All Australian deserts lie within the Central Australian region of the Australian Floristic Kingdom. Although in terms of species richness and level of endemism, the desert flora of Australia is significantly inferior to the flora of the western and northeastern regions of this continent, however, in comparison with other desert regions globe it stands out both in the number of species (more than 2 thousand) and in the abundance of endemics. Species endemism here reaches 90%: there are 85 endemic genera, of which 20 are in the family Compositae, or Asteraceae, 15 - Chenopodiaceae and 12 - Cruciferae.

Among the endemic genera there are also background desert grasses - Mitchell's grass and triodia. Large numbers species are represented by the legume, myrtle, proteaceae and asteraceae families. Significant species diversity is demonstrated by the genera Eucalyptus, Acacia, Proteaceae - Grevillea and Hakea. In the very center of the continent, in the gorge of the deserted MacDonnell Mountains, narrow-area endemics have been preserved: the low-growing Liviston palm and Macrozamia from the cycads.

Even some types of orchids settle in deserts - ephemeral ones that germinate and bloom only in a short period after the rains. Sundews also penetrate here. The depressions between the ridges and the lower part of the slopes of the ridges are overgrown with clumps of the prickly grass triodia. The upper part of the slopes and the ridges of dune ridges are almost completely devoid of vegetation; only individual curls of the prickly grass Zygochloa settle on the loose sand. In interbarchan depressions and on flat sandy plains, a sparse tree stand of casuarina, individual specimens of eucalyptus, and veinless acacia is formed. The shrub layer is formed by Proteaceae - these are Hakea and several types of Grevillea.

In slightly saline areas in depressions, saltwort, ragodia and euhilena appear. After the rains, the interridge depressions and lower parts of the slopes are covered with colorful ephemerals and ephemeroids. In the northern areas of the sands in the Simpson and Great Sandy Deserts, the species composition of background grasses changes somewhat: other species of Triodia, Plectrachne and Shuttlebeard dominate there; the diversity and species composition of acacias and other shrubs becomes greater. Along the channels of temporary waters, gallery forests of several species of large eucalyptus trees form. The eastern edges of the Great Victoria Desert are occupied by sclerophyllous mum scrub scrub. The southwestern Great Victoria Desert is dominated by low-growing eucalypts; The grass layer is formed by kangaroo grass, feather grass species and others.

The arid areas of Australia are very sparsely populated, but the vegetation is used for grazing.

Climate

In the tropical climate zone, which occupies the territory between the 20th and 30th parallel in the desert zone, a tropical continental desert climate is formed. Subtropical continental climate distributed in the southern part of Australia adjacent to the Great Australian Bight. These are the marginal parts of the Great Victoria Desert. Therefore, in the summer, from December to February, average temperatures reach 30 ° C, and sometimes higher, and in winter (July - August) they drop to an average of 15-18 ° C. In some years, the entire summer period temperatures can reach 40° C, and winter nights in the vicinity of the tropics drop to 0° C and below. The amount and territorial distribution of precipitation is determined by the direction and nature of the winds.

The main source of moisture is the "dry" southeast trade winds, since most of the moisture is retained by the mountain ranges of Eastern Australia. The central and western parts of the country, corresponding to about half the area, receive an average of about 250-300 mm of precipitation per year. The Simpson Desert receives the least amount of precipitation, from 100 to 150 mm per year. The precipitation season in the northern half of the continent, where monsoon winds prevail, is confined to the summer period, and in the southern part, dry conditions prevail during this period. It should be noted that the amount of winter precipitation in the southern half decreases as one moves inland, rarely reaching 28° S. In turn, summer precipitation in the northern half, having the same trend, does not extend south of the tropic. Thus, in the zone between the tropics and 28° S. latitude. there is a belt of aridity.

Australia is characterized by excessive variability in average annual precipitation and uneven distribution throughout the year. The presence of long dry periods and high average annual temperatures, dominant over a large part of the continent, cause high annual evaporation values. In the central part of the continent they are 2000-2200 mm, decreasing towards its marginal parts. The surface waters of the continent are extremely poor and extremely unevenly distributed throughout the territory. This especially applies to the desert western and central regions of Australia, which are practically drainless, but make up 50% of the continent's area.

And semi-deserts are specific natural zones, the main distinctive feature which is drought, as well as poor flora and fauna. Such a zone can form in all climatic zones - the main factor is a critically low amount of precipitation. Deserts and semi-deserts are characterized by a climate with sharp daily temperature changes and low precipitation: no more than 150 mm per year (in spring). The climate is hot and dry, evaporates before it can be absorbed into the water. Temperature changes are characteristic not only of the change of day and night. The winter and summer temperature difference is also very large. General background weather conditions can be defined as extremely severe.

Deserts and semi-deserts are waterless, dry areas of the planet where no more than 15 cm of precipitation falls per year. The most important factor their formation is the wind. However, not all deserts experience hot weather; some of them, on the contrary, are considered the coldest regions of the Earth. Representatives of flora and fauna have adapted to the harsh conditions of these areas in different ways.

Sometimes the air in deserts in summer reaches 50 degrees in the shade, and in winter the thermometer drops to minus 30 degrees!

Such temperature changes cannot but affect the formation of the flora and fauna of the semi-deserts of Russia.

Deserts and semi-deserts are found in:

• The tropical zone is most of these territories - Africa, South America, the Arabian Peninsula of Eurasia.
• Subtropical and temperate zones - in South and North America, Central Asia, where the low percentage of precipitation is complemented by terrain features.

There are also special types of deserts - Arctic and Antarctic, the formation of which is associated with very low temperatures.

There are many reasons why deserts arise. For example, the Atacama Desert receives little rainfall because it is located at the foot of the mountains, which cover it from rain with their ridges.

Ice deserts formed for other reasons. In Antarctica and the Arctic, the bulk of the snow falls on the coast; snow practically does not reach the interior regions. Precipitation levels generally vary greatly; one snowfall, for example, can result in a year's worth of precipitation. Such snow deposits form over hundreds of years.

Natural area desert

Climate features, desert classification

This natural area occupies about 25% of the planet's land area. There are 51 deserts in total, 2 of which are icy. Almost all deserts were formed on ancient geological platforms.

General signs

The natural zone called “desert” is characterized by:

• flat surface;
• critical volume of precipitation(annual norm - from 50 to 200 mm);
• rare and specific flora;
• peculiar fauna.

Deserts are often found in the temperate zone of the Earth's Northern Hemisphere, as well as in the tropical and subtropical zones. The relief of such an area is very heterogeneous: it combines highlands, island mountains, small hills and strata plains. Basically, these lands are drainless, but sometimes a river can flow through part of the territory (for example, the Nile, Syr Darya), and there are also drying lakes, the outlines of which are constantly changing.

