“Climate, natural zones of Eurasia. Natural areas of the continent of Eurasia Natural areas of the peoples and countries of Eurasia

I listened carefully to my niece's retelling of natural areas Russia. The list seemed so long to me, and this is only within our country. How many are there in Eurasia?

Natural areas

This term should be understood as a separate territory of the mainland, which is characterized by certain forms and types natural processes and components. The formation of these zones occurs under the influence of climate and topography, i.e. elements of nature on which the formation and development of its other elements (flora, soil cover, fauna) depends. It follows that if the climate changes in belts from the equator to the poles, then the natural zones, therefore, replace each other in the indicated direction. And they also do this broadly.

Natural areas of Eurasia

I opened the corresponding map, and my eyes began to run wild from the abundance of colors. Turning his gaze to the corner symbols, everything became more or less clear. 12 natural zones have formed on the mainland, and a separate zone is distinguished altitudinal zone. This long list:

1. Arctic desert zone.
2. Variably humid forests.
3. Mixed forests.
4. Savannah and woodlands.
5. Forest-steppes and steppes.
6. Stiffleaf evergreen forests and bushes.
7. Taigi.
8. Broad-leaved forests.
9. Ocean meadows.
10. Deserts and semi-deserts.
11. Constantly wet equatorial and tropical forests.
12. Tundra and forest-tundra.

These are the main zones, but there are also transition zones where they mix external features natural components of neighboring territories.

I will continue analyzing the map. Especially large areas occupied by the colors: orange and dark green, which correspond to the zones of deserts, semi-deserts and taiga, respectively. The central part of the continent and the Arabian Peninsula are clearly characterized by drought, since it is in these areas that deserts have formed. Regarding the taiga, everyone who lives in Russia knows about its territorial scope. The most modest in size in Eurasia are the zones of arctic deserts, hard-leaved evergreen forests, shrubs, oceanic meadows and mixed forests.

Climate, natural zones of Eurasia.

Climate.

The climatic features of Eurasia are determined by the huge size of the continent, its great length from north to south, and the diversity of dominant air masses, as well as specific features of the structure of the relief of its surface and the influence of the oceans.

Natural areas.

Arctic deserts ( ice zone), tundra and forest-tundra located in the west of the continent beyond the Arctic Circle. In Northern Europe, tundras and forest-tundras occupy a narrow strip, which, as it moves east, gradually expands with increasing severity and continental climate. Basically, sparse low-growing vegetation, poor peat-gley soils and animals adapted to harsh living conditions.

IN temperate zone zones are represented over large areas coniferous forests(taiga), mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, broad-leaved forests, forest-steppes and steppes, semi-deserts and deserts.

Coniferous forests stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. When moving from west to east, the continental climate increases. In the Asian part of the zone, permafrost is widespread, and as a result, the composition of taiga tree species changes. IN European taiga pine and spruce predominate; beyond the Urals, fir and Siberian cedar dominate; in Eastern Siberia, larch dominates. Animal world: sable, ermine, beaver, fox, squirrel, marten, hares, chipmunks, lynxes and wolves, moose, brown bears, wood grouse, black grouse, hazel grouse, crossbills, nutcrackers.

Zone mixed coniferous-deciduous forests changes the taiga zone when moving south. The leaf litter and grass cover of these forests contribute to the accumulation of a certain amount of organic matter in the soil horizon. Therefore, podzolic soils of the taiga are replaced by soddy-podzolic soils.

Zone deciduous forests also does not form a continuous strip. In Europe, it stretches from the Atlantic to the Volga. As the climate becomes more continental, moving from west to east, beech forests are replaced by oak forests. In the east of the continent, broad-leaved forests have been mostly cut down.

