All types of natural areas. Description of natural zones. Characteristics of the main natural zones of the planet

Natural zones are certain areas of the Earth's surface that differ significantly from others in their originality. natural resources and especially in appearance. Such a division has been practiced for a long time and represents an opportunity to carry out natural-geographical zoning.

To put it more simply, natural areas are the territories appearance, whose flora and fauna are strictly defined and unlike any other. The peculiarity characteristic of each of them can be clearly traced and allows certain types of plants or animals to be found in accordance with the zones in which they can grow or live.

Natural areas are easily recognizable by the change and character of the dominant vegetation type. It is by them that one can clearly trace where one ends and the next begins.

The conditions for the survival of individual tree species are determined by special climatic characteristics which provide for various natural areas. Each of them has individual characteristics, thanks to different amount precipitation, humidity and air temperature.

Natural areas are so diverse that in one part of the planet the sun can mercilessly burn and the vegetation can be as scarce as the animal world, and in the other - permafrost and never melting snow. The contrast is more than obvious. Nevertheless, in nature everything is reasonable and harmonious, these transitions are not abrupt.

In the Arctic, the air temperature is low, there is very little precipitation, the entire territory is covered with ice, only lichens and moss are the only vegetation.

Humidity in the Tundra strong winds, numerous lakes and swamps, and the soil is a real permafrost. The peculiarity of the territory is treelessness, as well as moss-lichen cover. Nature in these parts is very scarce and monotonous.

The characterization of natural zones involves not only their description, but also takes into account smooth transitions, an example of which can be forest-tundra and woodlands. In such areas, there may be representatives of flora and fauna characteristic of both adjacent areas.

The natural areas of the world are revealed in their full beauty in the forest zone in the area where the real kingdom of broad-leaved and mixed forests is located. Trees such as oak, linden, ash, beech, maple are often found here. Summers in these places are quite warm, up to 20 ° C, and winters are severe, up to -50 ° C, humidity is high.

The forest-steppe can also be called a transitional natural zone, which is located in the Northern Hemisphere. In this area, one can observe the alternation of steppes, an abundance of tall grass, which can be clearly seen in the United States and Canada.

steppe zone located in the northern temperate region, there are no forests, and the territory is covered with grasses, but there is not enough moisture. Conditions for the growth of trees are only along the river valleys. The soil is black earth, which is intensively used by man.

They are found in the following zones: temperate, tropical and subtropical. There is very little rainfall here. These territories are characterized by flat surfaces, scarcity of flora and specificity of fauna. There are very different deserts: sandy, saline, rocky, clay.

Currently, scientists have calculated that the desert occupies more than 16.5 million km² (excluding Antarctica), which is 11% of the land surface. With Antarctica, this area is more than 20%. Grass in the desert is scarce, soils are underdeveloped, sometimes oases are found.

Perhaps the most exotic are tropical forests. There are no seasonal differences in the weather, and the trees do not show growth rings. This is a real paradise for plants and an attractive place for wildlife explorers.

Formation of natural zones

A natural zone is a natural complex with uniform temperatures, moisture, similar soils, flora and fauna. The natural area is named after the type of vegetation. For example, taiga, deciduous forests.

The main reason for the heterogeneity of the geographic envelope is the uneven redistribution solar heat on the surface of the earth.

In almost every climatic zone of land, the oceanic parts are more humid than the inland, continental ones. And it depends not only on the amount of precipitation, but also on the ratio of heat and moisture. The warmer it is, the more moisture that has fallen with precipitation evaporates. The same amount of moisture can lead to excess moisture in one zone and insufficient moisture in another.

Rice. 1. Swamp

So, the annual amount of precipitation of 200 mm in the cold subarctic zone is excessive moisture, which leads to the formation of swamps (see Fig. 1).

And in hot tropical zones - sharply insufficient: deserts are formed (see Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. Desert

Due to differences in the amount of solar heat and moisture inside geographical zones natural areas are formed.

Patterns of placement

In the placement of natural areas on earth's surface a clear pattern is visible, which can be clearly seen on the map of natural areas. They stretch in a latitudinal direction, replacing each other from north to south.

Due to the heterogeneity of the relief of the earth's surface and moistening conditions in different parts of the continents, natural zones do not form continuous bands parallel to the equator. More often they are replaced in the direction from the coasts of the oceans to the interior of the continents. In the mountains, natural zones replace each other from the foot to the peaks. This is where altitudinal zonality comes into play.

Natural zones are also formed in the World Ocean: from the equator to the poles, the properties of surface waters, the composition of vegetation and wildlife change.

Rice. 3. Natural areas of the world

Features of the natural zones of the continents

In the same natural areas on different continents, flora and fauna have similar features.

However, the characteristics of the distribution of plants and animals, in addition to climate, are also influenced by other factors: the geological history of the continents, relief, and people.

The unification and separation of the continents, the change in their relief and climate in the geological past have led to the fact that in similar natural conditions, but on different continents, different species of animals and plants live.

So, for example, for African savannas antelopes, buffaloes, zebras, African ostriches are characteristic, and in the South American savannahs several species of deer and a flightless rhea bird similar to an ostrich are common.

On each continent there are endemics - both plants and animals, characteristic only of this continent. For example, kangaroos are found only in Australia, and polar bears are found only in the Arctic deserts.

Geofocus

The sun heats the spherical surface of the Earth differently: the areas above which it stands high receive the most heat.

Above the poles, the Sun's rays only glide over the Earth. The climate depends on this: hot at the equator, harsh and cold at the poles. The main features of the distribution of vegetation and fauna are also connected with this.

Moist evergreen forests are located in narrow bands and patches along the equator. "Green Hell" - this is what many travelers of past centuries called these places, who had to be here. High multi-tiered forests stand like a solid wall, under the dense crowns of which dusk, monstrous humidity, constant heat, there is no change of seasons, showers regularly fall in an almost continuous stream of water. The forests of the equator are also called permanent rain forests. The traveler Alexander Humboldt called them "hylaea" (from the Greek hyle - forest). Most likely, this is what the humid forests of the Carboniferous period looked like with giant ferns and horsetails.

rain forests South America called "selva" (see Fig. 4).

Rice. 4. Selva

Savannahs are a sea of ​​grasses with occasional islands of trees with umbrella crowns (see Fig. 5). Vast expanses of these amazing natural communities are found in Africa, although there are savannahs in South America, Australia, and India. Distinctive feature savannah is an alternation of dry and wet seasons, which take about half a year, replacing each other. The fact is that for the subtropical and tropical latitudes, where the savannahs are located, the change of two different air masses is characteristic - humid equatorial and dry tropical. Monsoon winds, bringing seasonal rains, significantly affect the climate of the savannahs. Since these landscapes are located between very wet natural areas equatorial forests and very dry desert zones, they are constantly influenced by both. But moisture is not present in the savannas long enough for multi-tiered forests to grow there, and dry "winter periods" of 2-3 months do not allow the savannah to turn into a harsh desert.

Rice. 5. Savannah

The natural zone of the taiga is located in the north of Eurasia and North America (see Fig. 6). On the North American continent, it stretched from west to east for more than 5,000 km, and in Eurasia, originating on the Scandinavian Peninsula, it spread to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The Eurasian taiga is the largest continuous forest zone on the ground. It occupies more than 60% of the territory Russian Federation. The taiga contains huge reserves of wood and supplies a large amount of oxygen to the atmosphere. In the north, the taiga smoothly turns into the forest-tundra, gradually the taiga forests are replaced by light forests, and then by individual groups of trees. The furthest taiga forests enter the forest-tundra along river valleys, which are most protected from strong northern winds. In the south, the taiga also smoothly turns into coniferous-deciduous and broad-leaved forests. For many centuries, humans have interfered with natural landscapes in these areas, so now they are a complex natural and anthropogenic complex.

Rice. 6. Taiga

Under influence human activity is changing geographical envelope. Swamps are being drained, deserts are being irrigated, forests are disappearing, and so on. Thus, the appearance of natural areas is changing.

Bibliography

MainI

1. Geography. Earth and people. Grade 7: Textbook for general education. uch. / A.P. Kuznetsov, L.E. Savelyeva, V.P. Dronov, "Spheres" series. – M.: Enlightenment, 2011.

2. Geography. Earth and people. Grade 7: atlas, series "Spheres".

Additional

1. N.A. Maksimov. Behind the pages of a geography textbook. – M.: Enlightenment.

1. Russian Geographical Society ().

3. Study guide for geography ().

4. Geographical directory ().

5. Geological and geographical formation ().

natural area - a territory with close conditions of temperature and moisture, which determine generally homogeneous soils, vegetation and wildlife. On the plains, the zones extend in a latitudinal direction, regularly replacing each other from the poles to the equator. Often, significant distortions in the pattern of the zone are introduced by the relief and the ratio of land and sea.

