In what part of Africa are the Drakensberg Mountains located? The height of the dragon mountains. A note on the methodology for assessing the correctness of completing some tasks

In the Royal Natal Park there is the Santa Lucia Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site - an area of ​​275 thousand hectares adjacent to the oldest lake on the planet of the same name.

The Golden Gate Highlands Nature Reserve is also located where the Drakensberg Mountains are located, closer to the Maluti mountain range. This is a park named for the unusually beautiful golden glow of the Brandwag rock at sunset. The park was created in 1963 to protect the sandstones, which once served as a refuge for the Bushmen, from destruction.

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg National Park is another special place on the UNESCO list. The park, located in the Great Escarpment area, is considered the largest in the Drakensberg Mountains. Rare representatives of flora and fauna have been preserved here, the total number of which is more than 250 species.

Fauna of the Drakensberg Mountains

The Drakensberg Mountains area is characterized by exceptional natural beauty. This is primarily due to the fact that the mountains serve as a natural barrier for those living here and on the inland plateau. National parks have preserved pristine nature. The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg has an undisturbed strip of alpine and subalpine vegetation - a special region designated as a World Center for Endemism and Plant Diversity. Birds endemic to the Drakensberg Mountains are the bald ibis and bearded vulture, which nest only near Cathedral Cave (a natural arch formed by the action of water on sand due to fluctuating temperatures). The yellow-breasted pipit is also a rare and endangered species. The Cape vulture lives only on the cliffs of Ukhahlambi Park. Due to the presence of a large number of rare birds, UNESCO has designated part of the Drakensberg Mountains as an Important Bird Area.

Only Ukhakhlamba Park is home to such mammals as the oribi antelope, Burchell's zebra, and black wildebeest. Animals typical of southern Africa also live in the mountains: antelopes (mountain redneck, bush duiker, bushbuck, roe deer antelope), caracal, jackal, serval, leopard, otter, genet, mongoose.

Flora of the Drakensberg Mountains

Mount Dragons is located in the south of the Afromontane botanical-geographical region. It is home to steppes, forests and woodlands, home to the world's only populations of white-tailed wildebeest and white rhinoceros. Botanists classify alpine vegetation as analogues of alpine tundra. The east of the mountains is humid, its slopes (up to a height of 1200 m) are covered with tropical rain forests with lianas, evergreen trees, and epiphytes. From an altitude of 1200-1500 m thorny bushes, xerophytes and succulents grow. Above 2000 m there are mountain steppes, green meadows, and stone deposits. The west of the mountains is covered with savannas and bushes.

Tourism in the Drakensberg Mountains

The unique nature, unique landscape, and original culture of the local residents make the Drakensberg Mountains attractive to tourists. The Drakensberg is interesting because it has three national parks and many nature reserves where rare species of flora and fauna are found. The mountains have ancient lakes, beautiful waterfalls, and varied terrain. People who are interested in history visit the rocks in Ukhakhlamba Park, where paintings of the San people who lived in the Stone Age have been preserved.

There are about 600 such places in the Drakensberg Mountains. The drawings tell about the lifestyle of people of that time. Fans of active and extreme recreation have the opportunity to ride along the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains in a Land Rover or on horseback. You can see the mountains from the helicopter window. Walking tours are organized to hard-to-reach places. The Drakensberg Mountains attract tourists from all over the world, those who are true connoisseurs of true beauty.

