Page 48 - sst_class_07

experience mild climate throughout the year. Winters are cold and dry, while summers are
wet and cool.

Temperatures varies from 5°C to 20°C both in winter and summer. July is the coldest
month of the veld region. Johannesburg experiences highest temperature (about 20°C)
during the summers. The amount of rainfall received by the Velds are controlled by the
warm ocean currents. The Velds receive summer rainfall from November to February and
winter rainfall from June to August.

flora aNd fauNa
Very less vegetation cover is found in this region as it is mainly

dominated by Grasslands. Red grass, acacia and marula are found
in this region. Animals commonly found in this region are lion,
leopards, cheetahs, giraffe, springbok etc., but their numbers
are dwindling because of reckless hunting and poaching. Several
National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries have been set-up in
order to protect these animals and promote tourism.
Leopard
pEoplE

The chief occupations are animal rearing and mining. Agriculture is not an important
activity because of scanty rainfall and poor soil. However, wherever soil is fertile and
rainfall sufficient, crops like maize, wheat, barley, oats and potatoes are sown. Certain
cash crops like tobacco, sugarcane and cotton are also grown.
Animal rearing is an important occupation. While sheep are reared in the cooler and drier
regions, cattle rearing is practiced in warmer and wetter areas in the eastern part. Sheep
are reared for wool. Merino and Angora, two high variety of wool are obtained from the
sheep and goat reared in the Velds. Dairy products like butter and cheese are produced for
export. Meat and leather are also obtained from the cattle reared here.
The Velds are rich in mineral deposits. Coal, iron, gold, diamond, etc. are found in the
Velds. Kimberley is famous for diamond mine, while Johannesburg is famous for gold mining.
Johannesburg is also known as the Gold Capital of the World.

Most of the mineral wealth was previously exported to England as raw materials and
gradually the region became a British colony. But now, it is free from British control and it
has many food processing centres and well-developed industries. The mineral rich areas of
the Velds have well flourished transport system.

Kimberley’s Diamond Mine Johannesburg’s Gold Mine
Social Studies-7-7
48 Social Studies
48