Arctic and Antarctic deserts . These are cold deserts with very low air temperatures in the Arctic and Antarctica. In this zone, snow and ice persists almost all year round. In the warmest month - August - in the Arctic, the air temperature is close to 0°C. Ice-free spaces are bound by permafrost. Very intense frosty weathering. There is little precipitation - from 100 to 400 mm per year in the form of snow. In this zone, the polar night lasts up to 150 days. Summer is short and cold. Only 20 days, rarely 50 days a year the air temperature exceeds 0°C. The soils are thin, underdeveloped, stony, and placers of coarsely broken material are common. Less than half of the arctic and ant Arctic deserts covered with sparse vegetation. It is devoid of trees and shrubs. Scale lichens, mosses, various algae, and only a few flowering plants are common here. The animal world is richer than the plant world. These are polar bears, arctic foxes, polar owls, deer, seals, walruses. Of the birds, there are penguins, eiders and many other birds that nest on rocky shores and form “bird colonies” in summer. In the zone of icy deserts, fishing for marine animals is carried out, among birds of particular interest is the eider, whose fluff is lined with nests. Eider down is harvested from abandoned nests to produce clothes worn by polar sailors and airmen. There are Antarctic oases in the icy desert of Antarctica. These are ice-free areas of the coastal strip of the mainland, with an area from several tens to hundreds of square meters. kilometers. The organic world of oases is very poor, there are lakes.

Tundra. This space lies within parts of the Arctic and subarctic belts in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere tundra is common only on some islands. This is a territory with a predominance of moss-lichen vegetation, as well as low-growing perennial grasses, shrubs and low-growing shrubs. Trunks of shrubs and grass roots are hidden in moss and lichen turf.

The climate of the tundra is severe, the average July temperature only in the south of the natural zone does not exceed +11°C, the snow cover lasts 7-9 months. Precipitation is 200-400 mm, and in some places up to 750 mm. main reason treeless tundra - low air temperatures combined with high relative humidity, strong winds, widespread permafrost. In the tundra there are also unfavorable conditions for the germination of seeds of woody plants on a moss-lichen cover. Plants in the tundra are pressed against the surface of the soil, forming densely intertwined shoots in the form of a pillow. In July, the tundra is covered with a carpet of flowering plants. Due to excessive moisture and permafrost, there are many swamps in the tundra. On the warmed banks of rivers and lakes, you can find poppies, dandelions, polar forget-me-nots, and pink flowers of mytnik. According to the prevailing vegetation in the tundra, 3 zones are distinguished: arctic tundra , characterized by sparse vegetation due to the severity of the climate (in July + 6 ° C); moss-lichen tundra , characterized by richer vegetation (in addition to mosses and lichens, sedge, bluegrass, creeping willow are found here), and shrub tundra , located in the south of the tundra zone and characterized by richer vegetation, which consists of thickets of willow and alder shrubs, which in places rise to human height. In areas of this subzone, bush is an important source of fuel. The soil of the tundra zone is predominantly tundra-gley, characterized by gleying (see "Soils"). She is infertile. Frozen soils with a thin active layer are ubiquitous. The fauna of the tundra is represented by reindeer, lemming, arctic fox, ptarmigan, and in summer - many migratory birds. Shrub tundra gradually turns into forest tundra.

forest tundra . This is a transitional zone between the tundra and the temperate forest zone. It is distributed in the Northern Hemisphere in North America and Eurasia. The climate is less severe than in the tundra: the average July temperature here is +10-14°C. The annual rainfall is 300-400 mm. Precipitation in the forest tundra falls more than evaporates, so the forest tundra is characterized by excessive moisture, it is one of the most swampy natural zones. Snow cover lasts for more than six months. High water on the rivers of the forest-tundra usually occurs in summer, since the rivers of this zone are fed by melt water, and snow melts in the forest-tundra in summer. The woody vegetation that appears in this zone grows along the river valleys, as rivers have a warming effect on the climate of this zone. Islands of forests consist of birch, spruce, larch. The trees are stunted, sometimes bent to the ground. The forest area increases in the forest-tundra when moving south along it. In the interfluves, there are stunted and sparse forests. Thus, the forest-tundra is an alternation of treeless shrublands and light forests. Soils are tundra (peat-bog) or forest. The fauna of the forest-tundra is similar to the fauna of the tundra. Arctic foxes, white partridges, snowy owls and a wide variety of migratory waterfowl also live here. The main winter reindeer pastures and hunting grounds are located in the forest-tundra.

temperate forests . This natural zone is located in the temperate climate zone and includes subzones taiga, mixed and deciduous forests , monsoon forests temperate zone. Differences in climatic features contribute to the formation of vegetation characteristic of each subzone.

Taiga (Turk.). This zone coniferous forests located in the north of North America and in the north of Eurasia. The climate of the subzone is from maritime to sharply continental with relatively warm summers (from 10°С to 20°С), and the lower the winter temperatures, the more continental the climate is (from -10°С in northern Europe to -50°С in northeastern Europe). Siberia). Permafrost is widespread in many regions of Siberia. The subzone is characterized by excessive moisture and, as a result, swampiness of interfluve spaces. There are two types of taiga: light coniferous And topicsconiferous. Light coniferous taiga - these are the least demanding pine and larch forests in terms of soil and climatic conditions, the sparse crown of which transmits the sun's rays to the ground. Pines, having a branched root system, have acquired the ability to use nutrients from infertile soils, which is used to fix soils. This feature allows these plants to grow in areas with permafrost. The shrub layer of the light coniferous taiga consists of alder, dwarf birches, polar birches, polar willows, and berry bushes. This type taiga is common in Eastern Siberia. dark coniferous taiga - These are conifers, consisting of numerous species of spruce, fir, cedar. This taiga, unlike the light coniferous one, has no undergrowth, since its trees are tightly closed, and it is rather gloomy in these forests. The lower tier is made up of shrubs (lingonberries, blueberries, blueberries) and dense ferns. This type of taiga is common in the European part of Russia and Western Siberia.

The soils of the taiga zone are podzolic. They contain little humus, but when fertilized they can provide a high yield. In the taiga of the Far East - acidic soils.

The fauna of the taiga zone is rich. Numerous predators are found here, which are valuable game animals: otter, marten, sable, mink, weasel. Of the large ones - wolves, bears, lynxes, wolverines. In North America, bison and elk deer used to be found in the taiga zone. Now they live only in reserves. The taiga is also rich in rodents, of which the most typical are beavers, muskrats, squirrels, hares, and chipmunks. The world of birds is very diverse.

Mixed temperate forests . These are forests with various tree species: coniferous-broad-leaved, small-leaved-pine. This zone is located in the north of North America (on the border of the USA and Canada), and in Eurasia it forms a narrow strip between the taiga and the zone of deciduous forests. The zone of mixed forests is also found in Kamchatka and the Far East. In the Southern Hemisphere, this forest zone occupies small areas in southern South America and New Zealand.

The climate of the zone of mixed forests is maritime or transitional to continental (toward the center of the mainland), summers are warm, winters are moderately cold (in a maritime climate with positive temperatures, and in more continental climate down to -10°C). Moisture here is sufficient. The annual amplitude of temperature fluctuations, as well as the annual amount of precipitation, vary from oceanic regions to the center of the continent.

The diversity of vegetation in the zone of mixed forests of the European part of Russia and the Far East is explained by differences in climate. For example, on the Russian Plain, where precipitation falls all year round due to westerly winds coming from the Atlantic, european spruce, oak, elm, fir, beech - coniferous-deciduous forests.

The soils in the zone of mixed forests are gray forest and sod-podzolic, and in the Far East they are brown forest.

The animal world is similar to the animal world of the taiga and the zone of broad-leaved forests. Elk, sable, bear live here.

Mixed forests have long been subjected to heavy cutting and losses. They are best preserved in North America and the Far East, and in Europe they are cut down for agricultural land - field and pasture land.

Temperate broadleaf forests . They occupy the east of North America, Central Europe, and also form a high-altitude zone in the Carpathians, Crimea and the Caucasus. In addition, individual foci of broad-leaved forests are found in the Russian Far East, Chile, New Zealand, and central Japan.

The climate is favorable for the growth of deciduous trees with a wide leaf plate. Here, temperate continental air masses bring precipitation from the oceans (from 400 to 600 mm) mainly in the warm season. The average temperature in January is -8°-0°С, and in July +20-24°С.

Beech, hornbeam, elm, maple, linden, ash grow in the forests. In the zone of deciduous forests of North America, there are species that are absent on other continents. These are American oak species. Trees with a powerful spreading crown predominate here, often entwined with climbing plants: grapes or ivy. To the south there are magnolias. For European broad-leaved forests, oak and beech are most typical.

The fauna of this natural zone is close to the taiga, but there are such animals as black bears, wolves, minks, raccoons, which are not typical for the taiga. Many animals of the broad-leaved forests of Eurasia are under protection, as the number of individuals is sharply reduced. These include such animals as the bison, the Ussuri tiger.