Sandstone, overlain by dark-colored basalt strata, forms the basis of the Drakensberg Mountains, and this also determines their completely unique plane. The peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa's highest mountain range, are divided by erosion into stepped plateaus with steep slopes.
The Drakensberg Mountains - with their flat tops - are incredibly beautiful, unlike any other mountain range in the world. The Drakensberg Mountains have evergreen forests. The climate and vegetation in different mountain regions differ sharply - on the eastern, windward slopes there is heavy rainfall (rains up to 2000 mm per year), and the western, leeward slopes of the mountains are dry and have a sharply continental climate. In winter, snow falls on the peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains. Wet, tropical "rain" forests with evergreen deciduous and coniferous trees and vines cover the eastern slopes with a smooth, high carpet, giving way to savannas and bushes to the west.
At an altitude of more than 2000 meters there are mountain meadows and stone placers.
Even when the bright sun shines in the mountains, the mountain slopes are blown by strong, piercing winds. However, the wind is unable to stop the numerous romantic travelers who rise here to explore the ancient secrets of the mountains.
They say that when you get to the Drakensberg Mountains, you feel like you are at the origins of human civilization. Long before the white man came here, people from the San tribe (Bushmen) left traces of their stay here in the form of rock paintings. Ritual scenes of hunting, fragments from peaceful life - this ancient painting is found in abundance in these mysterious mountains. The last group of Bushmen, the indigenous inhabitants of the Drakensberg Mountains, was seen in these places in 1878, since then no traces of Bushman life have been found here. However, thousands of rock paintings in numerous mountain caves will not let you forget about the former owners of the Drakensberg Mountains. The rock art of these places is recognized as unique not only because of its preservation, but also because of the variety of subjects.
For many kilometers of ascent in the mountains there is complete silence - the civilized world remains far below, and only the cries of antelopes from the valley and the hoarse, threatening voice of a baboon will remind you that you are not alone here. And also the constant rustle of the wind. And above the mountains, spreading their almost two-meter wings, vultures and mountain eagles soar.
As they climb, the landscape will constantly change - either a basalt amphitheater will appear before travelers, or a breathtaking view of a mountain valley will open from the cliff. Mysterious gorges, waterfalls, canyons and fields covered with unknown colorful flowers - all this makes the landscapes of the Drakensberg Mountains unique.
The goal of many travelers in these mountains is the paradise valley - Ndedema. The view of the Ndedema Gorge surpasses anything seen before - the mighty mountain seems to be cut in half by a deep neck. One part of it is completely covered with forest, while the other is completely bare.
It is said that it was these places that inspired Tolkien, who was born in South Africa, to write his famous “The Lord of the Rings”.
This mountainous region is actively developing tourism. Numerous hotels and campsites with full service and provided guides and guides are very useful. Passive tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the mountain slopes from a helicopter or from a car window. Those who are restless will go along picturesque passes and mountain valleys, accompanied by local guides; and their luggage will be carried on the backs of smart and unpretentious ponies.
There are unique opportunities for travel, horse riding, and bird watching. Even golfing and fishing are provided.
The Drakensberg Mountains are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Lost World of the Drakensberg Mountains is one of the most beautiful places on our Earth. The Drakensberg Mountains are easy to find on a map of the world or Africa; they occupy the territory of three African states - South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. The mountain range is an almost monolithic wall of solid basalt with a length of a thousand kilometers. The mountains stretch along the southeastern coast of South Africa and are a natural divide between the rivers flowing into the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The highest point of the Drakensberg Mountains, Mount Thabana-Ntlenyana with a height of 3482 m, is located in the territory of the state of Lesotho.

There is a lot of rainfall over the eastern slopes of the mountains; the climate on the western slopes is drier. There are many active mines in the Drakensberg Mountains, where gold, tin, platinum and coal are mined.

More than two million tourists annually visit the Republic of South Africa, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces to see a true natural wonder - the Drakensberg Mountains.

Myths and legends of the Drakensberg Mountains

There are several versions of the origin of such an unusual name. Local residents love to tell the legend of a huge fire-breathing dragon, which was seen in these parts in the 19th century. Perhaps the name Drakensberg (Drakensberg) came from the Boers, who named them so for their inaccessibility, because it is very difficult to get between the rocky ledges and mountain placers. Another version of the name comes from the foggy haze that envelops the mountain peaks. The clouds of fog are very similar to the steam from the nostrils of a dragon.

