. However, fires sometimes bring not only harm, but also benefit. Thanks to them, clearings are cleared, old unnecessary and rotten shoots of plants are destroyed, and the soil is filled with important minerals and useful substances necessary for the mountains.
In addition, intense heat and hot smoke benefit plants growing in the mountains. For example, they contribute to the growth of orchids. During fires, thousands of seeds are carried downwind, giving rise to new generations of plants.