Soils under deciduous forests are gray forest or brown forest. This zone has been heavily developed by man, forests have been cleared over large areas, and the land has been plowed up. In its true form, the zone of broad-leaved forests has been preserved only in areas inconvenient for arable farming and in reserves.

forest-steppe . This natural zone is located within the temperate climate zone and represents a transition from forest to steppe, with alternating forest and steppe landscapes. It is distributed in the Northern Hemisphere: in Eurasia from the Danubian lowland to Altai, further in Mongolia and the Far East; in North America, this zone is located in the north of the Great Plains and in the west of the Central Plains.

The forest-steppes are naturally distributed within the continents between the forest zones, which choose the most humid areas here, and the steppe zone.

The climate of the forest-steppes is temperate continental: winters are snowy and cold (from -5°С to -20°С), summers are warm (+18°С to +25°С). In different longitudinal zones, the forest-steppe differs in precipitation (from 400 mm to 1000 mm). Humidification is slightly lower than sufficient, evaporation is very high.

In the forests, which are interspersed with steppe ones, broad-leaved (oak) and small-leaved tree species (birch) are more common, less often - conifers. The soils of the forest-steppe are mainly gray forest soils, which alternate with chernozems. Nature forest-steppe zone heavily modified by human activities. In Europe and North America, the plowing of the zone reaches 80%. Since this zone has fertile soils, wheat, corn, sunflower, sugar beet and other crops are grown here. The fauna of the forest-steppe zone includes species typical of the forest and steppe zones.

The West Siberian forest-steppe is specific with numerous birch groves-pegs (singular number - pegs). Sometimes they have an admixture of aspen. The area of ​​individual pegs reaches 20-30 ha. Numerous pegs, alternating with areas of steppes, create a characteristic landscape of Southwestern Siberia.

Steppes . This is a landscape with a grassy type of vegetation, located in the temperate and partly in the subtropical zone. In Eurasia, the steppe zone extends latitudinally from the Black Sea to Transbaikalia; in North America, the Cordillera distribute air currents in such a way that the zone of insufficient moisture, and with it the steppe zone, is located from north to south along the eastern outskirts of this mountainous country. In the Southern Hemisphere, the steppe zone is located within the subtropical climate, in Australia and Argentina. Atmospheric precipitation (from 250 mm to 450 mm per year) falls here irregularly and is insufficient for tree growth. The winter is cold, the average temperature is below 0°С, in some places up to -30°, with little snow. Summer is moderately hot - +20°С, +24°С, drought is not uncommon. Inland waters in the steppe are poorly developed, river flow is small, and rivers often dry up.

The undisturbed vegetation of the steppe is a dense grass cover, but the undisturbed steppes all over the world have remained only in reserves: all the steppes are plowed up. Depending on the nature of the vegetation in the steppe zone, three subzones are distinguished. They differ from each other in the prevailing vegetation. This meadow steppes (bluegrass, bonfire, timothy grass), cereals and southern wormwood-cereal .

The soils of the steppe zone - chernozems - have a significant humus horizon, due to which they are very fertile. This is one of the reasons for the strong tillage of the zone.

The fauna of the steppes is rich and varied, but it has changed a lot under the influence of man. Back in the 19th century, wild horses, aurochs, bison, and roe deer disappeared. Deer are pushed back into the forests, saigas - into the virgin steppes and semi-deserts. Now the main representatives of the animal world of the steppes are rodents. These are ground squirrels, jerboas, hamsters, voles. Occasionally there are bustards, little bustards, larks and others.

The steppes and partly the forest-steppes of the temperate and subtropical zones of North America are called prairies . At present, they are almost completely plowed up. Part of the American prairie is dry steppe and semi-desert.

The subtropical steppe on the plains of South America, located mainly in Argentina and Uruguay, is called pampa . In the eastern regions, where precipitation is brought from the Atlantic Ocean, moisture is sufficient, and aridity increases to the west. Most of the pampas have been plowed up, but in the west there are still dry steppes with thorny bushes used as pastures for livestock.

Semi-deserts and temperate deserts . In the south, the steppes pass into semi-deserts, and then into deserts. Semi-deserts and deserts are formed in a dry climate, where there is a long and hot warm period (+20-25°С, sometimes up to 50°С), strong evaporation, which is 5-7 times higher than the amount of annual precipitation (up to 300 mm in year). Weak surface runoff, poor development inland waters, many drying channels, vegetation is not closed, sandy soils heat up during the day, but quickly cool down on a cool night, which contributes to physical weathering. The winds dry up the land very strongly here. The deserts of the temperate zone differ from the deserts of other geographical zones in more cold winter(-7°C-15°C). Deserts and semi-deserts of the temperate zone are common in Eurasia from the Caspian lowland to the northern bend of the Huanghe, and in North America - in the foothills and basins of the Cordilleras. In the Southern Hemisphere, deserts and semi-deserts of the temperate zone are found only in Argentina, where they are found in broken areas in the interior and foothills. Of the plants here there are steppe feather grass, fescue, wormwood and saltwort, camel thorn, agave, aloe. Of the animals - saigas, turtles, many reptiles. The soils here are light chestnut and brown desert, often saline. Under conditions of sharp fluctuations in temperature during the day, with little moisture, a dark crust forms on the surface of the desert - desert tan. It is sometimes called protective, as it protects rocks from rapid weathering and destruction.

The main use of semi-deserts is grazing (camels, fine-fleeced sheep). Farming of drought-resistant crops is possible only in oases. An oasis (from the Greek name of several inhabited places in the Libyan Desert) is a place of growth of tree, shrub and herbaceous vegetation in deserts and semi-deserts, in conditions of more abundant surface and soil moisture compared to neighboring areas and areas. The sizes of oases are different: from ten to tens of thousands of kilometers. Oases - centers of population concentration, areas of intensive agriculture on irrigated lands (Nile Valley, Fergana Valley in Central Asia).

Deserts and semi-deserts of the subtropical and tropical zones . These are natural areas located in both hemispheres, on all continents along tropical zones elevated atmospheric pressure. Most often, the semi-deserts of the subtropical belt are located in the transitional part from deserts to mountain steppes in the form of an altitudinal belt in the inland parts of the Cordilleras and the Andes of America, in western Asia, Australia, and especially widely in Africa. The climate of deserts and semi-deserts of these climatic zones is hot: the average temperature in summer rises to +35°С, and in the coldest months of winter it does not fall below +10°С. Precipitation is 50-200 mm, in semi-deserts up to 300 mm. Precipitation sometimes falls in the form of short showers, and in some areas precipitation may not fall for several years in a row. With a lack of moisture, the weathering crust is very thin.

Groundwater is very deep and may be partially saline. In such conditions, only plants that can tolerate overheating and dehydration can live. They have a deeply branched root system, small leaves or spines that reduce evaporation from the leaf surface. In some plants, the leaves are pubescent or covered with a wax coating, which protects them from sunlight. In the semi-deserts of the subtropical zone, cereals are common, cacti appear. In the tropical zone, the number of cacti increases, agaves, sand acacias grow, various lichens are common on stones. A characteristic plant for the Namib Desert, located in the tropical belt of South Africa, is the amazing velwigia plant, which has a short trunk, from the top of which two leathery leaves extend. The age of velwigia can reach 150 years. The soils are rubbly serozems, gray-brown, they are not very fertile, since the layer of humus is thin. The fauna of deserts and semi-deserts is rich in reptiles, spiders, scorpions. There are camels, antelopes, rodents are quite widespread. Agriculture in semi-deserts and deserts of the subtropical and tropical zones is also possible only in oases.

hardwood forests . This natural zone is located within the subtropical zone of the Mediterranean type. They mainly grow in southern Europe, northern Africa, southwest and southeast Australia. Separate fragments of these forests are found in California, in Chile (south of the Atacama Desert). Hardwood forests grow in a mild temperate warm climate with hot (+25°C) and dry summers and cool and rainy winters. The average amount of precipitation is 400-600 mm per year with rare and short-lived snow cover. The rivers are mainly rain-fed, and the flood occurs during the winter months. In conditions rainy winter grasses are growing.

The animal world is strongly exterminated, but herbivorous and leaf-eating forms, many birds of prey and reptiles are characteristic. In the forests of Australia, you can meet the koala bear, which lives in trees and leads a nocturnal sedentary lifestyle.

The territory of hardwood forests is well developed and largely changed by human economic activity. Large areas of forests have been cut down here, and oilseed plantations, orchards and pastures have taken their place. Many tree species have solid wood, which is used as a building material, and oils, paints, medicines (eucalyptus) are made from leaves. Large harvests of olives, citrus fruits, grapes are taken from the plantations of this zone.

Monsoon forests of the subtropical zone . This natural area is located in the eastern parts of the continents (China, southeastern United States, eastern Australia, southern Brazil). It is located in the most humid conditions compared to other zones of the subtropical belt. The climate is characterized by dry winters and wet summers. Annual rainfall is greater than evaporation. The maximum amount of precipitation falls in the summer due to the influence of the monsoons, which bring moisture from the ocean. On the territory of monsoon forests, internal waters are quite rich, fresh groundwater is shallow.

