9781422278901

Most of South Africa’s population lives near the oceans. Inland, there are large areas of beautiful scenery, such as these wildflowers.

incredible biodiversity : It is home to more than 20,000 plant species (10 percent of the world’s population), as well as a wide variety of wildlife, includinggiraffes, lions, andendangeredspecies suchas the riverine rabbit. South Africa has more than 1,500 miles (2,414 km) of coastline. The lush coastal areas rise to a high interior plateau. The Great Escarpment, a steep slope, forms the boundary between these two regions. Theweather in South Africa is generally warm and dry, with sunny days and cool nights. Differences in elevation between the coastal regions and the plateau and the effects of ocean currents can create a variety of climates, from sub- tropical on the east coast to more temperate in the interior.

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