Geographical belts and natural zones of Eurasia. Geographical zones and zones of foreign Europe Plan for describing the natural zone of Eurasia Subtropical forests

Eurasia is characterized by a clearly defined geographical demarcation. All existing zones are represented on this continent, from equatorial forests to arctic deserts. Each of them has some features, including unique flora and fauna.

As for mixed and broad-leaved forests, they are practically gone. In Europe, secondary plantations appeared in their place, and arable land was created in Asia. However, this zone is characterized by maple, oak, hornbeam, elm, and beech.

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

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

The zone of hardwood forests and shrubs is located in the subtropical zone, or rather, in its western part. In the preserved forests, you can observe thickets of bamboo, as well as magnolia, camphor and laurel. But wild animals at one time were almost completely exterminated. Only in the highlands of Western Asia still live hyenas, foxes and antelopes.

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

Climate, natural zones of Eurasia.

Climate.

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

natural areas.

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

AT temperate zone Significant areas are represented by zones of coniferous forests (taiga), mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, broad-leaved forests, forest-steppes and steppes, semi-deserts and deserts.

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

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

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

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

Semi-deserts and temperate deserts occupy the lowlands of Central Asia and the inner basins of Central Asia north of the Tibetan Plateau. There is very little rainfall, hot long summers and cold winters with noticeable frosts.

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

Zone hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs in the Mediterranean region is unique. It has dry and hot summers and wet and warm winters. Plants are adapted to climatic conditions: wax coating, thick or dense leathery bark. Many plants produce essential oils. Fertile brown soils form in this zone. Olives, citrus fruits, grapes, tobacco, essential oil crops are grown on the plantations of the zone.

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

subequatorial belt covers the peninsulas of Hindustan, Indochina and the north of the Philippine Islands. This zone has different moisture conditions. The zone of subequatorial forests stretches along the western coasts of the peninsulas and receives up to 2000 mm of precipitation per year. The forests here are multi-tiered, differ in the variety of species composition (palms, ficuses, bamboos). Zonal soils are red-yellow ferralitic. Zones seasonally wet monsoon forests, shrub savannahs and woodlands presented where precipitation decreases.

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

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

Abstract of the lesson "Climate, natural zones of Eurasia." Next topic:

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

natural areas

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

Natural zones of Eurasia

I opened the corresponding card, and my eyes began to diverge from the abundance of colors. Looking into the corner with symbols, everything became more or less clear. 12 natural zones have been formed on the mainland, and a zone of altitudinal zonation is distinguished separately. Here is the long list:

1. Arctic desert zone.
2. Variable-humid forests.
3. Mixed forests.
4. Savannah and woodlands.
5. Forest-steppes and steppes.
6. Hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs.
7. Taiga.
8. Broad-leaved forests.
9. Oceanic meadows.
10. Deserts and semi-deserts.
11. Permanently humid equatorial and tropical forests.
12. Tundra and forest tundra.

These are the main zones, but there are also transitional zones, where the external features of the natural components of neighboring territories are mixed.

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

Tundra and forest tundra

Tundra and forest tundra are located in the subarctic and temperate marine climatic zone. They begin as a narrow coastal strip in Europe, gradually expanding in the Asian part of the continent.

The average temperature in winter in the tundra is -8 ºС, in summer +16 ºС, in the forest-tundra - 0 ºС and +16 ºС, respectively. The average annual rainfall in the tundra is up to 500 mm, in the forest tundra - 1000 mm.

Typical plants of the tundra and forest-tundra are: mosses and lichens, islets of shrub forms of small birches, mountain ash, willow, alder.

Characteristic soils:

• mountain arctic;
• mountain tundra;
• tundra-gley permafrost;
• illuvial-humus podzols.