Here, on red soils and yellow soils, high-stemmed mixed forests grow, among which there are evergreen and deciduous, shedding foliage in the dry season. The species composition of plants may vary depending on the soil conditions. Subtropical species of pines, magnolias, camphor laurel, and camellias grow in the forests. On the flooded coasts of Florida in the United States and on the Mississippi lowlands, swamp cypress forests are common.

The monsoon forest zone of the subtropical belt has long been mastered by man. Field and pasture lands are located on the site of the reduced forests; rice, tea, citrus fruits, wheat, corn and industrial crops are grown here.

Forests of the tropical and subequatorial belts . They are located along the east of Central America, in the Caribbean, on the island of Madagascar, in southeast Asia, and in northeast Australia. Two seasons are distinctly expressed here: dry and wet. The existence of forests in the dry and hot tropical zone is possible only thanks to the precipitation that the monsoons bring in summer from the oceans. In the subequatorial belt, precipitation comes in summer, when equatorial air masses dominate here. Depending on the degree of moisture, among the forests of the tropical and subequatorial belts, there are permanently wet and seasonally wet(or variable-moist) forests. Seasonally wet forests are characterized by a relatively poor species composition of tree species, especially in Australia, where these forests consist of eucalyptus, ficus, and laurel. Often in seasonally wet forests there are areas where teak and sal grow. There are very few in the forests of this group of palm trees. According to its species diversity of flora and fauna permanently wet forests close to equatorial. There are many palms, evergreen oaks, tree ferns. Many vines and epiphytes from orchids and ferns. Soils located under the forests are mostly lateritic. During the dry season (winter) most deciduous trees do not shed all their leaves, but some species remain completely bare.

Savannah . This natural zone is located mainly within the subequatorial climate, although it is also within the tropical and subtropical zones. In the climate of this zone, the change of the wet and dry seasons is clearly expressed at consistently high temperatures (from + 15°С to + 32°С). As you move away from the equator, the period of the wet season decreases from 8-9 months to 2-3, and precipitation - from 2000 to 250 mm per year.

The savannas are characterized by the predominance of grassy cover, among which high (up to 5 m) grasses dominate. Shrubs and single trees rarely grow among them. The grass cover near the borders with the equatorial belt is very dense and high, and sparse near the borders with semi-deserts. A similar pattern can be traced in trees: their frequency increases towards the equator. Among the savannah trees you can find a variety of palm trees, umbrella acacias, tree-like cacti, eucalyptus, water-storing baobabs.

Savannah soils depend on the length of the rainy season. Closer to the equatorial forests, where the rainy season lasts up to 9 months, there are red ferralitic soils. Closer to the border of savannahs and semi-deserts, red-brown soils are located, and even closer to the border, where it rains for 2-3 months, unproductive soils with a thin layer of humus are formed.

The fauna of the savannas is very rich and diverse, as the high grass cover provides animals with food. Elephants, giraffes, hippos, zebras live here, which in turn attract lions, hyenas and other predators. The world of birds of this zone is also rich. Sunbirds live here, ostriches - the largest birds on Earth, a secretary bird that hunts for small animals and reptiles. Many in the savanna and termites.

Savannahs are widespread in Africa, where they occupy 40% of the mainland, in South America, Australia and India.

Tall-grass savannahs in South America, on the left bank of the Orinoco River, with a dense, mainly grassy grass cover, with individual specimens or groups of trees, are called llanos (from the Spanish plural "plains"). The savannas of the Brazilian Plateau, where the region of intensive animal husbandry is located, are called campos .

Today, savannahs play a very important role in the economic life of man. Significant areas of this zone have been plowed up; cereals, cotton, peanuts, jute, and sugar cane are grown here. Animal husbandry is developed in drier places. Breeds of many trees are used on the farm, as their wood does not rot in water. Human activity often leads to desertification of the savannas.

Moist equatorial forests . This natural zone is located in an equatorial and partly subequatorial climate. These forests are common in the Amazon, the Congo, the Malay Peninsula and the Sunda Islands, as well as other smaller islands.

The climate here is hot and humid. All year round the temperature is +24-28°C. The seasons are not expressed here. Moist equatorial forests are located within a low pressure area, where, as a result of intense heating, ascending air currents are formed and a lot of precipitation (up to 1500 mm per year.) Falls throughout the year.

On the coasts, where the wind from the ocean influences, precipitation is even more (up to 10,000 mm). Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year. Such climatic conditions contribute to the development of lush evergreen vegetation, although, strictly speaking, trees change leaves: some of them are shed every six months, others after a completely arbitrary period, and others change leaves in parts. Flowering periods also vary, and even more erratically. The most frequent cycles are ten and fourteen months. Other plants may bloom once every ten years. But at the same time, plants of the same species bloom at the same time so that they have time to pollinate each other. Plants in this zone have little branching.

Trees of humid equatorial forests have disc-shaped roots, large leathery leaves, the shiny surface of which saves them from excessive evaporation and the scorching rays of the sun, from the impact of rain jets during heavy showers. Many leaves end in a graceful thorn. This is a tiny drain. In plants of the lower tier, the leaves, on the contrary, are thin and delicate. The upper tier of equatorial forests is formed by ficuses and palms. In South America, ceiba grows in the upper tier, reaching a height of 80 m. Bananas and tree ferns grow in the lower tiers. Large plants are entwined with vines. There are many orchids on the trees of the equatorial forests, epiphytes are found, sometimes flowers form directly on the trunks. For example, the flowers of the cocoa tree. In the forest of the equatorial zone, it is so hot and humid that favorable conditions are created for the development of moss and algae, which adhere to the crown and hang from the branches. They are epiphytes. The flowers of trees in the crown cannot be pollinated by the wind, because the air there is practically still. Consequently, they are pollinated by insects and small birds, which are lured by a brightly colored corolla or a sweet scent. The fruits of plants are also brightly colored. This allows them to solve the problem of transporting seeds. The ripe fruits of many trees are eaten by birds, animals, the seeds are not digested and, together with the droppings, are far from the parent plant.

There are many host plants in the equatorial forests. First of all, these are vines. They begin their life on the ground in the form of a small bush, and then, tightly wrapping themselves around the stem of a giant tree, they climb up. The roots are in the soil, so the plant is not fed by a giant tree, but sometimes the use of these trees for support by vines can lead to oppression and death. "Robbers" are some ficuses. Their seeds germinate on the bark of a tree, the roots tightly wrap around the trunk and branches of this host tree, which begins to die. Its trunk is rotting, but the roots of the ficus have become thick and dense and are already able to support themselves.

The equatorial forests are home to many valuable plants, such as the oil palm, from which palm oil is obtained. The wood of many trees is used to make furniture and is exported in large quantities. This group includes ebony, the wood of which is black or dark green. Many plants of the equatorial forests give valuable fruits, seeds, juice, bark, which are used in technology and medicine.

The equatorial forests of South America are called selva . Selva is located in the periodically flooded area of ​​the Amazon River Basin. Sometimes, when describing humid equatorial forests, the name is used hylaea , sometimes these forests are called jungle , although, strictly speaking, the jungle is called the forest thickets of South and Southeast Asia, located within the subequatorial and tropical climate.

In 1807, the German geographer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt discovered a science called landscape science. After his research in world geography, the concept of "natural areas" was born. Russia (as a transcontinental country) got 9 of them. After all, this is a sixth of the land, equal in area to 17,125,191 square kilometers. Despite this, our country is overtaken by the United States in terms of the number of PZs. The fact is that two states and a couple of dependent territories of this state are already in the tropics. This review will present a description of the natural zones of Russia.

arctic desert

The natural zones of Russia begin with the huge archipelagos of the Arctic - Novaya and Severnaya Zemlya. Such biocomplexes also have "branches" in the far north of the Urals and in Siberia - in the lower reaches of the full-flowing Ob, Khatanga, Lena, Indigirka, Kolyma.

The named groups of islands lie in the Arctic, representing a wasteland covered with snow and ice, in some places crossed by gullies and hills. In total, (together with the Asian sites) "dubious wealth" is 9,000,000 sq. km.

Soils and climate

Summer in this zone is short and very cold. Zero degrees can be expected only in August. That is, snow and ice are a year-round phenomenon. Those spaces that are still free from glaciers are bound by permafrost. The absolute minus in January exceeds 30 degrees Celsius. Precipitation for the whole year is low, up to 400 mm. The so-called "polar night" lasts 150 days. The soil here is the least humus, giving life only primitive forms lichens and mosses (cladonia, nephrome, parmelia).

Flora and fauna

Biota - continuous fungi and microorganisms. Of the mammals, unusual, polar animals live. There are many natural areas in Russia, but you will find some species of seals, walruses, seals, northern fish (for example, killer whales) only here. The same applies to birds (polar owl, pink gull and murre). Polar bears are also found exclusively in snowy expanses - on the northernmost pieces of Russian land. Or in Antarctica! Arctic waters are home to 25% of salmonids and nearly the entire reindeer population. It is allowed to hunt this species for representatives of the indigenous population of those regions of Russia that capture the Arctic lands.

