Cape Floristic Kingdom, Plant kingdom near Cape Town, South Africa.
The Cape Floristic Kingdom extends across a large area south of Cape Town and consists of various landscapes including coastal zones, hillsides, and plains. The region has a Mediterranean climate with rainfall in winter months and dry summers.
The region became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 and is one of six global floristic kingdoms in the world. This recognition honored the extraordinary plant variety found there.
The area has long been tied to rooibos tea cultivation, a red tea made from native plants that locals drink daily. Visitors can see signs of this tradition throughout the landscape as local farms grow the distinctive plants.
The area includes several protected sites like Table Mountain National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which can be visited at different times of year. It helps to wear sturdy shoes since many trails pass through uneven terrain.
A striking feature is the high proportion of plant species that exist nowhere else on Earth and are found only in this region. These endemic plants account for much of the diversity visitors encounter here.
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