Forest-steppe and steppe change forest zones when moving south in the inner-central continental sector of the continent. Here the amount of precipitation sharply decreases and the amplitudes of summer and winter temperatures. IN forest-steppes Characteristic is the alternation of open spaces with herbaceous vegetation on chernozem soils with areas of broad-leaved forests. Steppes - treeless spaces with dense grassy grass vegetation and a dense root system. In the eastern part of the mainland, forest-steppe and steppe are preserved in the relief basins of Northern Mongolia, Transbaikalia, and Northeast China. They are far removed from the ocean and are in conditions of a sharply continental climate and poor moisture. The Mongolian dry steppes are characterized by sparse grass vegetation and chestnut soils.

Semi-deserts and deserts temperate zone occupy the lowlands of the Middle and internal basins Central Asia north of the Tibetan Plateau. There is very little rainfall, hot, long summers and Cold winter with noticeable frosts.

Zone tropical deserts - deserts of Arabia, Mesopotamia, the south of the Iranian plateau and the Indus basin. These deserts in their own way natural conditions are similar to African ones, since there are wide historical and modern connections between these territories and there are no obstacles to the exchange of species in flora and fauna. The oceanic sectors of the continent are closed in the south by zones of subtropical (in Europe) and tropical forests (in Asia).

Zone hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs in the Mediterranean region is particularly unique. Summers here are dry and hot, humid and warm winter. Plants are adapted to climatic conditions: waxy coating, thick or dense leathery bark. Many plants produce essential oils. Fertile brown soils are formed in this zone. Olives, citrus fruits, grapes, tobacco, and essential oil crops are grown on the plantations in the zone.

Zone monsoon evergreen mixed forests expressed in the Pacific sector of the subtropical belt. The climatic conditions here are different: precipitation falls mainly in the summer - during the growing season. The forests are ancient.

Subequatorial belt covers the peninsulas of Hindustan, Indochina and the north of the Philippine Islands. In this belt different conditions hydration. Zone sub equatorial forests stretches along the western coasts of the peninsulas and receives up to 2000 mm of precipitation per year. The forests here are multi-tiered and distinguished by a variety of species composition (palm trees, ficus, bamboos). Zonal soils are red-yellow ferralitic. Zones seasonally wet monsoon forests, shrub savannas and woodlands present where precipitation decreases.

Equatorial rainforests represented mainly on the islands South-East Asia. In terms of climatic conditions, they are similar to the forests of the equatorial belt of other continents. However, the equatorial forests of Asia have a number of specific features. In terms of flora composition, these are the richest forests in the world. globe(over 45 thousand species). The species composition of tree species is 5000 species (in Europe there are only 200 species).

Altitudinal zone in the mountains of Eurasia is diverse. The number of altitudinal zones in the mountains always depends on which natural zone is located on the plain at the foot of the mountains; from height mountain system and on the exposure of the slopes. For example, the northern, drier slopes of the Himalayas, facing the Tibetan Plateau, do not have forest belts. But on the southern slopes, which are better moistened and heated, there are several forest zones.

Lesson summary “Climate, natural zones of Eurasia.” Next topic:

All natural areas are represented in Eurasia. In the north of the continent, the zones stretch as a continuous strip, and to the south the taiga changes not only from north to south, but also from west to east, which is explained by differences in the amount of precipitation, which decreases from the outskirts of the continent to the interior regions.

The nature of the arctic desert, tundra and forest-tundra zones in Eurasia has much in common with similar zones in North America. However, in Eurasia these zones do not extend as far south as in North America. The natural zones of the temperate zone are quite diverse. The coniferous forest zone (taiga) stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Climatic conditions in the zone change with movements from west to east, therefore different species composition trees. In the west, pine and spruce predominate on podzolic soils; in Western Siberia, fir and Siberian cedar grow in conditions of severe swamping ( cedar pine), V eastern Siberia Larch is common on frozen-taiga soils, and on the Pacific coast there is dark coniferous taiga of Daurian larch, fir, and Korean cedar. In the taiga there are many valuable fur-bearing animals (sable, ermine, marten), among large animals - elk, brown bears, lynxes, many birds. The zone of mixed and deciduous forests is located only in the west and east of the temperate zone.