Recreational potential

Only 2 places are open for tourists in the Arctic - Wrangel Island and Bolshoi Arctic reserve. They are the northernmost protected natural areas in our Fatherland. Affordable rest is educational. The most popular excursion is to the islands where tiny creatures live - lemmings. Since July 15, fishing tourism has become famous in these places, allowed at a special training ground (a rather expensive tour is called "Fishing at the End of the Earth"). Some operators arrange snowmobile races.

Tundra

The natural zones of Russia, located at the northern tip of Eurasia, are called tundra. In fact, this is the northernmost steppe on the planet. There are landscapes similar to it on the upper "floors" of the mountains or on too high mountain plateaus.

Geographical position and relief

This refers to the geographical area north of the dendrosphere (zone of trees). In Russia, he captures the Arctic Circle, as well as the adjacent strips of land. This is the northern quarter of European Russia and the northern third of Siberia. The desired natural region has mountainous areas and lowlands (usually swampy). In the Russian Federation, tundra and forest-tundra together occupy about 19,000,000 square kilometers (on both continents).

Soils and climate

Russian natural belts like this one are characterized by extremely low precipitation (up to 300 mm per year) and cold temperatures (although it is already warmer here than in the Arctic). In July-August, the thermometer can rise to 10 degrees Celsius, but at the height of the "polar night" (almost as long as in the Arctic), -30°C reigns here.

Flora and fauna

This circumstance is the reason for poor biocenosis. Lichens and mosses are joined only by angiosperms, and in the south of the subarctic climatic zone - stunted shrubs (dwarf birch, shrub willow and marsh sedge).

In such an environment, the same reindeer, arctic fox, fox, wolf, bighorn sheep, lemming and even the hare (in the extreme south) live. Of the winged animals, the red-throated pipit, punka, white-winged plover and, of course, the polar owl are common. The ichthyofauna is represented by vendace, cisco, broad whitefish, white salmon. It is the relict varieties of the animal world that are listed. Scientists consider the threat of an ecological catastrophe to be the main biotopic difference of the tundra. This belt is home to the most exploited oil and gas fields. Wherever a person comes, an increasing number of species of flora and fauna disappear. In particular, the original landscape is badly damaged by the appearance of the so-called "burning lakes" - ignited oil spills.

Recreational potential

Reserved places are the "gates" to the tundra natural belts of Russia. Among the GCs located here are Taimyr, Ust-Lensky, Lapland and Pasvik. In addition to the familiar ecological and educational tourism, extreme adventures are practiced - river rafting, jeep safari, and in winter - dog and reindeer sled races. The low mountains of these surroundings (especially in the Murmansk region) are increasingly becoming interesting to speleologists and climbers. Fishing and hunting (especially photographic) are popular. A large number of Russians come to photograph the northern lights. The southern "branch" of the tundra is the Lagonaki plateau. This is a fragment of the Caucasian GZ in southern Adygea, where there is a well-known ski infrastructure and countless camp sites. However, the northern tundra can also boast of hospitality. For example, Pasvik is a territory on the adjacent lands of the Russian Federation and Norway, which is the border of the tundra and taiga (in the west, the forest rises to high latitudes ...). There are several tourist tracts on both sides of the border. There is also a small building of the ecological museum ( locality Rayakoski), as well as the waterfall of the same name.

Forest tundra and northern meadows

The forest-tundra and taiga is the largest natural zone in Russia, stretching from the south of the Kola Peninsula to the tip of Kamchatka. The main feature of the part named in the title is the oppressed woodlands and shrubs, the presence of "northern meadows" in the south of the Kamchatka Territory. The zone is typical for a third of the US states and most of Canada.

Geographical position and relief

The map of Russia's natural zones immediately makes it clear the huge scale of the "kingdom" of low-growing birch, dwarf spruce, shrubs and tall marsh grass. This is the 3rd part of all Siberia (middle), South Kamchatka, part of the Arkhangelsk region and the Komi Republic. More than 20 million sq. km. In terms of altitudinal division, this land is a plain with a large number of swampy lowlands and shallow river channels. Hills, however, are present in Komi - the northern end of the Ural Mountains, as well as the Timan ridge ... Geological formations of approximately the same stratification exist in the south of Kamchatka.

Soils and climate

The weather in this area is the same as in the rest of the tundra zones, with the only difference that the above-mentioned elevations protect the surrounding locations from many winds, creating a microclimate rich in dwarf forest vegetation.

Local soils contain a lot of peat, and in the south of the landscape they are already podzolic - here the so-called “white soils” begin, which are already considered a “cushion” for the boreal forests going south. Their “business card” is an 85% layer of so-called silica.

Flora and fauna

In this area, all those plants of the natural zones of Russia that have one feature have gathered. The grass here is as tall as a tree. Because the trees are short. The conversation turned to Karelian birch, dwarf spruce, high dwarf birch and larch. In the north, their trunks are often bent to the ground. And sometimes it is so bizarre that such a pseudo-forest is called "dancing". In the south they are straighter and higher. At the southern geographical boundary, already high light forest begins, in some places interspersed with full-fledged pines, cedars and firs. The fauna is actually no different from the tundra. However, there is an animal found exclusively in the North Siberian Lowland. Putorana "grade" of the bighorn sheep. After all, here is the Putorana Plateau, famous for biologists, where the reserve of the same name is located. We will talk about it in the next paragraph.

Recreational potential

The State Reserve "Putorana Plateau" is known as "the most lacustrine" within the forest-tundra. The most famous is its Khantai reservoir (Kutarmo). The length reaches 80 kilometers, and the depth is as much as 420 meters. A few tourists roam along the shores of a small “sea” (composed of rocks from a glacial basin), who camp in the village of Khantai Lake (to the west of the Khatanchi mouth). And yet, the most pronounced landscapes of the described natural and climatic region are the tracts of the Kronotsky (South Kamchatka) and Pechero-Ilychsky reserves, as well as the Yugyd Va GBZ (Komi Republic). The first is famous for its thermal springs in the vents of volcanoes, on the banks of which unnaturally bright greenery grows (grass as tall as a person), as well as a huge population of bears.

The second two are of interest to extreme people and lovers of North Ural ethnicity. In an unguarded zone, it is really possible to find camp sites. Many of them are intended for hunters and fishermen. Moreover, "Yugyd-Va" gives travelers a chance to book a visit directly on the website of the national park. The most popular hike is on a hill called Narodnaya. Its upper level is picturesque Alpine meadow which is simply impossible to forget! The ecological direction captivates "hikers". There are places for parking. There are historical trips - to the objects of the Gulag. For example, a tour to the historical museum-reserve on the Solovetsky Islands is available to ordinary tourists from Arkhangelsk. They are located just in the forest-tundra zone - at the exit from the famous Onega Bay.

Taiga

Traditional for our ancestors (Proto-Slavic, Proto-Baltic and Finno-Ugric) natural areas of Russia are associated with coniferous forests. In geography, it is denoted by the word "taiga". It is divided into southern (found in the Caucasus and Crimea) and northern. The latter occupies a space from the southern limits of the Murmansk reserve Pasvik and Veliky Novgorod in the west to Kamennaya Kolyma and the tip of Kamchatka in the south.

Geographical position and relief

This penny of the planet was in the first position in the ranking of landscapes of the northern forest (forest-tundra and taiga). After all, it occupies 15,000,000 square kilometers, stretching first in a strip of 800 km. (European part of the Russian Federation), and then 2150 km. (Eastern Siberia).

The geological history of the region of the Earth on which the boreal forest grows is associated with increased mountain building, and also with the appearance of the most deep rivers- at the junctions of different platforms. In fact, there are lowlands, hills, mountains, foothills, plains, deep river channels. But varied relief some natural zones on the territory of Russia are partially explained. On this piece of Eurasia, all conditions have been created for the growth of huge coniferous thickets. More on this below.

Soils and climate

The taiga is located in the "kingdom" of a cold-temperate, and partly medium-temperate climate. "Coniferous". At the height of summer, the temperature ranges here from +20 to +25°C, in January - from -15 to -30°C (the exception is pieces of the "Mediterranean" taiga, where it is much warmer in winter). In the west, the amount of precipitation is almost double that of the eastern tip of this geographic country. In the middle - average humidity (climatic norm). The soils are podzolic (they are described in the chapter above), and the swampy part of the dense spaces is rich in peat. In Murmansk, Leningrad and Novgorod regions misery reigns. This is where the influence of the cloudy Atlantic comes into play.

