Natural zone of variable humid forests. Zone of variable humid subtropical forests. Zone of variable humid, including monsoon forests

The continent of South America is located in all geographical zones, with the exception of subantarctic and antarctic. The wide northern part of the continent lies at low latitudes, so the equatorial and subequatorial belts. Distinctive feature The continent is characterized by the widespread development of forest natural zones (47% of the area). 1/4 of the planet’s forests are concentrated on the “green continent”(Fig. 91, 92).

South America gave humanity many cultivated plants: potatoes, tomatoes, beans, tobacco, pineapple, hevea, cocoa, peanuts, etc.

Natural areas

In the equatorial geographical zone there is a zone wet equatorial forests , occupying Western Amazonia. They are named by A. Humboldt hylea, and by the local population - the village. Wet equatorial forests South America- the richest species composition forests on Earth. They are rightfully considered the “gene pool of the planet”: they contain more than 45 thousand plant species, including 4000 woody ones.

Rice. 91. Endemic animals of South America: 1- giant anteater; 2- hoatzin; 3 - lama; 4 - sloth; 5 - capybaras; 6 - battleship

Rice. 92. Typical trees of South America: 1 - Chilean araucaria; 2 - wine palm; 3 - chocolate tree (cocoa)

There are flooded, non-flooded and mountain hylia. In river floodplains, flooded with water for a long period, impoverished forests of low trees (10-15 m) with breathing and stilt roots grow. Cecropia (“ant tree”) predominates; giant Victoria regia swim in the reservoirs.

In elevated areas, rich, dense, multi-tiered (up to 5 tiers) flood-free forests are formed. The solitary ceiba (cotton tree) and the Brazil nut-bearing bertolecia grow to a height of 40-50 m. Upper tiers(20-30 m) form trees with valuable wood(rosewood, pau brazil, mahogany), as well as ficus and hevea, from the milky juice of which rubber is obtained. In the lower tiers, under the canopy of palm trees, chocolate and melon trees grow, as well as ancient plants on Earth - tree ferns. The trees are densely intertwined with lianas; among the epiphytes there are many brightly colored orchids.

Mangrove vegetation, poor in composition (nipa palm, rhizophora), is developed near the coast. Mangroves- these are thickets of evergreen trees and shrubs of the swampy zone of tidal seas of tropical and equatorial latitudes, adapted to salt water.

Moist equatorial forests form on red-yellow ferrallitic soils, poor nutrients. Falling leaves in hot and humid climates quickly rot, and the humus is immediately absorbed by plants, without having time to accumulate in the soil.

Hylaea animals are adapted to life in trees. Many have a prehensile tail, such as the sloth, opossum, prehensile-tailed porcupine, broad-nosed monkeys(howler monkeys, arachnids, marmosets). The ponds are home to peccary pigs and tapirs. There are predators: jaguar, ocelot. There are numerous turtles and snakes, including the longest one - the anaconda (up to 11 m). South America is the “continent of birds”. Hylea is home to macaws, toucans, hoatzins, tree hens and the smallest birds - hummingbirds (up to 2 g).

The rivers are teeming with caimans and alligators. They are home to 2,000 species of fish, including the dangerous predatory piranha and the largest in the world, the arapaima (up to 5 m in length and weighing up to 250 kg). Meet electric eel and the freshwater dolphin Inia.

Zones stretch across three geographical zones variable-humid forests . Subequatorial variable-humid forests occupy the eastern part of the Amazonian lowland and the adjacent slopes of the Brazilian and Guiana plateaus. The presence of a dry period causes the appearance deciduous trees. Among the evergreens, cinchona, ficus, and balsa, which have the lightest wood, predominate. IN tropical latitudes on the moist eastern edge of the Brazilian plateau, rich evergreens grow on mountain red soils rainforests, close in composition to equatorial ones. The southeast of the plateau on red soils and yellow soils is occupied by sparse subtropical moist forests. They are formed by Brazilian araucaria with an undergrowth of yerba mate (“Paraguayan tea”) shrubs.