Rock paintings in mountain caves are of great interest: scientists have determined that the age of some drawings exceeds 100 thousand years! The Ukashlamba-Drakensberg Nature Reserve, which contains caves with prehistoric inscriptions, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

The Drakensberg Mountains are a beautiful corner of South Africa where you can enjoy clean air, the rustling wind and forests, over which mountain falcons, bearded eagles and vultures soar. Predatory animals have long since left these places, thereby creating conditions for the reproduction of many species of antelope.

Drakensberg Mountains (South Africa)

Herds of graceful animals are often encountered along excursion routes.

Ukashlamba-Drakensberg Park is a great place for a weekend, where you can stay for a couple of days in a cozy house or hostel and fish for trout in the deep crystal lakes. For fans of active recreation - rock climbing, rafting, horseback riding and hiking.

How to get there?

The Drakensberg Mountains are just a couple of hours' drive from Durban, a city on the east coast of South Africa. Durban Airport accepts international flights and flights from other South African cities 24 hours a day. You can go to the mountains with a tent and camping equipment, and for those who want a more relaxing holiday, the park staff will offer to stay in one of the hotels.

• Where: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal province
• Height above sea level: 3482 meters
• Highest point: Thabana-Ntlenyana
• Countries: South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland

South Africa - attractions:All attractions of South Africa

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DRAGON MOUNTAINS (Drakensberg), mountains in eastern South Africa, mainly in South Africa and Lesotho. They stretch from southwest to northeast from the Big Kay River to the Sabie River over a distance of over 1000 km.

Drakensberg Mountains

The most elevated part of the Great Escarpment. The central part includes the eastern edge of the Lesotho highlands up to 3482 m high (Mount Thabana-Ntlenyana, the highest point of the Drakensberg Mountains and South Africa). They are composed of Upper Paleozoic sandstones and shales of the Karoo complex, overlain by strata of Middle Jurassic plateau basalts, which determine the table nature of the peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains, divided by erosion into steeply sloped stepped plateaus. The Drakensberg Mountains form a watershed between the short rivers of the Indian Ocean basin (Tugela and others), which dissect the steep eastern slope of the Drakensberg Mountains, and the rivers of the Orange River basin.

On the eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains there is heavy rainfall, mainly in summer (up to 1000-2000 mm per year), while the climate on the western slopes is drier (450-500 mm per year). On the peaks, the duration of the frosty period reaches 180 days, and snow cover forms. In the lower part of the eastern slopes of the mountains, indigenous subtropical evergreen forests (podocarpus, laurel-leaved olive, bearded todea; lianas, epiphytes) are replaced mainly by secondary grasslands; At an altitude of 1800-2700 m, savannas with tree-like Proteaceae are preserved; along the valleys there are areas of coniferous forests of Widdringtonia. Higher up, low-grass alpine-type meadows and rocky areas dominate. Tall grass grasslands (veld) are common on the western slopes. The midlands of the Drakensberg Mountains are a center of vascular plant and bryophyte diversity. About 50 species of mammals live in the Drakensberg Mountains: carnivores (leopard, jackal, caracal, serval, otters, genets, mongooses) and ungulates are especially diverse. The avifauna is rich (over 300 species of birds); the populations of nesting migrant birds from the Palaearctic (black stork, golden bee-eater, etc.) are unique.

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To protect the diverse fauna, habitats of rare and endemic plant species for South Africa, the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg (South Africa, included in the World Heritage List) and Sehlabatebe (Lesotho) national parks were created. Within the Royal Natal National Park (South Africa) in the upper reaches of the Tugela River there is one of the highest waterfalls in the world.

Lit.: Killick D. Drakensberg alpine region // Centers of plant diversity: a guide and strategy for their conservation. Oxf., 1994; Vegetation of Southern Africa / Ed. R. Cowling, D. Richardson, S. Pierce. Camb., 1997.

The Drakensberg Mountains

News and society

Drakensberg Mountains (South Africa). Where is Dragon Mountain?

The Eye of the Sahara, the Kilimanjaro volcano, Victoria Falls, the Emerald City, Giza, the Egyptian pyramids - how many natural and man-made wonders are hidden in the most mysterious continent of the planet - Africa!