Flora and fauna

The boreal vegetation of the natural zones of Russia includes all types of coniferous flora (cedar, fir, larch, spruce, pine) with frequent inclusions of birch forest. In the southern (Caucasian and Crimean) taiga, yew dominates (in Crimea, berry yew, Crimean pine and Steven's maple, included in the Red Book). Trees of this family grow only on slopes. They do not fall under direct sunlight ... Cedar is more of a Siberian phenomenon. The extraction of its cones (with nuts rich in nutrients) is the most common type of Siberian gathering. In "northern Russian Asia" there are a lot of pine and birch. Different types.

Recreational potential

The southern taiga is better characterized by coniferous protected areas "Crimean" and "Caucasian". These reserves include many tourist routes of varying difficulty, climbing and speleological attractions, starting points for extreme river rafting, objects of historical value (such as cave cities in the upper part of the slopes of the mountains of the South Coast or dolmens in Adygea). Both GZs have shelters (numbered) on the climbing trails. And at the start of famous routes there are cozy recreation centers. The brands of the northern taiga are called the reserves of southern Karelia, "Kologrivsky forest" ( Kostroma region), as well as arboretums of the Kirov region. And yet the most famous is considered ... Barguzinsky GZ. These are the shores of Lake Baikal, the cleanest and deepest in the world. There is a tour "The Charm of Olkhon", during which you will reveal all the secrets of this area of ​​​​the continent, as well as take a health course at the thermal spring "Davsha". Such sanatoriums include Beryozki (GZ Caucasian) and Marcial Waters (Karelia).

Zone of mixed and deciduous forests

In the rating of "the most beautiful natural areas of Russia" we would put this one. Mixed thickets are especially striking in autumn, shimmering at the same time with greens, golden, yellow and brown shades. In the literature, the European section of this region is called the "middle zone of Russia." In its north is its "Golden Ring".

Geographical position and relief

When a map of the natural zones of Russia lies on the table, it is immediately clear that the described territory occupies its historical core, starting from the southern half of the Novgorod and northern half of the Belgorod regions in the west, and ending with Sakhalin and the Kuriles in the east. Separate sections of this RoW are the northern half of Kamchatka, as well as the Western and Central Ciscaucasia. It is worth noting that in Siberia, the taiga strongly presses this described biotope to the south, severely cutting it in the Far East.

Much of the world's mixed and broad-leaved forests lie in the plains, hills, shallow lowlands, and middle strata of the Eurasian uplands.

Soils and climate

This PZ gravitates toward the zone of medium-temperate climate, the sections of which do not differ from each other in terms of heat. The exception is the Novgorod and Pskov regions, where cloudy days and slightly more rainfall. And the most a prime example– Moscow and Vladimir regions. Summer in these subjects of the federation is ideal - sunny days evenly alternating with slightly rainy, the average temperature is +22°C. In winter, the run-up goes from -10°C to -20°C. Winds are often squally, but not hurricane-like. In January, they result in a frost of only -25°C. Humidity is above normal in the west.

Flora and fauna

The greatest variety of flora and fauna - the words about " middle lane Russia". Relic arboretums contain both northern inhabitants(pine, spruce, fir and birch), and "taiga-larch" black alder. To the south, ash, linden, poplar, oak and maple grow. Even closer to the forest-steppe - heat-loving elm. Lilac, apple tree, hazel, honeysuckle, mountain ash, hazel coexist. And in the riverbeds, a weeping willow leaned towards the water. In swamps and forests, a range of berries, rich in species composition, grows. A lot of mushrooms. The grass cover in forests, around fields, in swamps, as well as in water meadows, is denser, “juicy” and varied. We are talking about the northern border of gardening, floriculture and horticulture. In the dachas and outskirts of villages, viburnum blushes, and frost-resistant grapes grow in the Amur region! The difference between the local vegetation is the richest undergrowth, consisting of hundreds of species of ferns and shrubs (including berry bushes).

Fauna - the distribution area of ​​the bear, deer, elk, roe deer. And also a wolf, a brown hare and a white hare. There are also foxes, weasels, stoats, beavers, polecats, raccoon dogs and 4 species of rodents. In this geographical area, we will meet more than 170 types of avifauna, and in its reservoirs - a hundred "varieties" of fish. Excessively active forms of fishing and hunting (the area has been overpopulated since the century before last) led to the fact that many of the listed fish and animals began to quickly disappear here. Now populations are restored artificially, including restrictions on the hunting regime.

Recreational potential

For obvious reasons, the most common type of recreation here is cultural and educational. You can visit the estates yourself. And the historical cities of Russia - to travel around "wholesale", using the tourist product " Golden ring Russia” (by the way, it could be a cruise). There is a rural cluster. Indeed, 3 years ago, the study of the ethnic characteristics of the local agricultural complex fell into a trend with Moscow operators. In second place is forest trekking with tents. On the third - multi-day fishing and hunting. In the Siberian half of this NR, as well as on the middle "floors" of the Crimean and Caucasus mountains, speleological and mountaineering fun, river rafting and jeep safaris are practiced. Speaking of the Far East, one cannot fail to mention the Ussuriysky GZ (Shkotovsky district of Primorsky Krai). The Ussuri tiger lives only in the latter. Saving its population is one of the tasks set by the President of our country, V. Putin. As for the flora, the forests of the Ussuri region are probably the richest in species composition. Judge for yourself: cedar, southern pine and fir get along with linden, maple, walnut and wild apple. Of the "undersized" here are wild rose, viburnum, hazel, honeysuckle. In the south, cherry, maakia and bird cherry complete the variety.

Hundreds of forest sanatoriums are considered to be medical resorts in the strip of the specified NR. The most characteristic health resorts practicing climatotherapy are built around such natural parks in Western Russia as the Botchinsky, Bryansk forest, Vishera, Voroninsky, Daursky, Belogorye and Kaluga Zasaki. The Central Federal District is known for the unique sanatoriums of the Moscow Region - Orbita, Emerald, Moscow Region and Sosny. In the Nizhny Novgorod region, the Gorky Sea complex is popular - on the shore of the reservoir of the same name. In addition to forest walks, visits to various procedures are practiced here. But the broad-leaved forests of the Western and Central Ciscaucasia, where most of the thermal mineral springs are discovered, are of particular value. Most of them have sanatoriums (Mineralnye Vody, Goryachiy Klyuch, KBR).

forest-steppe

From the latitude of the northern and eastern Chernozem regions, the natural zones of Russia fragmentarily pass into the “kingdom of the steppes”. Moreover, in the western half they are all already plowed up. In terms of the size of the territory, this geographical sphere overtakes only the desert and semi-desert.

Geographical position and relief

The forest-steppe captures several administrative units of the state. Part of Oryol, Orenburg and Chelyabinsk. All Belgorod, Voronezh, Tambov, Lipetsk, Saratov and Penza. This nature reserve is also found in the foothills of Altai, decorating the channels of the largest rivers of this picturesque mountain system.

Geological biography explains one fact to us. Mostly forest-steppe is located on a hilly plain, representing part of the southeast of the Russian platform.

Soils and climate

A transitional climate prevails - from medium-temperate to sharply continental (arid). The standard of the local variety of temperate climate is the weather in the Lipetsk region. The average winter temperature is −10 °C, summer +22 °C. Rainfall is the norm. Half of the days are sunny. The soil composition of the forest-steppe is characterized by the presence of the so-called "northern", and in the Belgorod region - "saturated" chernozems. As for the "northern", we are talking about podzolic-humus substance ("gray" soils). The 2nd variety is an example of a chernozem saturated with organic matter, second only to the Stavropol and Krasnodar soils (the cause of the phenomenon is a rich cultural layer).

Flora and fauna

Oaks, linden, willow and ash are more common in the forest-steppe. Only in the extreme south - elm and acacia. Pyramid poplar and hornbeam begin to come across. The latter prefers loose humus-rich soils (as in Belgorod and Voronezh regions). However, northern birch and pine are still widely scattered even here (although not as densely as in the zone of mixed forests). And pine loves sand. The “Central Russian” animals of the natural zones of Russia live here - the same representatives of the running, crawling, flying and swimming fauna that we talked about in the previous chapter. There is only one difference - a slightly larger number of field rodents. After all, there are more agricultural territories on the southern side of "middle Russia" - black soil is already growing in the south.

Recreational potential

In this "land" there are five protected areas, which have become popular among travelers. There are also unknown ones. So, about the five. These are the reserves: Forest on Vorskla (very old oaks of the Belgorod region), Voronezh (border of the Voronezh and Lipetsk regions - vegetation on unique sandy terraces). And National parks: Khvalynsky (coniferous forest on Cretaceous ravines overlooking the Volga), Privolzhskaya forest-steppe (Penza region, commonwealth of meadows and 9 species of trees), as well as Arkaim (steppe and forest-steppe territories with remnants of settlements of the Sintashta culture). Recreation in all reserves is ecological and historical. There are the most protected biological reserves, and vice versa - hunting and fishing grounds.