Reindeer, lemmings, arctic foxes, hares and many water birds have adapted to the harsh northern conditions.

forest zones

On the territory of Eurasia there are zones of various forests:

1. Coniferous forest (taiga). It is located on the territory of a temperate, temperate continental, temperate monsoon climate. The main representatives of the plant world are Scots pine and European spruce (to the Urals), fir, Far Eastern yew, cedar pine, alder, small-leaved birch, willow, aspen, larch (Eastern Siberia). The soils are subgolden and brown forest. The maximum temperature in January is -8 ºС, in July - +16 ºС- +24 ºС. The average annual rainfall is 1000 mm. The animal world is diverse and rich - rodents predominate in species composition, many fur-bearing animals: beavers, sables, ermines, squirrels, foxes, martens, hares. Of the large animals, there are brown bears, elks, wolverines, lynxes. There are many birds: hazel grouses, wood grouses, nutcrackers, crossbills, finches, woodpeckers, owls.
2. Mixed forest. It is located on the territory of the temperate and temperate continental belt, in Europe and East Asia to the south of the taiga zone. The main representatives of the plant world are aspen, birch, pine, beech, oak. The soils are sod-podgolden. The maximum temperature in January is -8 ºС, in July - +24 ºС. The average annual rainfall is up to 1000 mm.
3. Broad-leaved forest. Located in a temperate maritime climate. The main representatives of the flora are beech (Western Europe), oak and linden (Eastern Europe), heath, elm, hornbeam, elm (in the west), ash, maple (in the east). The grass cover is represented by broad herbs: initial letter, gout, hoof, lungwort, lily of the valley, ferns. In most areas, primary broad-leaved forests have been replaced by aspen and birch forests. The soils are brown forest. The maximum temperature in January is +8 ºС, in July - +24 ºС. The average annual rainfall is 1000 mm. In the Asian part of the continent, broad-leaved forests have survived only in the mountainous regions in the east. In mixed and broad-leaved forests, many species of different animals live: foxes, hares, squirrels, roe deer, red deer; wild boars, a small population of tigers has been preserved in the Amur River basin.
4. Evergreen subtropical forests. Located in the subtropical zone. The main representatives of the plant world are Masson's pine, Japanese cryptomeria, sad cypress, creepers, evergreen oaks, noble laurel, wild olive, southern pine - pine. The soils are fertile brown, zheltozem and red soil. The maximum temperature in January is -8 ºС, in July - +24 ºС. The average annual rainfall is 1500 mm. There are few wild animals. There are wild rabbit, mountain sheep, goats, genet. Lots of reptiles: lizards, snakes, chameleons. The avifauna is represented by vultures, eagles, some rare species - blue magpie, Spanish sparrow.
5. Wet tropical forests. They are located in the subequatorial belt in the extreme south of South and Southeast Asia. Here grow lychee, palm trees, bamboo, ficus, magnolias, camphor laurel, camellias, tung tree, oak, hornbeam, beech, pines, cypresses. The soils are ferralitic and red-yellow. Soils are almost completely plowed up. The average annual temperature in winter is +16 ºС, in summer - +24 ºС. Precipitation falls 2000 mm. Wild animals are preserved only in the mountains. These are the black Himalayan bear, panda - bamboo bear, leopards, gibbons and macaques. Among the birds there are many large and bright species: pheasants, parrots, ducks.

Forest-steppes, steppes and deserts

Forest-steppes and steppes are located in the temperate climate zone, south of the forest zone in the continental part of the mainland. The average temperature of the cold period is -8 ºС, warm - +16 ºС. Precipitation falls up to 500 mm per year.

The herbaceous vegetation of the forest-steppe is combined with areas of broad-leaved forests stretching to the Urals or small-leaved forests located in Siberia.

The most typical representatives of the flora of the steppes are cereals: fescue, feather grass, bluegrass, thin-legged, sheep. Chernozems are ubiquitous, the thick humus horizon of which is formed as a result of the conservation of organic matter in the dry summer period. Everywhere the territories are plowed up and used for human needs.

Remark 1

The natural flora and fauna of the steppes has been preserved only in the territories of reserves. Numerous rodents have adapted well to the new conditions: marmots, ground squirrels and field mice.

Dry steppes with poor vegetation and chestnut soils prevail in inland regions with a continental and sharply continental climate.

Desert territories are found in the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones in the inner basins of the central regions of Eurasia. Average temperatures in winter are -8 ºС, and in summer they range from +24 ºС to +32 ºС. There is very little precipitation - less than 100 mm. Of the plants, you can most often find wormwood, saxaul, saltpeter, tamarix, dzhuzgun, saltwort. The soils are brown and gray-brown soils, desert sandy and stony, often highly saline.

Ungulates of semi-deserts and deserts - wild donkeys, kulans, camels, wild Przhevalsky horses are almost completely exterminated. Among the animals, rodents predominate, which mostly hibernate in winter, as well as reptiles.