Mixed forests grow on soddy-podzolic, as well as brown and gray forest soils. For Europeans, broad-leaved forests are most characterized by oak and beech, maple and linden, hornbeam and elm. In the east of the zone, under monsoon climate conditions, Manchurian walnut, Amur velvet, oak, linden grow; there are many evergreen shrubs in the undergrowth, and there are thickets of bamboo. Very few natural forests remain. In Europe they have given way to secondary forests and artificial plantings, which are dominated by coniferous trees, and in Asia - arable land. Many animals have been exterminated or become rare and are protected. Forest-steppes and steppes are located in the central parts of the continent, where precipitation decreases and evaporation increases.

Steppes are treeless spaces with herbaceous vegetation, under which fertile chernozem soils are formed; rodents predominate among animals. Steppes and forest-steppes are almost completely plowed, and only in nature reserves their natural landscapes are presented. In the Gobi, areas of dry steppes used for pastures have been preserved. Semi-deserts and temperate deserts lie in the central parts of the continent, where there is very little rainfall, hot summers and cold winters. The vegetation (wormwood, solyanka, saxaul, sandy sedge) is sparse, and there are desert areas with shifting sand. Soils contain a lot of mineral salts and little organic matter. Among the animals, reptiles, rodents and ungulates predominate.

In the western part of the subtropical zone there is a zone of hard-leaved forests and shrubs. Thanks to the mild and wet winter, plants grow here all year round, but the lack of moisture during the period of the most intense solar radiation has led to the appearance of adaptations in plants that reduce evaporation. In the past, forests of evergreen holm oak, laurel, myrtle, wild olives, and strawberry trees grew here. This vegetation has been destroyed almost everywhere, since farming has long been practiced here. The zone is characterized by brown and red soils, which are fertile and suitable for cultivating subtropical crops. In the east of the belt there is a zone of subtropical monsoon forests. The forests consist of laurel-leaved trees, camphor trees, magnolias, and bamboo thickets growing on yellow earth and red earth soils. There are almost no wild animals left. In the subtropical deserts on the highlands of Western Asia there are especially many ephemerals, which during the period of short spring rains manage to go through the entire development cycle. Among the animals that live here are antelopes, hyenas, fennec foxes and others. The nature of the tropical desert zone is in many ways reminiscent of the nature of the deserts of North Africa.

IN subequatorial belt Savannahs form on the plains and in intermountain basins, and variable-humid forests form on the coasts of Hindustan, Indochina and on the slopes of mountains facing the ocean. In savannas, among the grasses grow acacia, palm, Indian banana (ficus genus), one tree can imitate a whole grove). In the forests, along with deciduous trees, there are evergreen species. Plants that produce valuable wood (teak and sal trees) are common; palm trees and bamboo grow. The fauna is also rich: monkeys, elephants, tigers, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, antelopes, deer, etc. The equatorial forest zone is located mainly on islands and has not yet been as strongly altered by anthropogenic activities as other zones. along with common features, characteristic of these forests located on other continents, there are many trees with valuable wood (iron, ebony, mahogany), plants that produce spices: cloves, pepper, cinnamon. One of the species lives in the forests great apes– orangutan, numerous hibons, loris prosimians, rhinoceros, wild ox. Areas of altitudinal zonation occupy a significant part of Eurasia. The Himalayas are a classic example of altitudinal zones; all altitudinal zones are represented here. In the mountains of Eurasia takes place upper limit distribution of vegetation on Earth - 6218 meters.

Eurasia is characterized by clearly defined geographical boundaries. This continent represents everything existing zones, ranging from equatorial forests to arctic deserts. Each of them has some characteristics, including unique flora and fauna.

As for mixed and deciduous forests, there are practically none left. In Europe, secondary plantings appeared in their place, and in Asia, arable lands were created. However, this zone is characterized by maple, oak, hornbeam, elm, and beech.

Steppes are nothing more than vast expanses of grassy vegetation. Unfortunately, in in its original form they have been preserved only on the territory of nature reserves - only there you can study natural landscapes. The rest of the territory was allocated for agriculture. This zone is inhabited mainly by rodents.

