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an annual rainfall of 1800 mm to xerophile forests where the rainfall is below 1000 mm per year.
On the north coast of the Caribbean (Nueva Esparta, Falcón, Anzoátegui, Sucre, etc), the dominating flora is the xerophile, represented in its majority by thorn bushes, low, 8 to 15 cm bushes and different kind of cactuses. Mangrove swamps can also be found there, on riversides and where salt water is found due to its proximity to the sea. Other typical floras of this region are summer forests, where the trees lose their leaves during the dry season and start flourishing during the wet season.
Going a bit further to the South of the country, in the Amazonas, Delta Amacuro and Bolívar State we find the rain jungle, with a yearly average temperature of 26 ºC to 28 ºC where the trees reach a height of up to 40 meters forming a refugee for orchids, ferns, etc.
The South of Bolivar State is characterized by the presence of vast savannahs covered with grass and interrupted by palms at the sides of the rivers that cross them. Other typical floras of this region are small meat eating plants.
In the Western part of the country (Barinas, Apure , Guarico, etc) we find the Llanos (flat regions) with their inlets and savannahs. The changing seasons consequently bring the presence of summer forests which lose their leaves during dry season and flourish again when the rain reappears.
The savannahs vary with the season. In the rainy season (between May and November) they flood and during the dry spell (December to April) they are embraced by the fires. In the landscape of the savannahs palms can be observed near the rivers.
In the Andean mountain range (Mérida, Táchira, Trujillo, etc), due to the cold weather and the altitude, the vegetation is mainly 3 to 8 meter high bushes, because of the Paramo. These are resistant to the cold temperatures (that can reach 0 ºC) and lack of water. Thanks to their hairy leaves and special water storage system they can resist the winds and retain stored water. |