Important! Almost all desert areas are surrounded by or near mountains.

Classification

There are different types of deserts:

• Sandy. Such deserts are characterized by dunes and often arise sandstorms. The largest is the Sahara, characterized by loose, light soil that is easily blown by the winds.
• Clayey. They have a smooth clay surface. They are found in Kazakhstan, the western part of Betpak-Dala, on the Ustyurt plateau.
• Rocky. The surface is represented by stones and rubble, which form placers. For example, Sonora in North America.
• Salt marshes. The soil is dominated by salts, and the surface often looks like a salt crust or quagmire. Distributed on the coast of the Caspian Sea, in Central Asia.
• Arctic— located in the Arctic and Antarctica. They can be snowless or snowy.

Climatic conditions

The desert climate is warm and dry. The temperature depends on the geographical location: the maximum +58°C was recorded in the Sahara on September 13, 1922. A distinctive feature of the desert area is a sharp temperature drop of 30-40°C. During the day the average temperature is +45°C, at night - +2-5°C. In winter, the deserts in Russia can be frosty with light snow.

In desert lands it has low humidity. It often occurs here strong winds at a speed of 15-20 m/s or more.

Important! The driest desert is the Atacama. There has been no rainfall on its territory for more than 400 years.

Flora

The desert flora is very sparse, consisting mainly of sparse shrubs that can extract moisture deep into the soil. These plants are specially adapted to live in hot and dry habitats. For example, a cactus has a thick waxy outer layer to keep water from evaporating. Sagebrush and desert grasses need very little water to survive. Desert and semi-desert plants have adapted to protect themselves from animals by growing sharp needles and thorns. Their leaves are replaced by scales and spines or covered with hairs that protect the plants from excessive evaporation. Almost all sand plants have long roots. In sandy deserts, in addition to herbaceous vegetation, there is also shrub vegetation: zhuzgun, sand acacia, teresken. Shrub plants are low and poorly leafy. Saxaul also grows in deserts: white on sandy soils, and black on saline soils.

Most desert and semi-desert plants bloom in the spring, reproducing flowers until the hot summer begins. During wet winter and spring years, semi-desert and desert plants can produce a surprising amount of spring flowers. In desert canyons, on rocky mountains Pine trees coexist, junipers and sage grow. They provide shelter from the scorching sun for many small animals.

The least known and underestimated species of desert and semi-desert plants are lichens and cryptogamous plants. Cryptogamous or secretogamous plants - spore fungi, algae, pteridophytes, bryophytes. Cryptogamous plants and lichens need very little water to survive and live in dry, hot climates. These plants are important because they help stop erosion, which is very important for all other plants and animals because it helps keep the soil fertile during high winds and hurricanes. They also add nitrogen to the soil. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for plants. Cryptogamous plants and lichens grow very slowly.

Annual ephemerals and perennial ephemeroids grow in clay deserts. In solonchaks there are halophytes or solyankas.

One of the most unusual plants that grow in this area is saxaul. It often moves from place to place under the influence of the wind.

Fauna

The fauna is also sparse - reptiles, spiders, reptiles or small steppe animals (hare, gerbil) can live here. Among the representatives of the order of mammals, the camel, antelope, wild ass, steppe sheep, and desert lynx live here.

To survive in the desert, animals have a specific sandy coloration, can run fast, dig holes and live for a long time without water, and preferably behave night look life.

Among the birds you can find the raven, saxaul jay, and desert chicken.

Important! In sandy deserts there are sometimes oases - this is a place that is located above a cluster groundwater. There is always dense and abundant vegetation and ponds here.

Characteristics of the climate, flora and fauna of the semi-desert

Semi-desert is a type of landscape that is an intermediate option between desert and steppe. Most of them are located in the temperate and tropical zones.

General signs

This zone is distinguished by the fact that there is absolutely no forest on it, the flora is quite unique, as is the composition of the soil (very mineralized).

Important! Semi-deserts exist on all continents except Antarctica.

Climatic conditions

They are characterized by hot and long summers with temperatures of approximately 25°C. Evaporation here is five times higher than precipitation levels. There are few rivers and they often dry up.

In the temperate zone they run in an unbroken line across Eurasia in an east-west direction. In the subtropical zone they are often found on the slopes of plateaus, highlands and plateaus (Armenian Highlands, Karoo). In the tropics these are very large areas (Sahel zone).

Flora

Vegetable world This natural zone is characterized by unevenness and sparseness. It is represented by xerophytic grasses, sunflowers and wormwood, and ephemerals grow. On the American continent, the most common are cacti and other succulents; in Australia and Africa, xerophytic shrubs and low-growing trees (baobab, acacia) are most common. Here the vegetation is often used to feed livestock.

In the desert-steppe zone, both steppe and desert plants are common. The vegetation cover mainly consists of fescue, wormwood, chamomile, and feather grass. Often wormwood occupies large areas, creating a dull, monotonous picture. In some places, kochia, ebelek, teresken, and quinoa grow among the wormwood. Where groundwater comes close to the surface, thickets of shin weed are found on saline soils.

The soil, as a rule, is poorly developed; its composition is dominated by water-soluble salts. Among the soil-forming rocks, ancient alluvial and loess-like deposits, which are reworked by winds, predominate. Gray-brown soil is typical for elevated flat areas. Deserts are also characterized by salt marshes, that is, soils that contain about 1% of easily soluble salts. In addition to semi-deserts, salt marshes are also found in steppes and deserts. Groundwater, which contains salts, upon reaching the soil surface is deposited into the soil. top layer, resulting in soil salinization.

Fauna

The fauna is quite diverse. To the greatest extent it is represented by reptiles and rodents. Mouflon, antelope, caracal, jackal, fox and other predators and ungulates also live here. Semi-deserts are home to many birds, spiders, fish and insects.

Protection of natural areas

Some desert areas are protected by law and recognized as nature reserves and national parks. The list of them is quite long. From the deserts man guards:

• Etosha;
• Joshua Tree (in Death Valley).

Among semi-deserts the following are subject to protection:

• Ustyurt Nature Reserve;
• Tiger beam.

Important! The Red Book includes such desert inhabitants as the serval, mole rat, caracal, and saiga.

Economic activity

The climatic features of these zones are unfavorable for economic life, but throughout history entire civilizations developed in the desert zone, for example, Egypt.

Special conditions forced us to look for a way to graze livestock, grow crops and develop industry. Taking advantage of the available vegetation, sheep are usually grazed in such areas. They also breed in Russia Bactrian camels. Farming here is possible only with additional irrigation.

The development of technological progress and the unlimited supply of natural resources have led to the fact that man has reached the deserts. Scientific research has shown that in many semi-deserts and deserts there are considerable reserves of natural resources, such as gas, precious minerals. The need for them is constantly increasing. Therefore, equipped with heavy equipment and industrial tools, we are going to destroy previously miraculously untouched territories.