Deserts and semi-deserts - these natural zones of Eurasia are located mainly in the central part of the continent (for example, the Gobi Desert). Conditions in these areas are far from optimal - low level precipitation, cold winters and hot summers. Interestingly, there are places with so-called quicksand. As for the vegetation, here it is represented by solyanka, wormwood, sandy sedge and saxaul. This area is inhabited by rodents, some ungulates and representatives of reptiles.

The zone of hard-leaved forests and shrubs is located in the subtropical zone, or more precisely, in its western part. In the remaining forests you can see thickets of bamboo, as well as magnolia, camphor and laurel. But wild animals at one time were almost completely exterminated. Only in the highlands of Western Asia do hyenas, foxes and antelopes still live.

Savannas - these natural zones of Eurasia are represented mainly on the coasts of Indochina and Hindustan. The fauna here is very rich - tigers, elephants, buffalos, rhinoceroses, deer, antelopes, monkeys. These areas are mostly planted, but there are also real groves of Indian acacia. There are also valuable species, for example, sal and teak wood, from which expensive, rare types of wood are obtained.

A natural area is a vast area with a certain type climate to which they correspond inland waters soils, vegetation and fauna. The nature of the natural zone is determined by the climate; it gets its name from the type of vegetation cover. Natural zoning is called a natural change in natural zones by latitude or longitude. The distribution of continental vegetation is controlled by two climate factors: heat and moisture. Both heat and moisture may be in short supply. Typically, vegetation and soil cover are controlled by whichever factor is more scarce in a given region. Within Eurasia, three large parts can be distinguished, with different types of influence of these factors. In the northern part of the continent, heat is in short supply. There is excess moisture everywhere. As a result, the distribution of natural zones does not depend on the amount of moisture, but is subject to the distribution of heat. So arctic tundra occupy spaces where average July temperatures vary from 0° to +5°C, typical tundra between isotherms +5° and + 10°, taiga between July isotherms +10° and +17 +18°. Each of these zones stretches across the entire continent from its western coast to the eastern. The length of the taiga is especially impressive: it stretches from the Scandinavian mountains to the Okhotsk coast and Kamchatka.

In the southern part of the continent, on the contrary, heat is not scarce. Moisture is scarce. It is the factor that determines the distribution of vegetation cover. Depending on the incoming annual precipitation (GPR), vegetation zones are distributed as follows:

over 1500 mm - evergreen (wet) rainforests;

1500 - 1000 mm - semi-deciduous forests and wet savannas;

1000-500 mm - deciduous (dry) forests and typical savannas;

500 - 200 mm - deserted savannas and thorny trees;

200 - 50 mm - semi-deserts;

less than 50 mm - deserts.

At the same time, evergreen forests can grow in the equatorial, subequatorial and tropical zones, and savannas and tropical dry forests - in the subequatorial and tropical zones. In the middle latitudes, that is, in the subtropical and most of the temperate zones, the relationship between vegetation and climate becomes more complex: its distribution depends on both factors at once: both the amount of heat and the amount of moisture. Warmth in mid-latitudes increases from north to south, and natural zones change in the same direction. However, from the western and eastern coasts inland the amount of moisture decreases, and with distance from the coast there is also a change in natural zones. So, along the parallel 45° N. w. in the direction from Atlantic Ocean are replaced by broad-leaved forests - forest-steppes - steppes - semi-deserts - deserts, and then, as they approach Pacific Ocean- back from deserts to deciduous forests east coast. Steppes, semi-deserts and mid-latitude deserts nowhere reach the shores of the oceans; these are inland zones.

