Climatic Factors

The altitude is divided into Succulent Karoo to the west and Nama Karoo in the east which covers most of the interior at altitudes between 500 and 2000m.

The majority of the succulent karoo biome has a mild climate with a strong maritime climate. Most of the region has a winter rainfall, with a eastern little Karoo experiencing year round precipitation.

The minimal average temperature in the Succulent Karoo is around 9 C/48 F and the maximum temperature is around 24 C/75 F. But one the climates most extreme temperatures is from -15 C to over 40 C on the plains of the summer.

The Succulent Karoo Biome is determined by the presence of low winter rainfall and extreme summer aridity. 

The Succulent Karoo is associated with the drier and warmer conditions and is found on plains and lower slopes with the annual rainfall 20 and 300 mm.

The average rainfall of the Succulent Karoo is between 20 to 290 mm per year.

The water availability in the Succulent Karoo is around 20 to 290 mm. 

The soil in the Succulent Karoo is a lime rich, weakly developed soils on rock.

Communities are dispersed along a broad range of abiotic habit conditions ranging from moderately to extreme saline from very acidic (pH 3.5) to slightly alkaline (pH 8.5).

Small low plants, succulent-leaved shrubs, few grasses, and very little tall shrubs and trees. 

Varying in size but all are light khaki colour and stay low to the ground.

many nomadic birds, all dull browns and greys. They wait for the rainfall.

Light brown skinned animals.

Riverine Rabbit.

Farming new development of the land.

Birdlife. (2020). Birds of the Karoo. Available: Birds-of-the-Karoo-Ecolog y-and-Conservation-1.pdf. Last accessed 21 February. 

Unknown. (2020). 

Map - https://images.app.goo.gl/8fXkwz3AgUJUyYPaA

The Succulent Karoo is found in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces in South Africa. 

  

Capital/important cities in the biome: Cape town, located in the Western Cape Province is important for its major seaports and industrial centres, not only that but the beauty of the city too. Kimberly, The capital of the Northern Cape, famous for its quality diamonds.  A huge tourist attraction for its largest man-made excavation in the world. 

National parks found in biome: Tankwa Karoo National Park is found in The succulent Karoo. It lies near the border of the Northern Cape and the Western Cape. 

General physical characteristics: The average annual temperature in the Succulent Karoo is 16.8 degrees. There is a low winter rainfall and extreme lack of rainfall in the summer. 

Economic importance of the succulent karoo: Areas in the succulent karoo such as Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Knysna  and many others do very well with Tourism. Cape Town Tourist attractions welcomed around 28 million tourists in 2016, now you can imagine the money brought in from tourists yearly. Kimberley,  located in Succulent Karoo did extremely well with their diamonds. One of the diamonds called ‘The Star Of Africa’ was sold for R531 606,47. 

Picture of map: https://images.app.goo.gl/8fXkwz3AgUJUyYPaA

Development Policy Unit 

Accessed 07/03/21

Britannica 

The Editors Of Encyclopedia Britannica 

Accessed 07/03/21

Britannica 

Eric Axelson

Accessed 07/03/21

South Africa History Online 

Author:unknown 

Accessed 07/03/21

South African National Parks 

Author:Unknown 

Accessed 07/03/21

Famous Diamonds 

Author:Unknown 

Accessed 07/03/21

Birdlife. (2020). Birds of the Karoo. Available: Birds-of-the-Karoo-Ecolog y-and-Conservation-1.pdf. Last accessed 21 February. 

Unknown. (2020).