1. The two most large deserts on planet Earth: Antarctica and the Sahara.
2. The height of the highest dunes reaches 180 meters.
3. The driest and hottest area in the world is Death Valley. But, nevertheless, more than 40 species of reptiles, animals and plants live in it.
4. Approximately 46,000 square miles of arable land turns to desert each year. This process is called desertification. According to the UN, the problem threatens the lives of more than 1 billion people.
5. When passing through the Sahara, people often see mirages. To protect travelers, a mirage map was compiled for caravan drivers.

Natural zones of deserts and semi-deserts are a huge variety of landscapes, climatic conditions, flora and fauna. Despite the harsh and cruel nature of the deserts, these regions have become home to many species of plants and animals.

Australia is often called the continent of deserts. About 44% of the continent's surface is occupied by desert and arid areas.
They are common in the Western Australian Tablelands and the plains of Central Australia.

In the driest areas of the center of the continent, large areas are rocky deposits or shifting sands.
On the Western Australian Plateau, rocky deserts form on thick ferruginous crusts (a legacy of humid eras). Their bare surface has a characteristic bright orange color.
On the Nullarbor Plain, composed of fractured limestones, the desert reaches the southern coast of the mainland.

Great Victoria Desert

The largest desert on the Australian continent.
Its size is about 424,400 km2.
The desert was first crossed by European explorer Ernest Giles in 1875 and named after Queen Victoria.
Average annual precipitation varies from 200 to 250 mm of rain. Thunderstorms occur frequently (15-20 per year).
Daytime temperatures in summer are 32-40 °C, in winter 18-23 °C.
It is generally accepted that the desert consists of endless sand dunes or lifeless rocky plains. However, the Great Victoria Desert looks different. Huge variety of shrubs and small plants. After a rare rain, wildflowers and acacias contrasting on the red sand are an unforgettable sight.
Even without rain, the caves, rocks and gorges of the desert are mesmerizing.

Great Sandy Desert

Second largest after Victoria. The desert is located in the north of Western Australia, in the Kimberley region, east of the Pilbara. A small part of it lies in the Northern Territory.
The desert has an area of ​​360,000 km²
The Great Sandy Desert is the hottest region of Australia.
In the summer from December to February, the average temperature reaches 35 °C, in winter - up to 20 -15 °C.
It is here that the famous Kata Tjuta National Park - Uluru (Ayers Rock) is located, which attracts travelers from all over the world.

Tanami

The rocky sand desert is located northwest of the city of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory of Australia.
The average annual rainfall in this area is more than 400 mm, that is, quite a lot of rainy days for a desert. But the location of Tanami is such that high temperatures prevail, and with this a high rate of evaporation.
Average daily temperature in summer months(October-March) is about 38 °C, night 22 °C. Temperature in winter: daytime - about 25 °C, nighttime - below 10 °C.
The main landforms are dunes and sand plains, as well as shallow water basins of the Lander River, which contain water holes, dry swamps and salt lakes.
Gold mining is carried out in the desert. Tourism has been developing recently.

Gibson Desert

Sandy desert in the center of Western Australia. It is bordered by the Great Sandy Desert to the north and the Great Victoria Desert to the south.
An early explorer of the region described it as “a vast, rolling gravel desert.”
The soils are sandy, rich in iron, and highly weathered. In some places there are thickets of veinless acacia, quinoa and spinifex grass, which bloom with bright colors after rare rains.
Annual precipitation in the Gibson Desert can vary from 200 to 250 millimeters. The climate is typically hot, in the south temperatures in summer can rise above 40°C, in winter the maximum is around 18°C ​​and the minimum is 6°C.

Desert Simpson

The Simpson Desert is the main part of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia.
This desert is famous for the fact that its sands are bright red and, like scarlet waves, continuously roll across the desert.
The landscapes of this place are amazing: between the high dunes there are areas of smooth clay crust and rocky plains strewn with sharpened stones. Simpson - the driest desert
The average temperature in summer (January) is 28-30 °C, in winter - 12-15 °C. In the northern part, precipitation is less than 130 mm.

Small Sandy Desert

The Little Sandy Desert is a piece of land in Western Australia located to the south of the Great Sandy Desert, and to the east it becomes the Gibson Desert.

There are several lakes in the Little Sandy Desert, the largest of which is Lake Disapointment, located in the north. Seyviori is the main river passing through this area. It flows into Lake Disapoinmet.

The area of ​​the region is 101 thousand km². The average annual precipitation, which falls mainly in summer, is 150-200 mm
Average summer temperatures range from 22 to 38.3° C, in winter this figure is 5.4-21.3° C

Tirari Desert

It occupies an area of ​​15 thousand square kilometers and is located in the eastern part of South Australia.

The desert contains salt lakes and large sand dunes. The conditions here are quite harsh, high temperatures and very little precipitation, the average annual amount of which does not exceed 125 millimeters

It is also part of the rocky ecoregion of Australia.

The Pinnacles

A small desert in the southwest of Western Australia. The name of the desert translates as “desert of pointed rocks.” The desert got its name from the isolated stones rising 1-5 meters in the middle of the sandy plain. The nearest settlement is the city of Cervantes, from which it is a 20-minute drive to the desert. The stones are rocks or peaks.

Te Pinnacles is part of Nambung National Park.
The landscapes in this part are exceptional, you would think that you are on another planet.
If you are a visitor to Nambung National Park, do not miss the opportunity to see the beautiful nature of the Te Pinnacles Desert.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE MOSCOW REGION MOSCOW STATE REGIONAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF GEOGRAPHY AND ECOLOGY

EXTRAMURAL

SPECIALTY "GEOECOLOGY"

Course work

by subject

"General Ecology"

"Deserts of Australia"

Completed:

IV year student group 42

Bubentsova O.A.

Moscow 2013

1.General physical and geographical description

The Commonwealth of Australia is the only state in the world that occupies the territory of an entire continent. The Australian continent is located entirely in the Southern Hemisphere, and its very name comes from the Latin Terra Australis Incognita (Unknown South Land) - this is what ancient geographers called the mysterious southern continent, the location of which was unknown to them, but whose existence they assumed. The Australian continent is washed on all sides by the Pacific, Indian and Southern oceans.

The Commonwealth of Australia includes, in addition to its own mainland, the island of Tasmania and small islands located off the coast of the continent. Australia administers the so-called external territories : islands and island groups in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The area of ​​the Commonwealth of Australia is 7.7 million square meters. km. Its population is small - only 14 million people. At the same time, the vast majority of Australians live in cities, including almost half in the two largest: Sydney (over 3 million inhabitants) and Melbourne (about 3 million inhabitants). The capital of Australia is Canberra. Australia is one of the most urbanized countries in the world.