On the territory of Eurasia there are all types of natural zones of the Earth. The sublatitudinal strike of the zones is broken only in oceanic sectors and mountainous regions.

Most of the Arctic islands and a narrow strip of coastline lie in Arctic desert zone , there are also cover glaciers (Svalbard, Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya). To the south are located tundra and forest tundra, which from a narrow coastal strip in Europe are gradually expanding into the Asian part of the mainland. Moss-lichen covers, shrubs and shrub forms of willow and birch on tundra-gley permafrost soils, numerous lakes and swamps and animals adapted to the harsh northern conditions (lemmings, hares, arctic foxes, reindeer and many waterfowl) are common here.

South of 69°N in the west and 65°N. in the east within the temperate zone dominate coniferous forests(taiga). Before the Urals, the main tree species are pine and spruce, in Western Siberia fir and Siberian cedar (cedar pine) are added to them, in Eastern Siberia larch already dominates - only it was able to adapt to permafrost. Small-leaved species are often mixed with conifers - birch, aspen, alder, especially in areas suffering from forest fires and logging sites. Under the conditions of acidic coniferous litter and leaching regime, podzolic soils are formed, poor in humus, with a peculiar whitish horizon. The fauna of the taiga is rich and diverse - rodents predominate in terms of the number of species, many fur-bearing animals: sables, beavers, ermines, foxes, squirrels, martens, hares, which are of commercial importance; of large animals, moose, brown bears are common, lynxes, wolverines are found.

Most of the birds feed on seeds, buds, young shoots of plants (grouse, hazel grouse, crossbills, nutcrackers, etc.), there are insectivorous (finches, woodpeckers) and birds of prey (owls).

In Europe and East Asia, to the south, the taiga zone is replaced by zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests . Due to leaf litter and grass cover, organic matter accumulates in the surface layer of soils of these forests and a humus (turf) horizon is formed. Therefore, such soils are called sod-podzolic. In the mixed forests of Western Siberia, the place of broad-leaved species is occupied by small-leaved species - aspen and birch.

In Europe, south of the taiga is located broadleaf forest zone , which wedges out near the Ural Mountains. In Western Europe, under conditions of sufficient heat and precipitation, beech forests on brown forest soils predominate, in Eastern Europe they are replaced by oak and linden on gray forest soils, since these species better tolerate summer heat and dryness. The main tree species in this zone are mixed with hornbeam, elm, elm - in the west, maple and ash - in the east. The herbaceous cover of these forests consists of plants with wide leaves - broad grasses (goutweed, initial letter, hoof, lily of the valley, lungwort, ferns). Foliage and herbs, rotting, form a dark and rather powerful humus horizon. Primary broad-leaved forests in most areas have been replaced by birch and aspen forests.

In the Asian part of the mainland, broad-leaved forests have survived only in the east, in mountainous regions. They are very diverse in composition with a large number of coniferous and relict species, lianas, ferns and a dense shrub layer.

In mixed and broad-leaved forests live many animals characteristic of both the taiga (hares, foxes, squirrels, etc.) and more southern latitudes: roe deer, wild boars, red deer; in the Amur basin, a small population of tigers has been preserved.

In the continental part of the mainland south of the forest zone, forest-steppes and steppes . In the forest-steppe, grassy vegetation is combined with areas of broad-leaved (up to the Urals) or small-leaved (in Siberia) forests.

Steppes are treeless spaces where cereals with a dense and dense root system flourish. Under them, the most fertile chernozem soils in the world are formed, a powerful humus horizon of which is formed due to the conservation of organic matter in the dry summer period. This is the most human-transformed natural zone of the interior of the mainland. Due to the exceptional fertility of chernozems, steppes and forest-steppes are almost completely plowed up. Their flora and fauna (herds of ungulates) has been preserved only in the territories of several reserves. Numerous rodents have adapted well to the new living conditions on agricultural land: ground squirrels, marmots and field mice. Dry steppes with sparse vegetation and chestnut soils predominate in inland regions with a continental and sharply continental climate. In the central regions of Eurasia in the inner basins are located semi-deserts and deserts. They are characterized by a cold winter with frosts, so there are no succulents here, but wormwood, saltwort, saxaul grow. In general, the vegetation does not form a continuous cover, as well as the brown and gray-brown soils that develop under them, which are saline. Ungulates of Asian semi-deserts and deserts (wild asses-kulans, wild Przhevalsky horses, camels) are almost completely exterminated, and rodents, mostly hibernating in winter, and reptiles dominate among animals.

