The Environment & Wildlife
Kuwait's climate has a dramatic effect on its general environment and wildlife. The weather is characterised by long, hot and dry summers, followed by short warm and sometimes rainy winters. Dust storms are general associated with a rise in humidity during summer. The highest temperature so far recorded is 51oC , whilst the lowest is 6oC. Annual rainfall figures may fluctuate widely, for example from 22mm in one year to 352mm the next.
Despite its desert conditions and wide climatic extremes, Kuwait has a rich and fascinating plant life with species able to survive the challenging conditions of aridity, saline soils and unpredictable rainfall. The country's flora has been the subject of a number of studies. Identifiable plant communities each have main characteristic species such as Salicornia hebacea; Juncus arabicus; Halocnemon strobilaceum, Tamarix passerionoides, Zygophyllum coccineum, or Phragmites australis. Four major zones have been defined, based upon their plant cover. These are the Haloxylon salicornicum zone, primarly in the north and west but with some pockets on the coast, facing Bubiyan island and in the north of Kuwait Bay; a Rhanterium epapposum zone which is the main zone on the eastern coastal plain, south of Kuwait Bay; a Cyperus conglomeratus zone which cuts a swathe through the center of the country and finally a coastal dune and salt marsh community which effectively borders the entire coastline.
In addition to its plant life, and inextricably linked to it, is a considerable list of animal species, including arachnids, insects, reptiles, mammals and birds.
In addition there is a rich marine fauna including sea-weeds, sea-grasses, many invertebrates, including some corals, fish, turtles and some marine mammals.
|