Australia's topography is dominated by plains. About 95% of the surface does not exceed 600 m above sea level. Most of Australia lies in the tropics, the North is in subequatorial latitudes, and the South is in subtropical latitudes. In Australia, the heights of the plains are low, which causes constantly high temperatures throughout the continent. Australia lies almost entirely within the summer isotherms of 20 °C - 28 °C, and the winter isotherms of 12 °C - 20 °C.

The position of most of Australia in the continental sector of the tropical zone causes a dry climate. Australia is the driest of the Earth's continents. 38% of Australia receives less than 250 mm of rainfall per year. About half of Australia's territory is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts.

Australia is rich in a variety of mineral resources. New discoveries of mineral ores made on the continent over the past 10-15 years have propelled the country to one of the first places in the world in reserves and production of minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, and lead-zinc ores. The main deposits of metallic minerals and deposits will be discussed in the next section of the work. Non-metallic minerals include clays, sands, limestones, asbestos, and mica, which vary in quality and industrial use.

The rivers flowing from the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range are short and flow in narrow gorges in the upper reaches. Here they may well be used, and in part they are already used for the construction of hydroelectric power stations. When entering the coastal plain, rivers slow down their flow and their depth increases. Many of them in estuarine areas are even accessible to large ocean-going vessels.

On the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, rivers originate and make their way through the interior plains. The largest river in Australia, the Murray, begins in the area of ​​Mount Kosciuszko. Food p. The Murray and its channels are mainly rain-fed and to a lesser extent snowy Almost all rivers of the Murray system have dams and dams built, around which reservoirs are created, where flood waters are collected and used to irrigate fields, gardens and pastures.

The rivers of the northern and western coasts of Australia are shallow and relatively small. The longest of them, the Flinders, flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria. These rivers are fed by rain, and their water content varies greatly depending on the different time of the year.

Rivers whose flow is directed to the interior of the continent, such as Coopers Creek (Barku), Diamant-ina, etc., lack not only a constant flow, but also a permanent, clearly defined channel. In Australia, such temporary rivers are called creeks. They are filled with water only during short rain showers.

Most lakes in Australia, like rivers, are fed by rainwater. They have neither a constant level nor a drain. In summer, the lakes dry up and become shallow saline depressions.

Since the Australian mainland has been for a long time, starting from the middle Cretaceous period, was isolated from other parts of the globe; its flora was very unique. Of 12 thousand species higher plants more than 9 thousand are endemic, i.e. grow only on the Australian continent. Endemics include many species of eucalyptus and acacia, the most typical plant families of Australia. At the same time, there are also plants here that are inherent South America(for example, southern beech), South Africa(representatives of the Proteaceae family) and the islands of the Malay Archipelago (ficus, pandanus, etc.). This indicates that many millions of years ago there were land connections between the continents.

Since the climate of most of Australia is characterized by extreme aridity, its flora is dominated by dry-loving plants: special cereals, eucalyptus trees, umbrella acacias, succulent trees (bottle tree, etc.). In the far north and north-west of the country, where it is hot and the warm north-west monsoons bring moisture, rainwater grows rainforests. Their tree composition is dominated by giant eucalyptus, ficus, palm trees, pandanus with narrow long leaves, etc. In some places on the coast itself there are thickets of bamboo. In places where the shores are flat and muddy, mangrove vegetation develops. Rain forests in the form of narrow galleries they stretch for relatively short distances inland along river valleys.

The further south you go, the drier the climate becomes. Forest cover is gradually thinning. Eucalyptus and umbrella acacias are located in groups. This is a zone of wet savannas, stretching in a latitudinal direction to the south of the zone tropical forests. The central deserts of the mainland, where it is very hot and dry, are characterized by dense, almost impenetrable thickets of thorny low-growing shrubs, consisting mainly of eucalyptus and acacia trees.

The eastern and southeastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, where precipitation is high, are covered with dense tropical and subtropical evergreen forests. Most of these forests, as elsewhere in Australia, are eucalyptus trees. Higher in the mountains there is a noticeable admixture of damarra pines and beech trees. The shrub and grass cover in these forests is varied and dense. In less humid variants of these forests, the second layer is formed by grass trees. On the island of Tasmania, in addition to eucalyptus trees, there are many evergreen beech trees related to South American species. In the southwest of the mainland, forests cover the western slopes of the Darling Range, facing the sea. These forests consist almost entirely of eucalyptus trees, reaching considerable heights. The number of endemic species here is especially high. In addition to eucalyptus trees, bottle trees are widespread.

In general, Australia's forest resources are small. The total area of ​​forests, including special plantations consisting mainly of softwood species (mainly radiata pine), amounted to only 5.6% of the country's territory at the end of the 1970s.

In Australia, all types of soils characteristic of tropical, subequatorial and subtropical natural zones are represented in a natural sequence.

In the area of ​​tropical rainforests in the north, red soils are common, changing towards the south by red-brown and brown soils in wet savannas and gray-brown in dry savannah. Red-brown and brown soils containing humus, some phosphorus and potassium are valuable for agricultural use. The main wheat crops in Australia are located within the red-brown soil zone.

The Australian continent is located within three main warm climate zones of the southern hemisphere: subequatorial (in the north), tropical (in the central part), subtropical (in the south). Only a small part of. Tasmania lies within the temperate zone.

Most of the country is dominated by a dry and hot continental climate of the tropical zone. The northern part of Australia is located in the subequatorial climate zone - it is hot here all year round, the humidity is very high in summer and low in winter. The east coasts are hot and humid all year round. The subtropical zone, in which the southern part of Australia is located, is represented by a predominantly continental climate - hot and very dry summers and cool, wet winters. The southwest coast of Australia is dominated by a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The south-eastern part of Australia and the northern part of the island of Tasmania are influenced by a monsoon climate with hot, rainy summers and mild, dry winters. The southernmost part of the island of Tasmania is located in a temperate zone with a mild, humid climate.

The hot climate and insignificant and uneven precipitation over most of the continent lead to the fact that almost 60% of its territory has no flow to the ocean and has only a sparse network of temporary watercourses.

.Deserts of Australia

Australia is often called the desert continent because... about 44% of its surface (3.8 million sq. km) is occupied by arid territories, of which 1.7 million sq. km. km - desert.

Even the rest is seasonally dry.

This suggests that Australia is the driest continent on the globe.

The Australian Deserts are a complex of desert regions located in Australia.

The deserts of Australia are located in two climatic zones - tropical and subtropical, with most of them occupying the latter zone.