Zone savannas and woodlands distributed in two geographical zones. In subequatorial latitudes it covers the Orinoco Lowland and interior areas The Brazilian plateau, in the tropical - the Gran Chaco plain. Depending on the moisture content, wet, typical and desert savannas are distinguished. Under them, red, brown-red and red-brown soils develop, respectively.

Tallgrass wet savanna in the Orinoco River basin is traditionally called Llanos. It is flooded for up to six months, turning into an impassable swamp. Grains and sedges grow; Of the trees, the Mauritius palm dominates, which is why the llanos is called the “palm savanna.”

On the Brazilian plateau, savannas were called campos. Wet shrub-tree savanna occupies the center of the plateau, while typical grassy savanna occupies the south. Low-growing shrubs grow against the background of cereal vegetation (bearded grass, feather grass). The trees are dominated by palms (wax palms, oil palms, vine palms). The arid northeast of the Brazilian Plateau is occupied by desert savanna - caatinga. This is a woodland of thorny bushes and cacti. There is a bottle-shaped tree that stores rainwater - the Bombax cottonweed.

Savannas continue into tropical latitudes, occupying the Gran Chaco plain. Only in tropical woodlands is the quebracho ("break the axe") tree found, with hard and heavy wood that sinks in water. The savannas contain plantations of coffee, cotton, and bananas. Dry savannas are an important area for grazing.

Savannah animals are characterized by a protective brown coloration (spice-horned deer, red nose, maned wolf, ostrich rhea). Rodents are abundantly represented, including the largest in the world, the capybara. Many Hylaea animals (armadillos, anteaters) also live in savannas. Termite mounds are ubiquitous.

In the Laplata Lowland south of 30° S. w. are being formed subtropical steppes . In South America they were called pump. It is characterized by rich forb-grass vegetation (wild lupine, pampas grass, feather grass). The chernozem soils of the pampa are very fertile and therefore heavily plowed. The Argentine pampa is the main growing area for wheat and forage grasses in South America. Animal world Pampa is rich in rodents (tuco-tuco, viscacha). There are Pampas deer, Pampas cat, puma, and rhea ostrich.

Semi-deserts and deserts South America extends across three geographical zones: tropical, subtropical and temperate. In the west of the tropics, tropical deserts and semi-deserts stretch in a narrow strip along the Pacific coast and on the high plateaus of the Central Andes. This is one of the driest areas on Earth: in the Atacama Desert it may not rain for years. On the infertile gray soils of coastal deserts, dry cereals and cacti grow, receiving moisture from dew and fog; on the gravelly soils of high-mountain deserts there are creeping and cushion-shaped grasses and thorny shrubs.

Animal world tropical deserts poor The inhabitants of the highlands are llamas, spectacled bear, possessing valuable chinchilla fur. There is the Andean condor - the largest bird in the world with a wingspan of up to 4 m.

West of the pampa in conditions continental climate Subtropical semi-deserts and deserts are widespread. Light forests of acacias and cacti are developed on gray soils, and solyankas are found on salt marshes. In harsh temperate latitudes in lowland Patagonia, dry cereals and prickly shrubs grow on brown semi-desert soils.

The southwestern edge of the continent in two zones is occupied by forests natural areas. In the subtropics, under Mediterranean climate conditions, a zone is formed dry hard-leaved forests and shrubs . The coast and slopes of the Chilean-Argentine Andes (between 28° and 36° S) are covered with forests of evergreen southern beech, teak, persea on brown and gray-brown soils.

Located further south wet evergreen And mixed forests . In the northern Patagonian Andes, moist evergreen forests grow on montane brown forest soils in a subtropical humid climate. With abundant moisture (more than 3000-4000 mm of precipitation), these rain forests They are distinguished by their multi-layered nature and richness, for which they received the name “subtropical hylea”. They consist of evergreen beeches, magnolias, Chilean araucaria, Chilean cedar, South American larch with a rich understory of tree ferns and bamboos. In the south of the Patagonian Andes, in a temperate maritime climate, mixed forests of deciduous beech and coniferous podocarpus grow. Here you can find puda deer, Magellanic dog, otter, and skunk.

