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Terrain and Vegetation
Much of the cerrado region of Western Bahia is as flat as a table top. The typical panorama is one of endless space and infinite horizons. The vast plains are broken by occasional wide river valleys with relatively small rivers that run throughout the year.
Altitude above sea level varies across the cerrados from 300 to 1,200 meters. About three-fourths of the cerrados lies at elevations between 300 and 900 meters.
Native vegetation is influenced by factors such as elevation, rainfall, and soils. The dominant native vegetation is low-growing shrubs and stunted trees distributed irregularly across grasslands. In some areas treeless grasslands prevail.
As shown in the photo, the cerrados of Western Bahia are typically sparsely forested. Trees are rarely more than 10 m. high and trunks seldom exceed 250 mm. in diameter. Typical population densities range from 20 to 200 trees per ha. The cerrados of other areas such as Mato Grosso have a denser vegetative cover.
The cerrados are not a part of the Amazon Rain Forest. Federal law
requires that 20 percent of the land remain unopened as natural reserve
in the southern parts of the cerrado region, e.g. Western Bahia, and
50 percent or more e.g. Mato Grosso, be left in reserve in Amazon
border regions. |
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