Drakensberg Mountains - the pearl of South Africa

The Drakensberg Mountains are one of the most beautiful places on the continent. They have a unique origin. These are massive mountains with steep slopes and weak dissection, formed as a result of uplift of the earth's crust and discharge of basalt.

There are several versions of the origin of the name of the mountains. The stories of Dragon Mountain tell of the presence of a dragon on its territory, which was seen in the 19th century. Another possible origin of the name is the presence of a haze over the mountains, similar to the flame of a dragon. The most common version is that the name is Dutch, and was given by the Boers, comparing the mountain tops with the ridge of a dragon.

Dragon Mountain: place on the map

The Drakensberg Mountains run across South Africa from east to west, from the Indian Ocean to the Great Weld. Dragon Mountain is located on the territory of three countries: South Africa, the enclave of Lesotho, and the kingdom of Swaziland. The length of the mountain range is over 1100 km, the average height is 2000 m. The highest points are the mountains Katkin Peak with an altitude of 3660 m and Thabana-Ntlenyana with an altitude of 3482 m. The Drakensberg Mountains, where the most varied terrain is presented, are divided into two parts: hilly, lively (Royal Natal National Park), and highland, lifeless (Basuto Plateau).

Video on the topic

Drakensberg - nature reserve area

Drakensberg is a variant of the name of the Dragon Mountain. The charm of the Drakensberg Mountains is amazing with its landscapes. Here you can see waterfalls and canyons, valleys and cliffs. Dragon Mountain is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nature reserves, sanctuaries, and national parks occupy a significant part of the mountain range.

Royal Natal National Park is set in the unique landscape of the Dragon Mountains. The southern border of the park is incredibly beautiful - the Amphitheater mountain range, which received its name because of its flat top. This is a natural rock step 8 km long. Nearby is the Tugela Falls, 948 m high, which consists of five cascades and is considered the second highest in the world after Angel Falls.
In the Royal Natal Park there is the Santa Lucia Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site, an area of ​​275 thousand hectares adjacent to the oldest lake of the same name on the planet.

The Golden Gate Highlands Nature Reserve is also located where the Drakensberg Mountains are located, closer to the Maluti range. This is a park named for the unusually beautiful golden glow of the Brandwag rock at sunset. The park was created in 1963 to protect the sandstones, which once served as a refuge for the Bushmen, from destruction.

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg National Park is another special UNESCO site. The park, located in the Great Escarpment area, is considered the largest in the Drakensberg Mountains. Rare representatives of flora and fauna have been preserved here, the total number of which is more than 250 species.

Fauna of the Drakensberg Mountains

The Drakensberg Mountains area is characterized by exceptional natural beauty. This is primarily due to the fact that the mountains serve as a natural barrier to the migration of animals living here and on the inland plateau. National parks have preserved pristine nature. The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg has an undisturbed belt of alpine and subalpine vegetation - a special region designated as a World Center for Endemism and Plant Diversity. Birds endemic to the Drakensberg Mountains are the bald ibis and bearded vulture, which nest only near Cathedral Cave (a natural arch formed by the action of water on sand due to fluctuating temperatures).

The yellow-breasted pipit is also a rare and endangered species. The Cape vulture lives only on the cliffs of Ukhahlambi Park. Due to the presence of a large number of rare birds, UNESCO has designated part of the Drakensberg Mountains as an Important Bird Area.
Only Ukhakhlamba Park is home to such mammals as the oribi antelope, Burchell's zebra, and black wildebeest. Animals typical of southern Africa also live in the mountains: antelopes (mountain redneck, bush duiker, bushbuck, roe deer antelope), caracal, jackal, serval, leopard, otter, genet, mongoose.

Flora of the Drakensberg Mountains

Mount Dragons is located in the south of the Afromontane botanical-geographical region. It is home to steppes, forests and woodlands, home to the world's only populations of white-tailed wildebeest and white rhinoceros. Botanists classify alpine vegetation as analogues of alpine tundra. The east of the mountains is humid, its slopes (up to a height of 1200 m) are covered with tropical rain forests with lianas, evergreen trees, and epiphytes. From an altitude of 1200-1500 m thorny bushes, xerophytes and succulents grow. Above 2000 m there are mountain steppes, green meadows, and stone deposits. The west of the mountains is covered with savannas and bushes.