So there are three types latitudinal zonality, which correspond to three longitudinal sectors of the continent: western oceanic, eastern oceanic and central continental. The western oceanic sector in Europe includes zones of arctic and typical tundra, forest-tundra, mixed, deciduous forests, dry xerophytic forests and Middle-earth shrubs. If West Africa can be considered a continuation of the landmass of Europe, then to the south there are semi-deserts, deserts, semi-deserts, savannas and tropical rainforests. The eastern oceanic sector in its northern part begins the same way, but in the tropics deserts and savannas do not reach the ocean: in the east of the continent the zonation is tundra-forest: tundra, forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and deciduous forests, subtropical evergreen forests, tropical evergreen forests to the Equator . The central continental sector is represented by tundra, forest-tundra, taiga, forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert, temperate, subtropical, tropical zones, savannas and tropical rainforests - this is the zonation if you move south through the West Siberian and Turanian plains, the Iranian Plateau, the north-west of the Indo-Gangetic lowland, Hindustan, Sri Lanka. A similar sectorial pattern of zonal cover is characteristic of other regions of the Earth. a brief description of natural zones of Eurasia is like this.

Wet evergreen forests. The climate is equatorial or subequatorial humid, with annual precipitation exceeding 1500 mm, with a dry season lasting no more than 2 months. These forests are divided into two subzones: constantly wet and variable wet. Constantly wet forests are characterized by equatorial belt, the growing season in them proceeds evenly throughout the year; flowering and fruiting of trees and shrubs does not occur simultaneously: in the forest you can always find both flowering and fruiting trees. There are no seasons in this forest. In a variable wet forest there is seasonality: during the short dry season the growing season is interrupted, flowering usually occurs with the beginning rainy season. By the beginning of the next dry season, fruiting ends. But the trees do not shed their leaves, since there is a sufficient supply of moisture in the soil; it does not have time to be used up in a short dry time. The main tree species in both subzones are the same: huge dipterocarpus, giant ficus, palm trees, pandanus, etc. However, in permanently wet forest more vines, and they reach very large sizes. Thus, the rattan palm is a liana up to 300 m long. There are almost no epiphytes in the variable-humid forest; during the dry season, their aerial roots dry out. In this forest there may appear and deciduous trees V upper tier. The soils of humid forests are red and yellow ferallitic, often podzolized. They are composed of hydroxides of aluminum, iron and manganese; the color depends on the combination of these compounds. Animals of the humid forest live mainly in trees, since it is dark under the forest canopy, there is no grass, and the branches with leaves are high. Numerous primates (monkeys and prosimians) live in the branches of trees, cats and leopards, snakes, lizards, some species of frogs, worms, caterpillars, insects, and birds climb. Butterflies and birds amaze with their bright colors and size. Such forests are preserved in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Malacca, on the slopes of the Western Ghats, in Assam (along the Brahmaputra), on the shores of Indochina. Cutting down these forests for the purpose of plowing the land is not always possible: podzolized ferrallite soils quickly lose fertility and have to be abandoned. Currently, Fr. has lost its forests. Java: its soils are formed on volcanic rocks, are distinguished by high natural fertility and are fully developed and produce 2-3 harvests per year with an abundance of heat and moisture. The forest reserves protect rich flora and rare animals: primates, tigers, leopards, rhinoceroses, wild buffalos, wild bulls, deer, tapirs, etc.

Dry forests and savannas. Deciduous tropical forests are called dry. They are characteristic of the interior regions of Hindustan and Indochina, where less than 1500 mm of precipitation falls per year and the duration of the dry season exceeds 2 months. In practice, the transition from evergreen moist forests to deciduous forests occurs gradually. First, semi-deciduous forests with an upper deciduous layer and an evergreen lower layer appear; the evergreen undergrowth gradually disappears. The main trees of deciduous forests are the teak tree from the verbena family and the sal tree from the dipterocarp family. They provide valuable construction and ornamental wood. In the driest places, grass savannas with terminalia, acacias, and a cover of tropical cereal plants (imperata, wild sugar cane, bearded grass) are common. The soils in savannas are brown-red and brown-red, somewhat more fertile than the soils of humid forests due to their humus content. On the basaltic lavas of the north-west of Hindustan, special black soils are formed; they are often called cotton soils for the high yield of cotton grown on them. The fauna of savannas and woodlands is rich: a variety of monkeys, locally preserved elephants and rhinoceroses, nilgai antelopes, and buffaloes. Savannah is characterized primarily by terrestrial animals due to the abundance of grasses and low trees and shrubs. Even some birds in the savannas prefer not to fly, but to run: in India and Indochina, the homeland of chickens, wild “weed” chickens are still found. There are many pheasants, peacocks are birds of the gallinaceae order. Reptiles are abundant in savannas and woodlands. On the Ganges Plain, in a number of regions of Hindustan and Indochina, the lands of this zone have been developed and cultivated for a long time, especially the flooded lands of the alluvial plains.