High Andean region occupies a vast territory with a well-defined altitudinal zone, most fully manifested in equatorial latitudes. Common up to an altitude of 1500 m hot belt- hylea with an abundance of palms and bananas. Above the 2000 m mark there is a temperate zone with cinchona, balsa, tree ferns and bamboos. Extends up to 3500 m cold belt- high-mountain hylea from low-growing crooked forest. It is replaced by a frost belt with high-mountain meadows of paramos cereals and low-growing shrubs. Above 4700 m there is a belt of eternal snow and ice.

Bibliography

1. Geography 8th grade. Tutorial for 8th grade institutions of general secondary education with Russian as the language of instruction / Edited by Professor P. S. Lopukh - Minsk “People's Asveta” 2014

The tundra occupies such areas as the coastal outskirts of Greenland, the western and northern outskirts of Alaska, the coast of Hudson Bay, and some areas of the Newfoundland and Labrador peninsulas. In Labrador, due to the severity of the climate, the tundra reaches 55° N. sh., and in Newfoundland it drops even further south. The tundra is part of the circumpolar Arctic subregion of the Holarctic. The North American tundra is characterized by permafrost, highly acidic soils, and rocky soils. Its northernmost part is almost completely barren or covered only with mosses and lichens. Large areas are occupied by swamps. In the southern part of the tundra, a rich herbaceous cover of grasses and sedges appears. Some dwarf tree forms are characteristic, such as creeping heather, dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa), willow and alder.

Next comes the forest-tundra. It reaches its maximum size west of Hudson Bay. Woody forms of vegetation are already beginning to appear. This strip forms the northern limit of forests in North America, dominated by species such as larch (Larix laricina), black and white spruce (Picea mariana and Picea canadensis).

On the slopes of the Alaska mountains, lowland tundra, as well as on the Scandinavian Peninsula, gives way to mountain tundra and char vegetation.

In terms of species, tundra vegetation North America almost no different from the European-Asian tundra. There are only some floristic differences between them.

Coniferous forests temperate zone occupy most of North America. These forests form the second and last vegetation zone, which stretches across the entire continent from west to east and is a latitudinal zone. Further south latitudinal zonation persists only in the eastern part of the mainland.

On the Pacific coast, taiga is distributed from 61 to 42° N. sh., then it passes through the lower slopes of the Cordillera and then spreads to the plain to the east. In this area, the southern border of the zone coniferous forests rises north to a latitude of 54-55° N, but then it descends back to the south to the territories of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, but only its lower reaches.<

Coniferous forests along the line from the eastern slopes of the Alaska mountains to the Labrador coast are distinguished by significant uniformity in the species composition of the species.

A distinctive feature of the coniferous forests of the Pacific coast from the forest zone of the east is their appearance and composition of species. So, the forest zone of the Pacific coast is very similar to the eastern regions of the Asian taiga, where endemic coniferous species and genera grow. But the eastern part of the continent is similar to the European taiga.

The “Hudson” eastern taiga is characterized by the predominance of fairly developed coniferous trees with a high and powerful crown. This composition of species includes such endemic species as white or Canadian spruce (Picea canadensis), Banks pine (Pinus banksiana), American larch, balsam fir (Abies balsamea). From the latter, a resinous substance is extracted, which finds its way into technology - Canada balsam. Although conifers predominate in this zone, there are still many deciduous trees and shrubs in the Canadian taiga. And in burnt areas, of which there are many in the Canadian taiga region, even deciduous trees predominate.

Deciduous tree species in this coniferous zone include: aspen (Populus tremuloides), balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera), paper birch (Betula papyrifera). This birch tree has white and smooth bark, which the Indians used to build their canoes. It is characterized by a very diverse and rich undergrowth of berry bushes: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, black and red currants. This zone is characterized by podzolic soils. In the north they turn into soils of permafrost-taiga composition, and in the south they become soddy-podzolic soils.