Great Sandy Desert

Great Sandy Desert or Western Desert – sandy-salt desert<#"justify">Great Victoria Desert

Great Victoria Desert - sandy-salt desert<#"justify">Gibson Desert

Gibson Desert - sandy desert<#"justify">Small Sandy Desert

Small Sandy Desert - sandy desert<#"justify">Simpson Desert

Simpson Desert - sandy desert<#"justify">The average temperature in January is 28-30 °C, in July - 12-15 °C.

In the northern part, precipitation is less than 130 mm, dry creek beds<#"justify">Tanami

Tanami - rocky sand desert<#"justify">Strzelecki Desert

The Strzelecki Desert is located in the southeast of the mainland in the states of South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. The desert area makes up 1% of Australia. It was discovered by Europeans in 1845 and named after the Polish explorer Pawel Strzelecki. Also in Russian sources it is called the Streletsky Desert.

Stone Desert of Sturt

The rock desert, which occupies 0.3% of Australia's territory, is located in the state of South Australia and is a collection of sharp small stones. Local aborigines did not sharpen their arrows, but simply dialed stone tips here. The desert got its name in honor of Charles Sturt, who in 1844 tried to reach the center of Australia.

Tirari Desert

This desert, located in the state of South Australia and occupying 0.2% of the continent's area, has some of the harshest climatic conditions in Australia due to high temperatures and virtually no rain. The Tirari Desert is home to several salt lakes, including Lake Eyre<#"justify">3. Animal world

The long-term isolation of Australia from other continents has led to the exceptional uniqueness of the fauna of this continent, and in particular its desert region.

Species endemism is 90%, and the remaining species are subendemic, that is, their distribution extends beyond the deserts, but not beyond the continent as a whole. Among the endemic groups there are: marsupial moles, Australian wheatears, lizards.

In Australia there are no representatives of the orders of carnivores, ungulates, insectivores, and lagomorphs; the order of rodents is represented only by species of the mouse subfamily; Among the birds, the order of sandgrouse, the families of pheasants, bee-eaters, finches and a number of others are absent. The reptile fauna has also become impoverished: species of the families of lacertid lizards, colubrids, vipers and pit snakes have not penetrated here. Due to the absence of the mentioned and a number of other animals, local, endemic families and genera, as a result of widespread adaptive radiation, have mastered free ecological niches and developed a number of convergent forms in the process of evolution.

Among the aspid snakes, species arose that were morphologically and ecologically similar to vipers; lizards of the scinnidae family successfully replaced the lacertids that were absent here, but especially many convergent forms are observed in marsupial mammals. They ecologically replace insectivores (marsupial shrews), jerboas (marsupial jerboas), large rodents (wombats or marmots), small predators (marsupial martens) and even, to a large extent, ungulates (wallabies and kangaroos). Small mouse-like rodents widely inhabit all types of deserts (Australian mouse, jerboa mouse, and others). The role of large herbivores in the absence of ungulates is performed by marsupials from the kangaroo family: brush-tailed kangaroos live in the Gibson Desert; gigantic red kangaroo etc. Small predatory marsupials are similar in appearance and biology to shrews of the Old World (crest-tailed marsupial shrew, thick-tailed marsupial shrew). Marsupial moles lead an underground lifestyle and inhabit sandy plains.

Marsupial badgers live in the Simpson Desert. The largest native predator in the deserts of Australia is the marsupial marten. About 10 thousand years ago, man entered the Australian continent and settled it. Together with the man, the dog also came here - the constant companion of the primitive hunter. Subsequently, feral dogs spread widely in the deserts of the mainland, forming a stable form called the dingo dog. The appearance of such a large predator caused the first significant damage to the native fauna, especially various marsupials. However, the greatest damage to the local fauna was caused after Europeans arrived in Australia. Either intentionally or accidentally, they brought here a whole range of wild and domestic animals (the European rabbit - they multiplied quickly, settled in large colonies, and destroyed the already meager vegetation cover). The common fox and house mouse have spread widely throughout central Australia. In the central and northern regions, small herds of feral donkeys or single dromedary camels are often found.

Many birds (parrots, zebra finches, emblem finches, pink cockatoos, diamond doves, emus) gather near temporary watering holes in the hottest hours of the day in the desert. Insectivorous birds do not need watering places and inhabit desert areas far from any sources of water (Australian wrens, Australian warblers). Since true larks did not penetrate the deserts of Australia, their ecological niche was occupied by representatives of the warbler family, which have adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle and are surprisingly similar in appearance to larks. Flat gravelly and rocky plains, salt marshes with sparse thickets of quinoa are inhabited by Australian wheatears. In the thickets of bushy eucalyptus trees, the large ocellated big-headed or weed chicken lives. Australian Carrion Crows can be seen in all desert habitats. Reptiles in the Australian deserts are extremely diverse (families skink, gecko, agamidae, and aspidae). Monitor lizards reach the greatest diversity in the deserts of Australia compared to other regions. Lots of snakes, insects (darkling beetles, bombardier beetles and others).

.Vegetable world

All Australian deserts lie within the Central Australian region of the Australian Floristic Kingdom. Although the desert flora of Australia is significantly inferior in species richness and level of endemism to the flora of the western and northeastern regions of this continent, however, in comparison with other desert regions of the globe, it stands out both in the number of species (more than 2 thousand) and in the abundance of endemics. Species endemism here reaches 90%: there are 85 endemic genera, of which 20 are in the family Compositae, or Asteraceae, 15 - Chenopodiaceae and 12 - Cruciferae.

Among the endemic genera there are also background desert grasses - Mitchell's grass and triodia. A large number of species are represented by the families of legumes, myrtaceae, proteaceae and asteraceae. Significant species diversity is demonstrated by the genera Eucalyptus, Acacia, Proteaceae - Grevillea and Hakea. In the very center of the continent, in the gorge of the deserted MacDonnell Mountains, narrow-area endemics have been preserved: the low-growing Liviston palm and Macrozamia from the cycads.

Even some types of orchids settle in deserts - ephemeral ones that germinate and bloom only in a short period after the rains. Sundews also penetrate here. The depressions between the ridges and the lower part of the slopes of the ridges are overgrown with clumps of the prickly grass triodia. The upper part of the slopes and the ridges of dune ridges are almost completely devoid of vegetation; only individual curls of the prickly grass Zygochloa settle on the loose sand. In interbarchan depressions and on flat sandy plains, a sparse tree stand of casuarina, individual specimens of eucalyptus, and veinless acacia is formed. The shrub layer is formed by Proteaceae - these are Hakea and several types of Grevillea.

