Difference between revisions of "Serengeti Plain" - New World Encyclopedia
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Revision as of 18:13, 18 October 2007
The Serengeti Plain is world renowned as an ideal location for wildlife and nature photography. Much of the beauty of the region derives its sweeping vistas and dramatic natural features that extend for over 60,000 square kilometers. A significant portion of the Serengeti Plain is protected and preserved from the ravages of modern society in the Serengeti National Park. This park, which extends for roughly 12,950 square kilometers, contains a diverse selection of habitats and wildlife. For the sake of comparison, the Serengeti National Park is approximately the size of North Ireland. However, it offers some of the most spectacular and undisturbed natural habitats found anywhere on the globe. The Serengeti National Park is bordered by Lake Victoria in the west, Lake Eyasi in the south, and the Great Rift Valley to the east.
Geography
The landscape of the Serengeti Plain is extremely varied, ranging from Savannah, to hilly woodlands, to open grasslands. The geographic diversity of the region is due to the extreme weather conditions that plague the area, particularly the potent combination of heat and wind. Many environmental scientists claim that the all the different habitats in the region originated from a series of volcanoes, whose activity shaped the basic geographic features of the plain and added mountains and craters to the landscape. In the southern portions of the plain, broad expanses of open grassland play host to herds of zebras and wildebeest, images which have become closely associated with the Serengeti. To the north of the grasslands lie the Savannah, home to gazelles and ostriches. This zone of the plain is also famous for granite outcroppings called kopjes, that interrupt the plains and play host to separate ecosystems than found in the grasses below. To the north of the Savannah lies a wooded, hilly region that combines many of grassland features of the Savannah with difficult terrain. This area of the plain is host to herds of elephants, evidence of which can be seen in the damaged trees scattered throughout the area.
The climate of the Serengeti Plain is predominantly warm and dry, with the rainy season falling between March and May. During times where the rainfall is steady, the environment is rich and lush and resplendent with plant life. Soon after the rains stop, however, the green landscape begins to dry out and prepare again for the rains. Rainfall can vary throughout the plain, from 508 mm a year in the grasslands to 1,200 mm annually near the shores of Lake Victoria.
One of the most eye catching events in the Serengeti Plain is the biannual migration of zebras and wildebeest from the grasslands of the south to the northern reaches of the plain. This migration, which is the longest overland migration in the world, first takes place in May, when the grasslands of the south begin to dry up.[1] Unable to survive on the dry plain the wildebeest lead the charge towards the north. The zebras then join into the mass migration, careful to maintain their family groupings in the the movement. The long trek to the north is quite challenging for many of the animals, particularly as the males begin compete for dominance and mating partners. Once the animals have reached the fertile lands of the northern plains, they will stay there and graze until November. Once November comes to the Serengeti Plain, the wildebeest and the zebras begin their migration back to the grasslands of the south. When leaving the northern plains, lions and cheetahs often follow the herd, posing a significant threat to animals who fall too far behind. Another challenge for animals during the migration is stampedes, which have been known to kill hundreds of startled animals at once. Over 250,000 wildebeest alone will die along the journey .[1]
The migration is chronicled in the 1994 documentary film, Africa: The Serengeti.
Serengeti National Park
| Serengeti National Park* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| |
| State Party |  United Republic of Tanzania
|
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | vii, x |
| Reference | 156 |
| Region** | Africa |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1981 (5th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. | |
History
The Serengeti Plain has been used as a grazing area for the Maasai people for many centuries. Despite the fertile grazing land and the abundant natural wildlife, however, the area was little known to outside political interests until 1913. At this time the first professional hunters entered the region, drawn to the vast herds of rare and valuable animals. Along with the hunters came political organization and Fort Ikoma was rapidly established in the north to serve as an administrative center.
Continual hunting in the area began to threaten the once abundant lion populations. Due to the fact that lions were considered a nuisance for civilizations in the region, gentlemen on motor car safaris were encouraged to hunt the animals from the safety of the vehicle. This trend rapidly decreased the lion population, and threatened extinction of the lions in the Serengeti. A movement to protect the shrinking lion population contributed significantly to the formation of a Game Reserve in the 1921. This small Game Reserve would later be expanded into the Serengeti National Park.
The Serengeti has gained worldwide recognition for its abundant wildlife and stunning natural features. Much of the initial attention for the area was gained by Bernhard Grizmek, who worked with his son to publish the book Serengeti Shall Not Die. This book was later adapted into a film version of the same material. It is considered one of the most prominent early works of nature conservation.
Administration and Protection
The Serengeti National Park strictly preserves the natural environment of the region to foster wildlife and vegetation growth. As such, human habitation is strictly prohibited in the park. Early in the history of the Serengeti National Park the inhabitants of the region were removed from the protected area so the space could be enclosed and placed under the control of the Tanzanian government. This forced removal continues to be a controversial part of the park's history. Currently, only National Park staff, researchers, zoological staff, and hotel employees are allowed to live permanently on the National Park land. Many of the human settlements in the park are clustered at Seronera, which is the home to the park's administrative building and airstrip.
As a result of the biodiversity and ecological significance of the area, the park has been listed by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites. A large component of the significance of the area is the biannual game migration that continues to attract tourists from around the globe. In fact, tourism is a major component of the Serengeti National Park, as land safaris are available for those willing to pay. Tanzania has been able to use much of the revenue from the part to boost its economy. Tourists are also drawn to the Serengeti National Park by the personal stories of individuals who spent parts of their lives on the plain. A prime example of this is the popularity of "My Serengeti Years", an autobiography by Myles Turner, the Serengeti National Park's first warden.
Photo gallery
Sunset over the Serengeti, 1999.
- Ser 2.jpg
Caracal hunting in the Serengeti, 2007.
Lioness at rest, Serengeti, 2005.
- Ser 4.jpg
Wildebeest in the Serengeti, 2006.
- Ser 5.jpg
Serengeti elephant herd, 2005.
- Ser 6.jpg
Serengeti waterfowl, 2006.
- Ser 7.jpg
Giraffes in the Serengeti, 2006.
- Ser 8.jpg
Baboons hiking through the Serengeti, 2006.
- Ser 9.jpg
Zebras in the Serengeti, 2006.
- Ser 10.jpg
Cheetah lounging in the Serengeti, 2007.
- Ser 11.jpg
The Serengeti's Spotted Hyena, 2005.
- Ser 12.jpg
Colorful lizard in the Serengeti, 2005.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Partridge, Frank, "The fast show", The Independent (London), 2006-05-20. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
Sources and further reading
- My Serengeti Years – Myles Turner
- Maasailand Ecology: Pastoralist Development and Wildlife Conservation in Ngorongoro, Tanzania - K.W. Homewood and W.A. Rodgers 24th October 1991, CUP
- National Geographic Magazine
- Iwago, Mitsuaki. Serengeti: Natural Order on the African Plain. Chronicle Books, New Edition: 1987. San Francisco, California. ISBN 0877014418
- Scott, Johnathon. Mara-Serengeti: A Photographer's Paradise. Voyageur Press: 2001. ISBN 0863433987
- Mari, Carlo. The Serengeti's Great Migration. Abbeville Press: 2000. ISBN 0789206692
External links
- Serengeti Official Site
- TANAPA - official site of Tanzania's national parks
- World Heritage Sites Protected Areas - Serengeti
- Map of Serengeti National Park
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