The soil and vegetation cover of the Appalachian zone is very rich and diverse. Here, on the slopes of the Appalachians, rich broadleaf forests grow in species diversity. Such forests are also called Appalachian forests. These forests are very similar to the genera of East Asian and European forests, in which the dominant role is dominated by endemic species of noble chestnut (Castanea dentata), may beech (Fagus grandifolia), American oak (Quercus macrocarpa), red sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). A characteristic feature of all these trees is that they are very powerful and tall trees. These trees are often covered with ivy and wild grapes.

“Peoples of Eurasia” - Romance peoples are dark-haired and swarthy. Russian Ukrainians are Belarusians. Frenchwoman. Eastern. On the territory of Eurasia live peoples belonging to different language families and groups. About 3/4 of the world's population lives in Eurasia. Slavic peoples. Religions of Eurasia. Poles Czechs Slovaks. The Germanic peoples are characterized by blond hair and light skin.

“Climatic features of Eurasia” - High average annual and summer temperatures. Temperature. Determination of climate types. Climatic zones and regions of Eurasia. The climate is mild. Arctic air. January temperature. You learned to read. Temperatures and winds in January. Climate charts. Relief. Climatic features of Eurasia. Highest amount of precipitation.

“Geography lesson Eurasia” - To introduce students to the idea of ​​Eurasia. Explain the influence of size on natural features. Semenov-Tan-Shansky P.P. The highest mountain in the world is Chomolungma - 8848 m. Geographical location of Eurasia. General information about Eurasia. Name the names of travelers and explorers of the continent. Obruchev V.A.

“Nature of Eurasia” - Square. Minerals. Inland waters. Natural areas. Climate. Eurasia. Relief. Organic world. Geographical position. Continental records.

“Lakes of Eurasia” - Correct answer. -Tectonic lakes in faults have great depth and elongated shape. Lake basin of glacial origin. Such lakes are lakes - seas: the Caspian and the Aral. Inland waters of Eurasia. Determination of the types of lake basins in Eurasia. Lake basin of tectonic origin.

“Natural zones of the temperate zone of Eurasia” - Flora. Flora of the taiga. Fauna of the taiga. Fauna: very similar to the animal world of the taiga... Animal world. In Eurasia, forest-steppes stretch in a continuous strip from west to east from the eastern foothills of the Carpathians to Altai. Taiga. In Europe and the European part of Russia, light broad-leaved forests of oak (oak), beech, linden, chestnut, ash, etc. are typical.

Africa is the hottest continent on planet Earth. The equator line passing through the center of the Black Continent symmetrically divides its area into different natural zones. Characteristics of the natural zones of Africa allow us to form a general idea of ​​the geographical location of Africa, the characteristics of the climate, soil, flora and fauna of each zone.

What natural areas is Africa located in?

Africa is the second largest continent on our planet. This continent is washed from different sides by two oceans and two seas. But its main feature is its symmetrical location towards the equator. In other words, the equator line horizontally divides the continent into two equal parts. The northern half is much wider than southern Africa. As a result, all natural zones of Africa are located on the map from north to south in the following order:

• savannas;
• variable-humid forests;
• moist evergreen equatorial forests;
• variable wet forests;
• savannas;
• tropical deserts and semi-deserts;
• subtropical evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs.

Fig. 1 Natural areas of Africa

Equatorial rainforests

On both sides of the equator there is a zone of humid evergreen equatorial forests. It occupies a fairly narrow strip and is characterized by numerous precipitation. In addition, it is rich in water resources: the deepest Congo River flows through its territory, and the shores are washed by the Gulf of Guinea.

Constant warmth, numerous precipitation and high humidity led to the formation of lush vegetation on red-yellow ferrallite soils. Evergreen equatorial forests surprise with their density, impenetrability and diversity of plant organisms. Their feature is multi-tiered. It became possible due to the endless struggle for sunlight, in which not only trees, but also epiphytes and climbing vines take part.