In slightly saline areas in depressions, saltwort, ragodia and euhilena appear. After the rains, the interridge depressions and lower parts of the slopes are covered with colorful ephemerals and ephemeroids. In the northern areas of the sands in the Simpson and Great Sandy Deserts, the species composition of background grasses changes somewhat: other species of Triodia, Plectrachne and Shuttlebeard dominate there; the diversity and species composition of acacias and other shrubs becomes greater. Along the channels of temporary waters, gallery forests of several species of large eucalyptus trees form. The eastern edges of the Great Victoria Desert are occupied by sclerophyllous mum scrub scrub. The southwestern Great Victoria Desert is dominated by low-growing eucalypts; The grass layer is formed by kangaroo grass, feather grass species and others.

The arid areas of Australia are very sparsely populated, but the vegetation is used for grazing.

Climate

In the tropical climate zone, which occupies the territory between the 20th and 30th parallel in the desert zone, a tropical continental desert climate is formed. A subtropical continental climate is common in southern Australia adjacent to the Great Australian Bight. These are the marginal parts of the Great Victoria Desert. Therefore, in the summer, from December to February, average temperatures reach 30 ° C, and sometimes higher, and in winter (July - August) they drop to an average of 15-18 ° C. In some years, the entire summer period temperatures can reach 40° C, and winter nights in the vicinity of the tropics drop to 0° C and below. The amount and territorial distribution of precipitation is determined by the direction and nature of the winds.

The main source of moisture is the "dry" southeast trade winds, since most of the moisture is retained by the mountain ranges of Eastern Australia. The central and western parts of the country, corresponding to about half the area, receive an average of about 250-300 mm of precipitation per year. The Simpson Desert receives the least amount of precipitation, from 100 to 150 mm per year. The precipitation season in the northern half of the continent, where monsoon winds prevail, is confined to the summer period, and in the southern part, dry conditions prevail during this period. It should be noted that the amount of winter precipitation in the southern half decreases as one moves inland, rarely reaching 28° S. In turn, summer precipitation in the northern half, having the same trend, does not extend south of the tropic. Thus, in the zone between the tropics and 28° S. latitude. there is a belt of aridity.

Australia is characterized by excessive variability in average annual precipitation and uneven distribution throughout the year. The presence of long dry periods and high average annual temperatures prevailing over large parts of the continent cause high annual evaporation values. In the central part of the continent they are 2000-2200 mm, decreasing towards its marginal parts. The surface waters of the continent are extremely poor and extremely unevenly distributed throughout the territory. This especially applies to the desert western and central regions of Australia, which are practically drainless, but make up 50% of the continent's area.

Hydrography

Australian desert fauna precipitation

The flow characteristics of Australia and the islands close to it are well illustrated by the following figures: the flow volume of the rivers of Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea and New Zealand is 1600 km3, the runoff layer is 184 mm, i.e. slightly more than in Africa. The runoff volume of Australia alone is only 440 km3, and the thickness of the runoff layer is only 57 mm, i.e., several times less than on all other continents. This is due to the fact that most of the mainland, unlike the islands, receives little precipitation and there are no high mountains or glaciers within its borders.

The inland drainage area covers 60% of Australia's surface. Approximately 10% of the territory has flow to Pacific Ocean, the rest belongs to the Indian Ocean basin. The main watershed of the continent is the Great Watershed Range, from the slopes of which the largest and deepest rivers flow. These rivers are fed almost exclusively by rain.

Since the eastern slope of the ridge is short and steep, short, fast, winding rivers flow towards the Coral and Tasman Seas. Receiving more or less uniform nutrition, they are the most deep rivers Australia with a clearly defined summer maximum. Crossing ridges, some rivers form rapids and waterfalls. The length of the largest rivers (Fitzroy, Burdekin, Hunter) is several hundred kilometers. In their lower reaches, some of them are navigable for 100 km or more and are accessible to ocean-going ships at their mouths.

The rivers of Northern Australia flowing into the Arafura and Timor Seas are also deep. The most significant are those that flow from the northern part of the Great Dividing Range. But the rivers of northern Australia, due to the sharp difference in the amount of summer and winter precipitation, have a less uniform regime than the rivers of the east. They overflow with water and often overflow their banks during the summer monsoon rains. IN winter time- These are weak, narrow watercourses that dry up in places in the upper reaches. The largest rivers of the north - the Flinders, Victoria and Ord - are navigable in the lower reaches for several tens of kilometers in summer.

There are also permanent watercourses in the southwest of the mainland. However, during the dry summer season, almost all of them turn into chains of shallow, polluted ponds.

In desert and semi-desert internal parts Australia has no permanent watercourses. But there is a network of dry channels there, which are the remnants of a previously developed water network, formed under the conditions of the pluvial era. These dry riverbeds fill with water after rains for a very short time. Such periodic watercourses are known in Australia as "creeks". They are especially numerous on the Central Plain and are directed towards the drainless, drying Lake Eyre. The Nullarbor Karst Plain is devoid of even periodic watercourses, but has an underground water network with flow towards the Great Australian Bight.

The soil. Landscape

The soil cover of deserts is unique. In the northern and central regions, red, red-brown and brown soils are distinguished (the characteristic features of these soils are an acidic reaction and coloration with iron oxides). In the southern parts of Australia, sierozem-like soils are widespread. In Western Australia, desert soils are found along the edges of drainless basins. The Great Sandy Desert and Great Victoria Desert are characterized by red sandy desert soils. In drainless internal depressions In the south-west of Australia and in the Lake Eyre basin, salt marshes and solonetzes are widely developed.

Australian deserts in landscape terms are divided into many different types, among which most often Australian scientists distinguish mountain and foothill deserts, deserts of structural plains, rocky deserts, sandy deserts, clayey deserts, and plains. Sandy deserts are the most common, occupying about 32% of the continent's area. Along with sandy deserts, rocky deserts are also widespread (they occupy about 13% of the area of ​​arid territories. Foothill plains are an alternation of coarse rocky deserts with dry beds of small rivers. This type of desert is the source of most of the country's desert watercourses and always serves as a habitat for aborigines. Deserts Structural plains occur in the form of plateaus with a height of no more than 600 m above sea level.After sandy deserts, they are the most developed, occupying 23% of the area of ​​arid territories, confined mainly to Western Australia.

Population

Australia is the least populated continent on Earth. About 19 million people live on its territory. The total population of the islands of Oceania is about 10 million people.

The population of Australia and Oceania is divided into two unequal groups of different origins - indigenous and alien. There are few indigenous people on the mainland, but on the islands of Oceania, with the exception of New Zealand, Hawaii and Fiji, they make up the vast majority.

Scientific research in the field of anthropology and ethnography of the peoples of Australia and Oceania began in the second half of the 19th century. Russian scientist N. N. Miklouho-Maclay.

Like America, Australia could have been inhabited by humans not as a result of evolution, but only from the outside. In its ancient and modern fauna, not only primates are absent, but also all higher mammals in general.