Tourism in the Drakensberg Mountains

The unique nature, unique landscape, and original culture of the local residents make the Drakensberg Mountains attractive to tourists. The Drakensberg is interesting because it has three national parks and many nature reserves where rare species of flora and fauna are found. The mountains have ancient lakes, beautiful waterfalls, and varied terrain. People who are interested in history visit the rocks in Ukhakhlamba Park, where paintings of the San people who lived in the Stone Age have been preserved.
There are about 600 such places in the Drakensberg Mountains. The drawings tell about the lifestyle of people of that time. Fans of active and extreme recreation have the opportunity to ride along the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains in a Land Rover or on horseback. You can see the mountains from the helicopter window. Walking tours are organized to hard-to-reach places. The Drakensberg Mountains attract tourists from all over the world, those who are true connoisseurs of true beauty.

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About the tasks of the Geography Olympiad for schoolchildren
Moscow region

A.N. NOVIK
Geography teacher of secondary school No. 1
village Moskovsky, Leninsky district, Moscow region.

On January 24, 2004, regional rounds of the school Olympiad in geography were held in the Moscow region. In all districts of the region, the questions, tasks and answers to them were the same. Some tasks were at a fairly high level, and only really well-prepared students could cope with them. But the correctness of others caused controversy among teachers, and some of the answer options that became known after the end of the Olympiad were simply striking in their incorrectness.
Here are examples of tasks for which answers were offered that were presented as correct. I immediately present my comments and correct answers in accordance with school and scientific literature, as well as cartographic material.

7th grade

Task 9. Name four types of mountains, differing in origin, the formation of which is associated with the activity of the internal forces of the Earth.
Answer: volcanic, folded, blocky, folded-blocky.
Notes. All mountains are divided into 2 types by origin: tectonic and volcanic. Tectonic mountains are mountains that were formed as a result of folding and rupture deformations of the earth's crust, that is, as a result of orogenesis. Volcanic mountains are mountains formed as a result of volcanic eruptions. Tectonic mountains, according to their structure (structure), are divided into 2 main types (folded and blocky) and 2 transitional types (folded-blocky and blocky-folded)*.

Task 11. Name the largest hill located in the Moscow region.
Answer: Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge.
Notes. The answer proposed by the compilers is incorrect: a significant part of the region is occupied by the Smolensk-Moscow Upland, and the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge is only a part of this upland, and, of course, it is smaller than it. Maybe the compilers asked to name the highest hill? But here they are also wrong: the absolute height of the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge reaches only 285 m, and the highest point of the Moscow region is located near the village of Shapkino, Mozhaisk district (310 m), that is, within the Smolensk-Moscow upland, but outside the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya upland ridges.

Task 14. Using the map, determine the origin of the Drakensberg Mountains.
Answer: blocky.
Comment. Again (see task 9) the authors confuse the origin of mountains with their structure.

*Geographical Encyclopedic Dictionary (Concepts and Terms, 1988), when defining the concept of “block mountains,” notes that it is generally debatable, “since according to some ideas, all mountains are folded.” Indeed, block mountains are formed only when the folded structure is already formed. Conversely, there are no purely folded mountains that do not contain faults, horsts and grabens. It is much more correct to divide tectonic mountains into young and revived, as was done, for example, in the textbook by D.P. Finarova and others, and not introduce into the school course terms that even scientists have not yet understood. And at the Olympics, three questions were devoted to the topic of the origin of mountains. - Note ed.

8th grade

Task 6. Using the map “Structure of the Earth’s Crust,” determine the origin of the Andes Mountains.
Answer: folded.
Notes. The main notes on this type of question are given in task 9 for 7th grade. In reality, the Andes are of tectonic origin.