The tsetse fly lives in the equatorial and subequatorial zones of Africa, as well as in the wooded part of the savannah. Its bite is deadly to humans, as it is a carrier of sleeping sickness, which is accompanied by terrible body pain and fever.

Rice. 2 Moist evergreen equatorial forests

Savannah

The amount of precipitation is directly related to the richness of the plant world. The gradual shortening of the rainy season leads to the appearance of a dry season, and humid equatorial forests gradually give way to variable wet ones, and then turn into savannas. The last natural zone occupies the largest area of ​​the Black Continent, and makes up about 40% of the entire continent.

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Here the same red-brown ferrallitic soils are observed, on which various herbs, cereals, and baobabs grow mainly. Low trees and shrubs are much less common.

A distinctive feature of the savannah is the dramatic changes in appearance - the rich tones of green during the rainy season fade sharply under the scorching sun during dry periods and become brownish-yellow.

Savannah is also unique in its richness of fauna. A large number of birds live here: flamingos, ostriches, marabou, pelicans and others. It amazes with the abundance of herbivores: buffalos, antelopes, elephants, zebras, giraffes, hippos, rhinoceroses and many others. They are also food for the following predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, hyenas, crocodiles.

Rice. 3 African Savannah

Tropical deserts and semi-deserts

The southern part of the continent is dominated by the Namib Desert. But neither it nor any other desert in the world can compare with the grandeur of the Sahara, which consists of rocky, clay and sandy deserts. The total annual precipitation in the Sahara does not exceed 50 mm. But this does not mean that these lands are lifeless. The flora and fauna are quite sparse, but they exist.

Of the plants, it should be noted such representatives as sclerophids, succulents, and acacia. The date palm grows in the oases. Animals were also able to adapt to the dry climate. Lizards, snakes, turtles, beetles, and scorpions can go without water for a long time.

In the Libyan part of the Sahara there is one of the most beautiful oases in the world, in the center of which there is a large lake, the name of which literally translates as “Mother of Water”.

Rice. 4 Sahara Desert

Subtropical evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs

The most extreme natural zones of the African continent are subtropical evergreen hardwood forests and shrubs. They are located in the north and southwest of the mainland. They are characterized by dry, hot summers and wet, warm winters. This climate favored the formation of fertile brown soils on which cedar of Lebanon, wild olive, strawberry tree, beech and oak grew.

Table of natural zones of Africa

This table for 7th grade geography will help you compare the natural zones of the continent and figure out which natural zone predominates in Africa.

What have we learned?

Today we were talking about the natural areas of the hottest continent on Earth - Africa. So, let's call them again:

• subtropical evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs;
• tropical deserts and semi-deserts;
• savannas;
• variable-humid forests;
• moist evergreen equatorial forests.

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Monsoon forests are vast green areas with lush vegetation and rich wildlife. During the rainy season, they resemble equatorial evergreen forests. Found in subequatorial and tropical climates. They attract tourists and photographers with a variety of picturesque landscapes.

Description

Monsoon rainforests are most common in the tropics. Most often they are located at an altitude of 850 meters above sea level. They are also called deciduous because the trees lose their leaves during periods of drought. Heavy rains return them to their former richness and color. The trees here reach a height of twenty meters, the leaves on the crowns are small. Evergreen species and many lianas and epiphytes are common in the undergrowth. Orchids grow in the monsoon zone. They are found in the Brazilian coastal mountain ranges, the Himalayas, Malaysia, Mexico, and Indochina.

Peculiarities

Monsoon forests in the Far East are famous for their diversity of plants and animals. Warm and humid summers and an abundance of plant food create favorable conditions for the habitat of insects, birds, and mammals. Coniferous and broad-leaved trees are found here. Among the inhabitants of the forests, sable, squirrel, chipmunk, hazel grouse, as well as animals rare for the climatic zone of Russia were noticed. Typical inhabitants of monsoon forests are the Ussuri tiger, black bear, sika deer, wolf, and raccoon dog. There are many wild boars, hares, moles, and pheasants on the territory. Reservoirs subequatorial climate are rich in fish. Some species are protected.

