Throughout the world, there are specific regions that stick out due to the abundance and diversity of the plant life, specifically flowing plants. There are regions all over the world, but the biggest and most famous is the Cape Floral Region. Found right at the bottom of the continent of Africa in the Western Cape province, the Cape Floral Region is widely considered to be one of the world’s most diverse wildlife hotspots.
It’s the ultimate destination for those that have a passion for nature and want to see all the thousands of different species of plants that inhabit the area. Keep reading to learn more about the area and why it’s worth visiting.
Split Into Ecosystems
The Worldwide Fund for Nature has split the region into three separate area. These are known as the renosterveld, the Lowland Fynbos, and the Montane Fynbos. Fynbos is the name given to the thick shrubs and other indigenous plants that make up the area. The famous protea is a good example of the kind of plant that grows in the area, but there are many more. In fact, it’s believed that there are at least 9000 species of flowering plants in the Cape Floristic region, and some experts believe that there are still many more to discover.
A World Heritage Site
The Cape Floral Region Protected Areas together were named as a World Heritage Site due to their incredible biodiversity as well as their large area. Some of the sites that are currently within the boundaries of this region include the Cedarburg Wilderness Area, Table Mountain National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, and many more. This also meant that further restrictions have been put into place to try and converse as much of the region as possible.
Unique Climate
Although some parts of the Western Cape are similar to other climates and habitats found across the world, such as the Mediterranean, for the most part it’s quite unique, and makes for a great place to visit with winnings from the top casino bonuses in NZ. The soil, for example, tends to be quite dry and acidic, meaning that apart from the fynbos, not much else is able to grow.
The reed family, heath family, and protea family are some of the most prominent families that can be found in the area. Sandveld is another biome that is part of the Floristic region, which makes up most of the western part of the country and tends to be quite dry and desert-like.
The Renosterveld, although only around 5% of it still remains, is dominated by plants within the daisy family. There are some many different types of daisies found in the Renosterveld that it often takes an expert eye to be able to pick out one from another. Lastly, there are small pockets of Afromontane forests, which is the remnants of the mighty forests that once covered the entire Western Cape before the climate began to change thousands of years ago.