Task 11. It is well known that natural zones in their distribution obey a general pattern: they extend in the latitudinal direction, successively replacing one another from the equator to the north and south. At the same time, in North America, natural zones extend in the meridional direction, replacing one another from west to east. Mark the reason for this anomalous phenomenon with a “+” sign:
1) latitude of the area;
2) relief;
3) rotation of the Earth around its axis;
4) the presence of ocean currents.
Answer: 4.
Notes. To refute the proposed answer, I will quote from the textbook for the 7th grade by I.V. Dushina et al. (9th ed., 2000): “This distribution of natural zones is a feature of North America, which is determined mainly by its topography and prevailing winds. The coast of the Atlantic Ocean receives the greatest amount of precipitation; when moving inland, the amount of precipitation gradually decreases and therefore a change in natural zones occurs.”

Task 13. Name the highest point in Europe.
Answer: Elbrus.
Notes. This answer can be considered correct if the border between Europe and Asia is drawn along the Main Caucasus Ridge. Mount Elbrus, located in the Side Range, will thus be completely in Europe. But most physical-geographical sources indicate that the border between the two parts of the world runs along the Kuma-Manych depression, and the Ciscaucasia belongs to Asia. Based on this, Mont Blanc should be considered the highest point in Europe.

9th grade

Task 5. Mark the answer option you have chosen with a “+” sign. The distribution of the main soil types on the territory of Russia is primarily subject to:
1) placement of rocks;
2) placement of dominant plant communities;
3) the law of latitudinal zoning;
4) tectonic structure.
Answer: 3.
Notes. In this task, two answers are possible - 2 and 3, and not just one. Vegetation is one of the main soil-forming factors. Both vegetation and soils have a zonal distribution. However, some types of soils (like vegetation) are located azonally, which in some cases does not allow the placement of soils to be strictly subject to the law of latitudinal zonation**.

Task 9.

Mark the correct statements with a “+” sign:
1. The constitutional powers of the republics and autonomous okrugs are greater than those of the territories and regions of the Russian Federation.
2. Cities of federal subordination include Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk.
3. Russia consists of 21 republics, 6 territories, 10 autonomous districts, 49 regions.
4. Autonomous okrugs are allocated to territories with a low proportion of indigenous population.
5. Federal districts report directly to the president.
Answer: 1, 3, 4, 5.
Notes. In reality, all of the above judgments can be considered incorrect:
1. All subjects of the federation have equal rights, this is guaranteed by Article 5 of the Constitution:
“The Russian Federation consists of republics, territories, regions, cities of federal significance, autonomous regions and autonomous okrugs - equal subjects of the Russian Federation... In relations with federal government bodies, all subjects of the Russian Federation have equal rights among themselves.”
3. This judgment can be considered incorrect if we remember that Russia includes two more federal cities and one autonomous region, which are not indicated in the judgment.
4. According to the 1989 census, in the Aginsky Buryat Autonomous Okrug the share of Buryats exceeded 54%, and in Komi-Permyak 60% of the population belonged to Komi-Permyaks. Thus, this judgment does not apply to all autonomous okrugs, and, therefore, there is an error in it, that is, it is incorrect. Meanwhile, in a number of republics, the percentage of the indigenous population does not reach or barely reaches one third (there is no data on the ethnic composition according to the latest census yet, we give it with an accuracy of whole percent): Karelians - 11, Komi - 23, Udmurts - 31, Mordovians - 32, Yakuts - 33.
5. The President is subordinate to his authorized representatives in each federal district, and not the federal districts themselves.

** In the formulation of the task, two answer options of different orders are given, since the distribution of plant communities obeys the law of latitudinal zonation. - Note ed.