Rare orchids grow in the humid forests of Brazil, Mexico, and Indochina. About sixty percent are sympodial species, well known among gardeners. The red-yellow soils of monsoon areas are favorable for ficus, palm trees, and valuable tree species. The most famous ones include teak, satin, tallow, and iron. For example, it is capable of forming a dark grove from its trunks. A huge banyan tree grows in the Indian Botanical Garden, which has almost two thousand (!) trunks. The crown of the tree covers an area of ​​twelve thousand square meters. Variably humid forests become the habitat of bamboo bears (pandas), salamanders, tigers, leopards, poisonous insects and snakes.

Climate

Which predominates monsoon forests? Winters here are mostly dry, summers are not hot, but warm. The dry period lasts three to four months. The average air temperature is lower than in the humid tropics: the absolute minimum is -25 degrees, the maximum is 35 with a “+” sign. The temperature difference ranges from eight to twelve degrees. A characteristic feature of the climate is prolonged rainfall in the summer and its absence in the winter. The difference between the two opposite seasons is huge.

Monsoon forests are known for their morning fog and low clouds. This is why the air is so saturated with moisture. By noon, the bright sun completely evaporates moisture from the vegetation. In the afternoon, a foggy haze forms in the forests again. High air humidity and cloudiness persist for a long period of time. In winter, precipitation also falls, but rarely.

Geography

IN subequatorial zone, due to large amounts of precipitation and its uneven distribution, high temperature contrast, monsoon forests develop. On the territory of Russia, they grow in the Far East, have a complex topography, and a rich flora and fauna. There are humid forests in Indochina, Hindustan, the Philippine Islands, Asia, North and South America, and Africa. Despite the long rainy seasons and prolonged drought, the fauna in monsoon forest zones is poorer than in humid equatorial zones.

The most pronounced phenomenon of monsoons is on the Indian continent, where a period of drought is replaced by heavy downpours, the duration of which can be seven months. This change in weather is typical for Indochina, Burma, Indonesia, Africa, Madagascar, northern and eastern Australia, and Oceania. For example, in Indochina and the Hindustan Peninsula, the dry period in forests lasts seven months (from April to October). Trees with large crowns and an irregular arch grow in vast monsoon areas. Sometimes forests grow in tiers, which is especially noticeable from above.

The soil

Monsoon wet soils are characterized by a red tint, granular structure, and low humus content. The soil is rich in useful microelements such as iron and silicon. There is very little sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium in moist soil. In Southeast Asia, yellow soils and red soils predominate. Central Africa and are characterized by dry black soil. Interestingly, as the rains stop, the concentration of humus in monsoon forests increases. A reserve is one of the forms of wildlife protection in an area rich in valuable plants and animals. It is in humid forests that many species of orchids are found.

Plants and fauna

Monsoon forests in the subequatorial climate of Hindustan, China, Indochina, Australia, America, Africa, and the Far East (Russia) are characterized by a diversity of fauna. For example, in Southeast Asia, teak trees are common in variable humid zones, as are Indochinese laurel and ebony. There are also bamboo, vines, butea, and cereals. Many trees in forests are highly valued for their healthy and durable wood. For example, teak bark is dense and resistant to destruction by termites and fungi. Sal forests grow at the southern foot of the Himalayas. In the monsoon regions of Central America there are many thorny bushes. The valuable jat tree also grows in humid climates.

In subequatorial climates, fast-growing trees are common. Palms, acacias, baobab, spurge, cecropium, entandrophragma, ferns predominate, and there are many other types of plants and flowers. The humid climate zone is characterized by a wide variety of birds and insects. Woodpeckers, parrots, toucans, and butterflies are found in the forests. Among the terrestrial animals found in monsoon woodland are marsupials, elephants, various representatives of the cat family, freshwater, amphibians, frogs, and snakes. This world is truly bright and rich.