Deserts and semi-deserts. Characteristic of dry areas of the tropical, subtropical and temperate zones, where annual precipitation does not exceed 200 mm. Desert soils are underdeveloped, regardless of the climatic zone of gray soil and brown soil; their color is determined by compounds of iron and manganese. Tropical deserts occupy the south of Arabia (Rub al-Khali), the lower reaches of the Indus - the Sind Desert and the north-west of Hindustan - the Thar Desert. They are characterized by a sparse grass cover of aristida (wire grass) and rare acacia bushes, similar to the Sahara deserts. Typical animals of these deserts are addax antelopes and oryx. In the oases, the date palm and long-staple cotton are cultivated, producing fiber of the highest quality. The subtropical deserts are the Syrian, Greater and Lesser Nefud in Arabia, and Dashte Kavir and Dashte Lut on the Iranian Plateau. Typical trees are saxauls, tamarix shrubs, and evergreen cushion-shaped subshrubs in rocky areas. Of the desert cereals, seline is close to aristida, perfectly fixing moving sands. Temperate deserts are characteristic of the Turan Lowland, Taklamakan and Gobi. Evergreen shrubs disappear and deciduous shrubs predominate. The dominant herbs are wormwood, fescue, and sometimes seline.

Xerophytic forests and shrubs Mediterranean. In the Mediterranean climate, special brown soils with a significant humus content and high natural fertility are formed. In relief depressions, semi-hydromorphic dark-colored soils are common. In Yugoslavia they are called smolnitsa. Clay composition, very high dry density, and richness in humus are their characteristic features. Vegetation in climates with dry, hot summers is characterized by xerophytic adaptations: a powerful root system, high root suction capacity (turgor), small leaf blade, hard skin or pubescence on the leaves, and the secretion of essential oils. Depending on the distribution of precipitation, 4 types of formations are distinguished: hard-leaved forests, maquis, freegans and shiblyak. Hard-leaved forests are characteristic of the western shores of the peninsulas, which receive the greatest amount of precipitation. The forests consist of southern coniferous and evergreen deciduous trees. Conifers include subtropical pines: Italian pine, seaside and Aleppo pines, Lebanese and Cypriot cedars, tree-like junipers, cypresses. Of the evergreen trees, first of all are evergreen oaks with small, hard leaves: cork in the western and holm in the eastern Middle-earth. Forests are usually cut down. They were replaced by plantations of grapes, citrus and olive trees; in other cases, the lands were abandoned and overgrown with tall bushes. These thickets of evergreen large and dense shrubs are called maquis. The main types in them: arbutus, noble laurel, wild olive (olive), etc. In drier places in the interior regions and eastern shores of the peninsulas, thickets of low-trunked sparse shrubs - freegan or garrigue - are common. Low, often cushion-shaped bushes dominate: cistus, burnet, etc. In the south of the Iberian Peninsula and in Sicily, the low-growing chamerops palm grows - the only wild palm in Europe. In the driest places of the eastern Middle-earth, along with evergreens, there are deciduous shrubs: sumac, orchard tree, lilac, wild rose. Such thickets are called shiblyak. The fauna of Middle-earth differs from the temperate zone in the following species: wild goats and wild sheep- the ancestors of domestic goats and sheep. There are rabbits. From southern predators Genetta belongs to the civet family. Southern birds appear: pheasants, blue magpie. In the south of the Iberian Peninsula lives the only small monkey in Europe - the tailless macaque.