Note on scoring methodology
correct completion of some tasks

At the end of each task, the number of points received by the student who answered the question correctly was given. In tasks where it was necessary to choose one or more correct answers from a list, along with incentive points, penalty points were also provided:
“Each correct answer is worth 5 points.
Each wrong answer is minus 5 points.”
It is likely that penalty points were introduced to punish those students who could mark all answer options as correct. Thus, by marking the correct ones, they would receive the required number of points in their favor. Fearing receiving penalty points, the students now had to act more carefully and not mark everything. But due to the lack of a clear methodology for applying fines when checking work, significant disagreements arose among teachers at the Olympiad: whether or not to apply penalties minus 5 points if the student did not mark the correct answer; Should an unmarked correct answer be considered an error, or should the student simply decide not to answer this question, that is, he should receive 0 points.
Thus, the compilers of the Olympiad only made the work of teachers more difficult. And it was enough to simply add the phrase: “No correct answer - 0 points”, or “Unmarked correct answer - 0 points”, etc. It is a pity that the compilers make such absurd mistakes, and sometimes even demonstrate ignorance of certain issues of geography. I would like to wish all authors of questions and assignments for Olympiads not to make such obvious mistakes in the future, to be more careful: carefully check each phrase, not to give questions to which two or more answers are possible, categorically designating only one of them as correct. More respect for the hard work of teachers and not create additional difficulties for them in the form of incorrect questions and ill-conceived answers.

Editorial addition

Fully agreeing with the comments made by A.N. Novik, we note a few more inaccuracies in the tasks and answers.

7th grade

IN task 1 1: 5,000,000 is named scale, but there is no term “named”.
Formulation tasks 2 provokes the choice of one of two possible answers: “Which picture (A or B) shows the map?” Meanwhile, the maps in both figures are small-scale geographical and topographical, and this is given as the correct answer.

Task 6.“Name three types of rocks that differ in origin.” The answer given is: “Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic.”
But species is a narrow concept; the answer contains not species, but large groups of breeds. If we talk about types, then the answer can be sand (clastic rock), shell rock (organogenic) and rock salt (chemogenic); Although all three rocks are sedimentary, the answer will not differ from the wording of the question. But such an answer should, according to the authors’ intention, be considered incorrect.

Task 7.“What is the name of the earth’s crust in which there is no granite layer?” Textbooks continue to talk about the “granite” and “basalt” layers of the earth’s crust, and it is very difficult to get rid of them, but the writers of the Olympiad questions should know that these concepts have long been outdated, and should not include them in assignments.

Task 8.“Where are the most powerful geysers in Russia?” In Kamchatka, of course. Where are the less powerful ones? Nowhere. Why talk about “the most powerful”?

8th grade

Task 3. The answers to the question about the difference between the continental and oceanic crusts give the thickness and number of rock layers that form them. The note is the same as for task 7 for 7th grade.

Task 4.“...The thermal equator is located slightly north of the geographic equator. In addition, the thermal equator is constantly either approaching or moving away from the geographic equator” (in the original so. - Ed.). It is proposed to identify from the listed those phenomena that serve as the cause of this:
1) the shape of the Earth,
2) the presence of ocean currents,
3) air masses,
4) the relief of the Earth,
5) the movement of the Earth in orbit,
6) rotation of the Earth around its axis.
Answers 1 and 5 are given as correct. But they only answer the question of why the thermal equator shifts seasonally, and the fact that its average position is north of the geographic equator is not explained in any way.

Task 7. The following options for the origin of Lake Chad are offered: crustal fault, relict, glacial, crustal trough; The last answer will be correct. But what is relict origin? A glacial lake, an oxbow lake, a thermokarst lake, or even a tectonic lake can be relict - when the tectonic movements that created it have died out, but the lake continues to exist.

10th grade

Exercise 1. The definition of monarchy is given as follows: a form of government in which power in the state belongs to one person and is inherited. But in constitutional monarchies (and they are the majority), power does not belong to one person.
Perhaps we are talking about an absolute monarchy?
IN task 3 It would be more correct to call Rotterdam not the largest seaport in the world in terms of cargo turnover, but one of the largest: according to many sources, it has been surpassed by Singapore.

Thus, we see numerous examples of inaccuracies, lax formulations, and the use of outdated data. Will students and teachers say that they do not need such Olympiads and will they refuse to participate in them in the future?