No traces of the Early Paleolithic have yet been discovered within the continent. All known finds of human fossils have features of Homo sapiens and date back to the Upper Paleolithic.

The indigenous population of Australia has such pronounced anthropological characteristics as: dark brown skin, wavy dark hair, significant beard growth, and a wide nose with a low bridge. The faces of Australians are distinguished by prognathism, as well as a massive brow. These features bring Australians closer to the Veddas of Sri Lanka and some tribes of Southeast Asia. In addition, the following fact deserves attention: the oldest human fossils found in Australia bear a close resemblance to the bone remains discovered on the island of Java. Approximately they are attributed to the time coinciding with the last ice age.

Of great interest is the problem of the route along which humans settled Australia and the islands close to it. At the same time, the question of the time of development of the mainland is being resolved.

Undoubtedly, Australia could only be inhabited from the north, that is, from Southeast Asia.

This is confirmed both by the anthropological characteristics of modern Australians and by the paleoanthropological data discussed above. It is also obvious that modern humans penetrated into Australia, i.e. the settlement of the continent could not have occurred earlier than the second half of the last glacial period.

Australia has existed for a long time (obviously since the end of the Mesozoic) isolated from all other continents. However, during the Quaternary period the landmass between Australia and Southeast Asia was for a time more extensive than it is today. A continuous land “bridge” between the two continents obviously never existed, since if there was one, it would have to be used to penetrate into Australia asian fauna. In all likelihood, in the late Quaternary, in place of the shallow basins separating Australia from New Guinea and the southern islands of the Sunda archipelago (their modern depths do not exceed 40 m), there were vast areas of land formed as a result of repeated fluctuations in sea level and land uplifts. The Torres Strait, which separates Australia from New Guinea, may have been formed quite recently. The Sunda Islands may also have been periodically connected by narrow strips of land or shoals. Most land animals were unable to overcome such an obstacle. People gradually, by land or overcoming shallow straits, penetrated through the Lesser Sunda Islands to New Guinea and to the Australian mainland. At the same time, the settlement of Australia could have occurred either directly from the Sunda Islands and the island of Timor, or through New Guinea. This process was very long, it probably lasted for millennia during the Late Paleolithic and Mesolithic. Currently, based on archaeological finds on the mainland, it is assumed that man first appeared there approximately 40 thousand years ago.

The process of spreading people across the mainland was also very slow. Settlement went along the western and east coast, and in the east there were two paths: one along the very coast, the second to the west of the Great Dividing Range. These two branches converged in the central part of the mainland in the area of ​​Lake Eyre. In general, Australians are distinguished by their anthropological unity, which indicates the formation of their main characteristics after their penetration into Australia.

The culture of Australians is very original and primitive. The originality of the culture, the originality and proximity to each other of the languages ​​of various tribes indicate the long isolation of Australians from other peoples and their autonomous historical development until modern times.

By the beginning of European colonization, about 300 thousand Aborigines lived in Australia, divided into 500 tribes. They fairly evenly populated the entire continent, especially its eastern part. Currently, the number of indigenous Australians has decreased to 270 thousand people. They make up approximately 18% of Australia's rural population and less than 2% of its urban population. A significant proportion of Aboriginal people live on reserves in the northern, central and western regions or work in mines and cattle ranches. There are still tribes that continue to lead the same semi-nomadic way of life and speak languages ​​that are part of the Australian language. language family. Interestingly, in some disadvantaged areas, Indigenous Australians make up the majority of the population.

The rest of Australia, that is, its most densely populated areas - the eastern third of the continent and its south-west, is inhabited by Anglo-Australians, who make up 80% of the population of the Commonwealth of Australia, and people from other countries of Europe and Asia, although people with white skin are poorly adapted for life in tropical latitudes. By the end of the 20th century. Australia ranks first in the world for skin cancer incidence. This is due to the fact that an “ozone hole” periodically forms over the continent, and the white skin of representatives of the Caucasian race is not as protected from ultraviolet radiation as the dark skin of the indigenous population of tropical countries.

In 2003, the population in Australia exceeded 20 million people. It is one of the most urbanized countries in the world - more than 90% are urban residents. Despite the lowest population density compared to other continents and the presence of vast, almost uninhabited and undeveloped territories, as well as the fact that the settlement of Australia by immigrants from Europe began only at the end of the 18th century and for a long time the basis of its economy was agriculture, human impact on nature in Australia has very large and not always positive consequences. This is due to the vulnerability of Australia’s nature itself: about half of the continent is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, and the adjacent areas periodically suffer from droughts. It is known that arid landscapes are one of the most vulnerable types of natural environment, easily destroyed by outside interference. The cutting down of tree vegetation, fires, and overgrazing by livestock disturb the soil and vegetation cover, contribute to the drying out of water bodies and lead to complete degradation of landscapes. The ancient and primitive organic world of Australia cannot compete with the more highly organized and viable introduced forms. This organic world, especially fauna, cannot resist man - the hunter, fisherman, collector. The population of Australia, mainly living in cities, strives to relax among nature; tourism is increasingly developing, not only national, but also international.

.Agriculture

Agricultural map of Australia

Fishing

Large cattle

Forestry

Gardening

pastures

Vegetable growing

Uncultivated land

Livestock

Aquaculture

Agriculture is one of the main sectors of the Australian economy<#"justify">1)Crop production

)Vegetable growing

)Winemaking

)Livestock

1) Beef

2) Lamb

3) Pork

)Dairy farming

)Fishing

)Wool

)Cotton

Australia produces large quantities of fruits, nuts and vegetables. More than 300 tons of products are oranges<#"justify">10.Assessment of the state of natural systems and characteristics of environmental protection measures in Australia

Based on all of the above, we can assess the state of natural systems and their capabilities to perform the following functions:

ensuring human living conditions;

providing a spatial basis for the development of productive forces;

provision of natural resources;

preservation of the gene pool of the biosphere.

Until recently, it was generally accepted that almost 1/3 of the continent’s territory was generally useless from the point of view of economic development. However, over the past three decades, huge deposits have been discovered in these desert places. iron ore, bauxite, coal, uranium and many other minerals, which has brought Australia to one of the first places in the world in terms of mineral wealth (in particular, it accounts for approximately 1/3 of the bauxite reserves of the capitalist world, 1/5 of iron and uranium ).

For a century it has been said that Australia “rides on the back of a sheep” (wool production and export were the basis of its economic life). Now the country has largely “moved onto the ore wagon”, turning into one of the largest producers and exporters of mineral raw materials. The Commonwealth of Australia is rich in various mineral resources, which, with a few exceptions, almost entirely provide the development of the manufacturing industry with mineral raw materials.