The south of the oceanic sectors of the mainland is located in subtropical and tropical forest zones . In the west, in the Mediterranean, the indigenous vegetation is represented by hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs, the plants of which have adapted to hot and arid conditions. Beneath these forests, fertile brown soils have formed. Typical woody plants are evergreen oaks, wild olive, noble laurel, southern pine - pine, cypresses. There are few wild animals left. There are rodents, including a wild rabbit, goats, mountain sheep and a peculiar predator - the genet. As elsewhere in arid conditions, there are many reptiles: snakes, lizards, chameleons. Birds of prey include vultures, eagles and rare species such as the blue magpie and the Spanish sparrow.

In the east of Eurasia, the subtropical climate has a different character: precipitation falls mainly in hot summers. Once in East Asia, forests occupied vast areas, now they are preserved only near temples and in hard-to-reach gorges. The forests differ in species diversity, very dense, with a large number of vines. Among the trees there are both evergreen species: magnolias, camellias, camphor laurel, tung tree, and deciduous species: oak, beech, hornbeam. An important role in these forests is played by southern coniferous species: pines, cypresses. Quite fertile red and yellow soils have formed under these forests, which are almost completely plowed up. They grow various subtropical crops. The deforestation has radically affected the composition of the animal world. Wild animals are preserved only in the mountains. This is a black Himalayan bear, bamboo bear - panda, leopards, monkeys - macaques and gibbons. Among the feathered population there are many large and bright species: parrots, pheasants, ducks.

The subequatorial belt is characterized by savannahs and variable rainforests. Many plants here shed their leaves during the dry and hot winters. Such forests are well developed in the monsoon region of Hindustan, Burma, and the Malay Peninsula. They are relatively simple in structure, the upper tree layer is often formed by one species, but these forests amaze with a variety of lianas and ferns.

In the extreme south of South and Southeast Asia, humid equatorial forests. They are distinguished by a large number of species of palms (up to 300 species), bamboo, many of them play a big role in the life of the population: they provide food, building material, raw materials for some types of industry.

In Eurasia, large areas are occupied areas with altitudinal zonality. The structure of altitudinal zonation is extremely diverse and depends on the geographical position of the mountains, the exposure of the slopes, and the height. The conditions are unique on the high plains of the Pamirs, Central Asia, and the Near Asian highlands. A textbook example of altitudinal zonality is the greatest mountains of the world, the Himalayas - almost all altitudinal zones are represented here.

natural area	Climate type	Climate features			Vegetation	The soil	Animal world
		TJan.	TJuly	Amount of precipitation
	Subarctic				Islands of small birches, willows, mountain ash	Mountain arctic, mountain tundra	Rodents, wolves, foxes, snowy owls
forest tundra	temperate marine				Distorted birches and alders	Podzols of illuvial humus.	Elk, ptarmigan, arctic fox
coniferous forest	temperate temperate continental				European spruce, Scotch pine	Podzolic	Leming, bear, wolf, lynx, capercaillie
mixed forest	Moderate temperate continental				Pine, oak, beech, birch	Sod-podzolic	Boar, beaver, mink, marten
broadleaf forest	temperate maritime				Oak, beech, heath	brown forest	Roe deer, bison, muskrat
coniferous forests	moderate monsoon				Fir, if, Far Eastern yew, small-leaved birch, alder, aspen, willow	Brown forest broadleaf forests	Antelope, leopard, Amur tiger, mandarin duck, white stork
evergreen subtropical forests	Subtropical				Masson's pine, sad cypress, Japanese cryptomeria, creepers	Red soils and yellow soils	Asian mouflon, markhor, wolves, tigers, marmots, ground squirrels
Tropical rainforests	subequatorial				Palms, Lychee, Ficus	Red-yellow ferralite	Monkeys, rodents, sloths, peacocks
	Moderate				Cereals: feather grass, fescue, thin-legged, bluegrass, sheep	Chernozems	ground squirrels, marmots, steppe eagle, bustard, wolf
	temperate, subtropical, tropical				tamarix, saltpeter, solyanka, juzgun	Desert sandy and rocky	Rodents, lizards, snakes