The agricultural direction is represented mainly by trips to Michurinsk (Tambov region). In its suburbs, a large museum-reserve has been set up, demonstrating what the famous Russian geneticist Michurin, as well as his outstanding students, did. The main difference is that the transition zone to the steppe contains a lot of archaeological sites(with museums at the entrance), as well as wild boar hunting grounds. Fans of extreme water sports are waiting for the rivers ideal for rafting: Don, Sosna, Vorskla, Khoper and Oskol, and in the Saratov region - the quiet upper reaches of the Medveditsa and the Big Irgiz. The forest-steppe zone has quite a few resort facilities, being an agricultural complex.

The only exception is the sparsely forested part of the Chelyabinsk region. First of all, we are talking about a recreational area on the border of the Ural and Uvel regions, located between countless lakes. The world-famous hospital "Ural" (Lake Podbornoe) - "Ural Artek", where absolutely everyone is treated, and also develop intelligence and motor skills! On the border of mixed forest and forest-steppe, there are five lakes that “create” wonderful landscapes.

Steppe

From 53 degrees north latitude (in the east to south), the natural zones of Russia pass into the steppe - a plain with exclusively grassy vegetation. These are not only agricultural lands (53 and 52 degrees of latitude), but virgin lands of 4 types ... At the moment, there is only one Black Sea steppe in the Russian Federation - in the north of the Republic of Crimea.

Geographical position and relief

Features of the natural zones of Russia in the south are their smaller extent from west to east. This is how Russian Eurasia works. Other states are wedged in from the west, and in the east the Pacific coast goes southwest, not south. The steppes run in a sharply narrowing strip from some of the uplands of the Crimea and Belgorod in the west to the Ob itself in the east. In Western (Altai) and Eastern Siberia (Transbaikalia) they are also present, but in the form of 7 plots isolated from each other, interspersed with forests.

Soils and climate

The weather here is sharply continental. Summers are prone to intense heat and droughts, while winters are prone to frosts. Slightly warmer in the North Caucasus. The best of the chernozems are found on the plains and foothills of this strip. This piece of land looks like a picturesque rural idyll… Every year tall grass, feather grass, xerophyte and mountain (subalpine) plains are blown by winds from all sides. The area from the Belgorod region, Taganrog and the steppe Crimea to the Volga is chernozem. In the Trans-Volga region, the steppes are non-chernozem. And they continue to the north - from the Saratov region (where the humus is diluted with loess), passing into the Orenburg ... The soil composition of the Trans-Volga and Siberian steppes is somewhat different than the western ones. On the ground, it is closer to semi-desert. We are talking about chestnut soils, the humus level in which is only 3%, while the main layer is clay. For centuries there were only pastures.

Flora and fauna

"Desert-plain" plants of the natural zones of Russia are divided into 4 groups, which have already been listed above. It is clear that there are more fauna in the chernozem west of the zone.

The steppes are inhabited by a wolf, a fox, a hare, a wild boar, a roe deer, a polecat and a lot of rodents. Among the birds are marsh-meadow and predatory (including three varieties of an eagle and a heron).

Recreational potential

The most popular parts of the steppe are the Donskoy, Ust-Medveditsky and Nizhnekhopersky natural parks (Volgograd region), the Zmeevy Gory nature reserve in the Saratov region, and the Sholokhovskiy natural park in the Rostov region. All this is an example of a classic steppe landscape, where ecological recreation, horseback riding, rafting on safe rivers (some parts of the Don, Khopr, Medveditsa and Buzuluk), as well as fishing are available. Skiing, tobogganing and snowboarding are common in the Saratov Zmeevy Gory in winter. All Volgograd and Rostov protected areas provide guides who tell about the Cossacks ... The fact is that in the Volgograd and Rostov regions, most of the regional museums and almost half of the expositions in major cities associated with the Cossack material culture and traditions. In Volgograd, Kamyshin (Kamyshinsky district) and Engels there are institutions that tell about the Volga Germans who once lived here.

semi-desert

On the left bank Volgograd region, throughout the Astrakhan region and Kalmykia, as well as in the southeast of Dagestan, the natural zones of Russia are being transformed into a semi-desert - an arid biotope, a transition from steppe to desert. As for the first two subjects of the federation, they even have salt marshes.

Geographical position and relief

In Russia, the semi-desert is located only in Kalmykia, Astrakhan region, on the left bank of the Volgograd region (north of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain), and also in a tiny southeastern corner of Dagestan, which is the gap between the Nogai steppe and the coast of the Caspian Sea. These are the wide lower reaches of the Sulak River. The entire zone is an absolutely flat area of ​​the East European Plain, with the exception of the Elton Lowland (salt marsh in the southeast of the Palasovsky district of the Volgograd region).

Soils and climate

This area of ​​the continent is a zone of action of a sharply continental climate. It differs from the steppe one in that it is 4-5 degrees warmer here in summer. By the way, only the northern and east winds, since from the west and south its delta is surrounded by the rapidly rising Caucasus. The semi-desert is a storehouse of only chestnut soils.

Flora and fauna

The “kings” of the semi-desert are wormwood, cocklebur, fescue, prutnyak and tumbleweed. In spring, ephemerides appear in some areas - snowdrops, poppies and tulips. Those animals of the natural zones of Russia that inhabit the east of the northern half of the Southern Federal District are best represented by field rodents, hare and wild boars. Most birds, for obvious reasons, are predators. Under the protection of the Red Book are the white-tailed eagle, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, vulture, black vulture. There are endangered species among the floodplain avifauna - mute swan and whooper swan. On the Lower Volga due to advanced level poaching is disappearing sturgeon breeds. The Volga-Akhtuba floodplain is the world's largest "transit" habitat for birds.

Recreational potential

The Lower Volga (especially the oasis in the semi-desert - the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain) attracts fishermen. People with lung diseases are attracted by the Eltonsky reserve, where a sanatorium is set up near the salt lake Elton.

Not only lovers of salt and therapeutic mud, but also speleologists rush to another salt marsh - Baskunchak (there are interesting caves in Bolshaya Bagdo mountain). Talking about the borderlands of the 61st and 34th regions, I would like to inform the reader that there is a green sea here. The Tsimlyansk reservoir blooms at the end of summer. Algae generate so much heat that even at night you sleep on the sand without a tent and a sleeping bag! By the way, in the natural park "Tsimlyansky Sands" (the hearth of a semi-desert in the middle of the steppe), tent camping with equipment rental, inspection of mustangs and a tour of the former habitats of the Old Believers are available. In the Kalmyk "Black Lands" they go hunting to see Buddhist datsans and mustangs. And the end of April is the traditional photo hunting for tulips. There is a Chess City in Elista.

They head to the lower reaches of the Dagestan Sulak to look at the remains of the ancient Shamkhal ( former capital principalities of the Kumyks). They also plunge into the Caspian Sea - on the shore. WITH historical point of view, Derbent is more interesting. In the southernmost city of the Russian Federation, Caucasian Islam began. The village of Kubachi is now the "jewelry and weapons" center of the North Caucasus. Iranian shahs bought sabers and daggers from local craftsmen. Tours from Volgograd, Astrakhan, Rostov-on-Don and Makhachkala are dedicated to each of the phenomena.

Subtropics

A color map of the natural zones of Russia demonstrates the diversity on the southern border of Russian Europe and Russian Asia. As you guessed, we were talking about the urban districts of the Southern Coast of Crimea, the Sudak municipality and the mountain system of the Caucasus (or, more precisely, the Dividing Range itself and the Caspian coast of the Republic of Dagestan). There are three types of subtropics.

Geographical position and relief

Here we mean the urban districts of Sudak, Alushta, Yalta, the Western Caucasus (the districts of Anapa, Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, Sochi) and Dagestan (precisely the lower reaches of the Samur).

Soils and climate

Oddly enough, the Russian subtropics are three different climatic zones.

Dry (“Mediterranean”, which, in fact, is a transition from a temperate to a subtropical climate) include the South Coast, Sudak (Crimea) and the Western Caucasus (except for Greater Sochi). To semi-humid - 9 kilometers of the lower reaches of the Samur River (the lowland border of Dagestan with Azerbaijan). And Greater Sochi is considered wet.

The Russian "Mediterranean" is characterized by the fact that in summer the dry air formed in the high pressure zone descends onto a layer of sea air, which is characterized by variable humidity. As a result, there is no rainfall. Instead, only thunderstorms. And the heat is not stronger than the "steppe". In winter, the thermometer does not fall below -16 ° C, since the area is sheltered from cold (eastern and northern) winds by mountains (yaila in the Crimea and the Dividing Range in the Caucasus).

The Samur forest lies in the belt of semi-humid or "oceanic" subtropics. They are more susceptible to attack by sea winds and currents. In the midst of summer it is not hot and windy here ... The humidity is ideal (there is a normal amount of precipitation). In winter, the temperature fluctuates from -1°C to +4°C, only the easterly winds of the hot Central Asian deserts get here. The problem is the wind.