The water resources of the continent itself are small; the most developed river network is on the island of Tasmania. The rivers there are fed with mixed rain and snow and are full of water throughout the year. They flow down from the mountains and are therefore stormy, rapids and have large reserves of hydroelectric power. The latter is widely used for the construction of hydroelectric power stations. The availability of cheap electricity contributes to the development of energy-intensive industries in Tasmania, such as the smelting of pure electrolyte metals, the production of cellulose, etc.

Australia's agricultural resources are also quite scarce, but this does not prevent the development of agriculture, albeit in limited areas.

Thus, all industry, manufacturing and most agriculture are concentrated in small areas - the southeast and (to a lesser extent) the southwest. The technogenic load on natural complexes here is very high, which cannot but affect the ecological situation.

Based on the above, we can highlight the main directions of environmental protection measures in the territory of the Commonwealth of Australia:

Security and rational use those resources that the territory in question is poor in: water resources, forest and soil resources.

Protection and rational use of resources that are actively used - mineral resources, recreational resources.

Protection and rational use of resources specific to the Australian region: protection of biota, development of a network of specially protected natural areas of a network of specially protected natural areas.

Protection of atmospheric air, especially in areas of high technogenic load.

It should be noted that environmental policy in the Commonwealth of Australia is managed by a separate government body - the Ministry of Environment, which gives reason to believe that very serious attention is paid to environmental problems here. The Ministry is developing economic and legal measures to protect environment and rational use of natural resources in industry, energy, agriculture, pays attention to areas with high population concentrations and is developing a network of specially protected natural areas. The Ministry of Environment interacts with international organizations in the field of environmental protection, other states and other government bodies of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Commonwealth of Australia has established limits for permissible impact on components of the natural environment and standards for the use of natural resources, including water. Particular attention is paid to the protection continental shelf, water and forest resources. The special flora and fauna of the Commonwealth of Australia are protected by law, for which, among other things, nature reserves and other protected areas are created. Liability for violation of environmental legislation has been established.

The result of the activities of government bodies and public organizations for environmental protection and rationalization of environmental management is the fact that the Commonwealth of Australia is one of the most environmentally prosperous countries.

.Ecological problems Australia

Currently, over 65% of the country's territory has been developed. As a result of economic activity, Australia's nature has found itself under the threat of human alteration to a no lesser extent than in many densely populated countries on other continents. Forests are disappearing catastrophically quickly<#"justify">Bibliography

1.Physical geography of continents and oceans: tutorial for students higher ped. textbook establishments / T.V. Vlasova, M.A. Arshinova, T.A. Kovaleva. - M.: Publishing center "Academy", 2007.

.Mikhailov N.I. Physiographic zoning. M.: Moscow State University Publishing House, 1985.

.Markov K.K. Introduction to physical geography M.: Higher school, 1978.

.“The whole world”, Encyclopedic reference book. - M., 2005

.Vazumovsky V.M. Physico-geographical and ecological-economic foundations of the territorial organization of society. - St. Petersburg, 1997.

.Working programm and methodological instructions for writing abstracts for the course “General Ecology and Environmental Management”. - St. Petersburg, 2001.

.Petrov M.P. Deserts of the globe L.: Nauka, 1973

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Despite the fact that Australia is the smallest continent on the planet, it surprises with the diversity of its nature. The change in the balance of moisture and heat depends on the latitude of the area. This is manifested in the conditional division of the continent into territories with characteristic soil types, animals and plants - the natural zones of Australia.

Division of the continent into natural complexes

Australia is divided into four zones, which replace each other depending on the ratio of humidity and heat. Pronounced latitudinal zonation due to the prevailing flat terrain, which only in the east turns into mountain slopes.

The central position on the Australian continent is occupied by a zone of deserts and semi-deserts located in the tropical zone. It occupies half of all Australian lands.

Table Natural areas of Australia

A characteristic feature of Australia is the amazing originality of nature, which consists of a large number of endemic species, both among plants and among animals. Only on this continent can you find unusual representatives of flora and fauna that are not found anywhere else in the world.

Features of natural complexes

In Australia, the most impressive zone is the desert and semi-desert zone - it occupies the largest territory and is located in the tropical zone.

This natural complex is characterized by very scanty precipitation, which evaporates very quickly in a hot climate. It is not surprising that Australia is often called the desert continent, because there are 5 large desert areas:

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• Victoria - the largest desert on the Australian continent, occupies 424 thousand square meters. km.
• sandy desert - the second largest wasteland. The famous Australian Ayres Rock National Park is located here, attracting tourists from all over the world.
• Tanami - unlike most deserts, it is characterized by a sufficient number of rainy days. However, due to the intense heat, precipitation evaporates very quickly. Gold mining is underway in the desert.
• Gibson Desert - its soils are highly weathered and very rich in iron.
• Desert Simpson - the driest Australian desert, famous for its bright red sands

Rice. 1. Red Sands of the Simpson Desert

The vegetation of this zone is very poor, but here you can also find drought-resistant cereals and herbs, and salt-tolerant varieties of trees.

Animals in desert zones have been able to adapt to life in harsh conditions. Some of them, hiding from the heat, burrow into the soil: marsupial species of rats, moles, and jerboas. Reptiles hide in rocks and rock crevices. Such large mammals, like the Dingo dog and the kangaroo, they run vast distances in search of moisture and food.

As you move east, the zone of tropical deserts gives way to a zone of savannas. The flora of this natural complex is already somewhat richer, but here too there is still an insufficient amount of moisture.

There are three types of Australian savannas, which replace each other as humidity decreases:

• deserted;
• typical;
• wet.

Australian savanna is a large flat area with grasses, thorny bushes and separately standing trees or groves of acacias, eucalyptus, casuarinas.

Rice. 2. Casuarina - a plant typical of Australia

Typical representatives of the Australian savannah are all kinds of marsupials and wombats. Birds are represented by bustards, emus, and budgerigars. There are a lot of termites.

IN wildlife In Australia you will not find herbivorous ungulates. They were “replaced” by kangaroos, numbering more than 60 species. These animals are record holders for speed running and jumping. The kangaroo, like the emu, is national symbol Australia.

Rice. 3. Australian Kangaroo

In the east of the continent there is a mountain system - the Great Watershed Range, on the slopes of which there are two forest zones:

• evergreen forests;
• permanently wet forests.

Palm trees, ferns, ficus, and eucalyptus trees grow here in great abundance. The fauna of these zones is somewhat richer and is represented by small predators, various species of reptiles, koalas, platypuses, and echidnas.

What have we learned?

We learned which natural zone is dominant on the mainland - tropical deserts and semi-deserts. It gives way to savannas and open forests, which smoothly turn into the evergreen zone and constantly rain forests. Characteristic nature of Australia - availability large quantity endemic among plants and animals.

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