The Drakensberg Mountains are the highest mountain range in Africa. The highest point of the mountains is located in Lesotho and reaches 3482 meters above sea level. The mountains are mainly made of basalt. They got their name because of the numerous ravines, ridges, caves and ledges.

The Drakensberg Mountains are a popular tourist destination due to its clean air, remoteness from civilization, numerous waterfalls and rich flora and fauna. Since 2000, the Drakensberg Mountains Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The mountains are located between the provinces of Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal. Therefore, the Drakensberg Mountains are usually divided into two types, Natal and Transvaal.

The northern part includes an impressive amphitheater, an eight-kilometer almost vertical stone wall, the height of which reaches 1000 meters. Of the highest peaks, it is worth noting: Tabala Ntlenyana at 3482 meters, Champagne Castle at 3377 meters, Monk Cole at 3234 meters and Cathkin Peak at 3181 meters.

The southern part is much less developed, but no less interesting, as there are nature reserves with rare animals. The highest peak of the southern part of the mountains is Sani Pass with an altitude of 2874 meters above sea level, which offers magnificent views of the surrounding regions, and thanks to this, it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year.

Story

The mountains arose during the Jurassic period about 180 million years ago. The main reason for the appearance of the mountains is considered to be the volcanic activity that occurred at that time. Because of this, there is a large amount of basalt in the mountains and near mountainous areas.

The Drakensberg Mountains are famous for their numerous rock carvings. According to rough estimates, there are about 600 places with rock art in the mountains. As a rule, access to such drawings is quite difficult to obtain.

Video - Drakensberg Mountains

• Where: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal province
• Height above sea level: 3482 meters
• Highest point: Thabana-Ntlenyana
• Countries: South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland

The Lost World of the Drakensberg Mountains is one of the most beautiful places on our Earth. The Drakensberg Mountains are easy to find on a map of the world or Africa; they occupy the territory of three African states - Swaziland and Lesotho. The mountain range is an almost monolithic wall of solid basalt with a length of a thousand kilometers. The mountains stretch along the southeastern coast of South Africa and are a natural divide between the rivers flowing into the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The highest point of the Drakensberg Mountains, Mount Thabana-Ntlenyana with a height of 3482 m, is located in the territory of the state of Lesotho.

There is a lot of rainfall over the eastern slopes of the mountains; the climate on the western slopes is drier. There are many active mines in the Drakensberg Mountains, where gold, tin, platinum and coal are mined.

More than two million tourists annually visit the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces to see a true natural wonder - the Drakensberg Mountains.

Myths and legends of the Drakensberg Mountains

There are several versions of the origin of such an unusual name. Local residents love to tell the legend of a huge fire-breathing dragon, which was seen in these parts in the 19th century. Perhaps the name Drakensberg (Drakensberg) came from the Boers, who named them so for their inaccessibility, because it is very difficult to get between the rocky ledges and mountain placers. Another version of the name comes from the foggy haze that envelops the mountain peaks. The clouds of fog are very similar to the steam from the nostrils of a dragon.

Rock paintings in mountain caves are of great interest: scientists have determined that the age of some drawings exceeds 100 thousand years! The Ukashlamba-Drakensberg Nature Reserve, which contains caves with prehistoric inscriptions, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

The Drakensberg Mountains are a wonderful place where you can enjoy clean air, the rustling wind and forests, over which mountain falcons, bearded eagles and vultures soar. Predatory animals have long since left these places, thereby creating conditions for the reproduction of many species of antelope. Herds of graceful animals are often encountered along excursion routes.

Ukashlamba-Drakensberg Park is a great place for a weekend, where you can stay for a couple of days in a cozy house or hostel and fish for trout in the deep crystal lakes. For fans of active recreation - rock climbing, rafting, horseback riding and hiking.

How to get there?

The Drakensberg Mountains are just a couple of hours drive from , a city on the east coast of South Africa. Durban Airport accepts international flights and flights from other South African cities 24 hours a day. You can go to the mountains with a tent and camping equipment, and for those who want a more relaxing holiday, the park staff will offer to stay in one of the hotels.