Finally, humid subtropics are similar to semi-humid ones only in winter. Only there is no wind. In summer there are clouds almost every day. But the fact is that they quickly dissipate, as well as constant, but very fine and short-term rain. Humidity is high here, the average July temperature ranges from +21°C to +27°C. Spring is very long and rainy. It ends, in fact, only in the first third of June.

All these pieces of Russia on the southern border of Russian Europe and Asia are tightly squeezed between high mountains and by the sea. And, therefore, they are represented by the so-called mountain soils. Such soil consists of the thinnest meadow layer, under which there is a pebble surface.

Flora and fauna

The natural belts of Russia, like this one, are the habitat of birds of prey, rather large (including poisonous) snakes. Mountain goats, moufflons, bison, lynxes, tours, Caucasian chamois, roe deer, wild boars, jungle cats and dangerous forest cats. All this animal is found on the slopes of the mountains, most of the species are on their lower (seaside) "floor". In Crimea, such a stratum is represented by pistachio pistachio, juniper, Crimean pine and Crimean cistus. In the Western Caucasus, beech and yew can be added to them. In Greater Sochi, hornbeam thickets, Caucasian oak and plane tree join this company. Samur forest is the owner of the only liana forest in Russia! It is worth talking about it in more detail in order to instill tourist interest in it. Quite tall "green brothers" are braided with creepers: cork trees, wild apple trees, Walnut and rob. Between their trunks you can find huge flowers of extraordinary beauty and plants whose leaves look like water lily leaves (on the rocky banks of the river rapids).

Recreational potential

The map of Russia's natural zones clearly tells us that most of the protected natural landscapes of our state are located precisely in the subtropical zone. There are so many of them, they are small, unlike each other. Therefore, they are the topic of a separate conversation (read the article "Reserves of Russia" and others). For a northern country, subtropical terrain is exotic. Therefore, resort and ecological tourism is more developed here. And even sports and recreation (in the Crimea, Tuapse, the mountain and coastal cluster of Sochi, dozens of health paths are arranged). And the whole extreme, of course, is associated with sea recreation (windsurfing, kiting, yachting and diving) or mountain (trekking, climbing and jumping). By the way, the port of Imeretin has the largest yacht marina in Russia (over 700 seats!), and Krasnaya Polyana is the largest network of ski resorts in the CIS.

There are also many coastal and mountain sanatoriums for vacationers. In the Crimea, in the regions of Saki and Evpatoria, there are the most Russian mud baths (this area is located in the middle of salty estuaries and deposits of healing mud). There are small mud volcanoes on Taman (there are lotuses right there), in some places in the urban district of Anapa. Adler microdistrict (SO Sochi) is the only place where banjo jumping is officially practiced (complex extreme entertainment"Sky Park", Cossack Brod). The coastal (humid-subtropical) zone of the Caucasus State Reserve is called the Sochi National Park. It has 9 indigenous tourist routes of varying difficulty and dozens of historical and natural attractions. The zone of dry subtropics of Crimea has even more of them - these are botanical gardens around noble estates and royal residences, and museums on the site of Scythian settlements, and the remnants of ancient policies, and caves of the Karaites, and bizarre rocky tracts. Tourists-savages have chosen 75 Crimean bays, half of which are reserved.

Desert

This is the smallest natural zone in Russia, the smallest object from the entire list.

Geographical position and relief

The conversation will focus on about a hundred dunes of the Kumtorkala massif of the Republic of Dagestan. The location is equal in area to only the Bryansk region (about 30,000 square kilometers). It is located to the west of the Makhachkala agglomeration. The largest of the dunes bears the uncomplicated name of Sary-Kum. From the Turkic language it is translated as "yellow sand". It lies south of the others. This point is the highest sand mountain in the world, having a height of 262 meters. Sand deposits are asymmetric. The leeward side of each has a concave appearance, the opposite side is curved and has time to be covered with vegetation. Absolutely naked only Sary-Kum.

Soils and climate

Once in a space where unfamiliar weather reigns for them, the sands of Dagestan have properties that greatly distinguish them from their counterparts from Central Asia (by the way, they are separated by 300 kilometers of the Caspian Sea). For example, the surface of Sary-Kum absolutely does not move under the influence of wind. Moreover, a real ... river flows through the dune! The dunes are a product of the weathering of neighboring mountains, the former sides of an ancient river channel.

The surface of this tract is sand. However, on the windward side of the desert hills, flora grows that are not characteristic of the desert, but of the semi-desert. In some places there is even a dry forest stand! This will be discussed in more detail in the next section. Mountain "Yellow Sands", which has the size of an average Russian village, lies in a sharply continental (arid), but still temperate climate. Therefore, in January it is not above zero here, and in the height of summer - no more than 31 degrees. At the same time, for several summer days, 576 hectares of the surface of the Sarykum sands still heat up to 60 degrees Celsius. You might even get burned!

Flora and fauna

The natural zones of Russia in the south of the country are more closely intertwined with each other. The result of this was a special zoological diversity in their rugged (mountains and large wastelands) expanses. The desert "Sarykum dunes" is the southwestern part of the indicated massif. It is located 18 kilometers northwest of Makhachkala. As said, only it can be called "classical". Of the plants - only xerophytic shrubs related to saxaul, as well as a little wormwood-grass vegetation. Monitor lizards and smaller lizards live on sandy waves. At the same time, in the remaining tracts of the Kumtorkala massif, we will find a landscape transitional to a semi-desert - a lot of wormwood, dry trees, thickets of shibleak. Of the flowers, astragalus is most often found here - Karakuginsky and Leman. 21 species of reptiles live on the sands (among them a funny mediterranean tortoise), 194 species of birds (as well as eagles - steppe and imperial) and 251 species of terrestrial vertebrates (usually rodents).

Recreational potential

The sandy hills of the Kumtorkalinsky massif are part of the Dagestansky nature reserve. In fact, the most carefully protected recreation of the region. First of all, educational tourism is developed here. And no wonder. The protected area includes adjacent areas of 6 landscapes at once - steppes, semi-deserts, broad-leaved forests (on the foothills and in the valleys of large rivers), as well as mountain and sandy desert. No wonder the place is fashionable to call "the center of ecological travel." However, in the southernmost geographical region of the Russian Federation, extreme types of recreation are also exploited. These include caving, mountaineering, downhill sandy slopes and several types of trekking. Know: the Sulak River is suitable for rafting in spring. And travelers, in order to start exploring the sands, must first get to the village of Korkmaskala (along the Kavkaz highway) or to the Shamkhal station (on the Kizil-Yurt - Makhachkala railway line).

As you understand, the natural zones of Russia have not only a latitudinal or meridian vector of movement. They also vary in height. Large uplands have strata where the remoteness of the position from sea level corresponds to the movement to the north. Continuing to develop the topic of relief, it is worth pointing out that some micro-landscapes of the south, due to isolation, may have features of the natural zones of Russia in the north. And vice versa. We hope this information will help you on your journey.

The arctic air prevails here all year round, the radiation balance for the year is less than 400 mJ/m 2 , the average temperature in July is 4-2°C. Relative humidity is very high - 85%. Precipitation is 400-200 mm, and almost all of it falls in solid form, which contributes to the formation of ice sheets and glaciers. However, in some places the supply of moisture in the air is small, and therefore, with an increase in temperature and a strong wind, a large lack of it is formed and strong evaporation of snow occurs.

The soil-forming process in the Arctic takes place in a thin active layer and is at the initial stage of development. In the valleys of rivers and streams and on sea terraces, two types of soils are formed - typical polar desert soils on drained polygonal plains and polar desert solonchak soils in saline coastal areas. They are characterized by a low content of humus (up to 1.5%), weakly expressed genetic horizons and very small thickness. In the Arctic deserts, there are almost no swamps, few lakes, and salt spots form on the surface of the soil in dry weather with strong winds.

Vegetation cover is extremely sparse and spotty, it is characterized by poor species composition and exceptionally low productivity. Low-organized plants dominate: lichens, mosses, algae. The annual growth of mosses and lichens does not exceed 1-2 mm. Plants are extremely selective in their distribution. More or less close groupings of plants exist only in places sheltered from cold winds, on fine earth, where the thickness of the active layer is greater.

The main background of the Arctic deserts is formed by scale lichens. Hypnum mosses are common, sphagnum mosses appear only in the south of the zone in very limited quantities. Of the higher plants, saxifrage, polar poppy, grains, chickweed, arctic pike, bluegrass and some others are characteristic. Cereals grow luxuriantly, forming hemispherical pillows up to 10 cm in diameter on a fertilized substrate near nesting gulls and lemming burrows. An ice ranunculus and a polar willow grow near the snow patches, reaching only 3-5 cm in height. The fauna, like the flora, is poor in species; meet lemming, arctic fox, reindeer, polar bear, and among the birds, the white partridge and the snowy owl are ubiquitous. On the rocky shores there are numerous bird colonies - mass nesting of sea birds (guillemots, little auks, white gulls, fulmars, eiders, etc.). The southern shores of Franz Josef Land, the western shores of Novaya Zemlya are a continuous bird colony.