Mesophytic subtropical forests The humid subtropics of China and Japan consist of both deciduous and evergreen trees. However, these forests were preserved only in the form of sacred groves at Buddhist temples. Ancient plant species were discovered in them: ginkgo, metasequoia. Conifers include various types of pines, cryptomeria, cunningamia, false larch, etc. Among deciduous trees there are laurels, cinnamon and camphor trees, magnolias, tulip trees, wild tea bushes, etc. Under the humid subtropical forests Yellow soils and red soils, sometimes podzolized, predominate. On the non-terraced slopes of the mountains they are busy planting tea bushes, tung trees, citrus trees, apple trees, etc. On the terraced slopes and on the floodplains of rivers they grow rice, cotton, soybeans, and kaoliang. In the mountains of Japan, forests of coniferous and deciduous trees, with evergreen undergrowth. The forests of Japan are home to numerous animals: Japanese macaque, sika deer and etc.

Broadleaf forests characteristic of humid temperate climates Western Europe and the Yellow River basin. Main representatives forest species: beech and oak. Along with them, chestnut grows near the Atlantic, and in more continental areas - hornbeam, elm, maple, etc. The soils under such forests in climates with mild winters are brown forest, and in frosty winters - gray forest. They are distinguished by a high humus content, but a small amount of mineral salts. Responsive to input very well mineral fertilizers, give high yields when cultivated. For this reason, these forests have practically not been preserved.

Mixed or coniferous-deciduous forests. The main forest-forming species in them are spruce and deciduous oaks, as well as their numerous companions: European cedar pine, fir, yew, ash, linden, maple, elm, beech. These forests are characterized by herbaceous deciduous vines (hops) and deciduous undergrowth. The soils are gray forest and soddy-podzolic, somewhat less fertile than under deciduous forests. These forests are somewhat better preserved and are found on the German-Polish Plain, in Belarus, Northern Ukraine, Central Russia. The remaining large animals are bison, wild boars are becoming numerous, red deer, roe deer, and forest cats are found. Along with them there are animals common to the taiga zone: squirrels, hares, foxes, wolves, sometimes moose, bears. In Northeast China and Primorye, tigers and Himalayan bears and sika deer live in these forests. The forests of the Far East are distinguished by their diverse species composition. Climate European forests transitional from maritime to continental and continental, in the Far East moderate monsoon.

Taiga in Foreign Europe it occupies Fennoscandia - the plains of Finland and Sweden, and rises to the eastern slopes of the Scandinavian mountains. The main forest-forming species is European pine. The soils are often rocky, soddy-podzolic and podzolic; there are few lands suitable for ploughing; forestry and hunting predominate. There are typical taiga animals: wolves, foxes, hares, moose, bears, martens, and birds - wood grouse and black grouse. The climate is moderately cold, continental type, and is not very favorable for agriculture, which is of a focal nature.

Tundra occupies the north of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and the mountain tundra occupies the summit part of the Scandinavian Mountains. The climate of the zone is subarctic, or the climate of the mountains is a moderate-cold zone. Typical tundra vegetation. On high rocky and sandy places there is deer lichen with lingonberries and wild rosemary. Sedges, cotton grass, blueberries, cranberries, and cloudberries grow in damp marshy lowlands. Typical of animals reindeer, white hare, lemmings, arctic foxes. Farming in the tundra is impossible; the inhabitants' occupations are hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding. The soils are underdeveloped, gley and peat-gley. Permafrost is widespread.

Review questions

1. What factors determine (limit) the distribution of vegetation cover in

within Eurasia?

2 Describe the geographical distribution of the continent’s natural areas.

3. Why are forest types of vegetation more often located on the periphery of the continent? Compare the species composition of vegetation on the western and eastern edges of the temperate zone of Eurasia? What are their similarities and differences?

4. Which natural area is located in the south of Europe and occupies the peninsulas of the Mediterranean Sea? This climate is characterized by sufficient moisture, but plants have pronounced adaptations to lack of moisture. Why?

5. Which natural areas are most modified? economic activity person?