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Geographical zones and zones of foreign Europe. Natural zones of Eurasia - geography Natural zones of Eurasia short message

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.

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:

Arctic desert zone.
Variable-humid forests.
Mixed forests.
Savannah and woodlands.
Forest-steppes and steppes.
Hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs.
Taiga.
Broad-leaved forests.
Oceanic meadows.
Deserts and semi-deserts.
Permanently humid equatorial and tropical forests.
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.

Peculiarities of latitudinal zonality. On the mainland of Eurasia is located 7 geographical zones, from north to south in sequence(except tropical) replacing each other. The belts include numerous natural zones, changing both from north to south and from west to east. There are especially many natural zones in the temperate and subtropical zones. Relief plays an important role in the distribution of natural zones: the distribution of its forms often contributes to a rapid change in climatic conditions within the belts, and, consequently, to a larger number of natural zones in the belt.

Arctic and subarctic belts. The Arctic North is included in the zone Arctic deserts . In the west - on the islands - powerful glaciation is developed. In the east - on the continent - it is much drier and there are fewer glaciers. There is almost no vegetation. In summer, the rocks are covered with lichens, rare forbs appear in the depressions. The animal world is also poor: only on the coasts there are bird rookeries .

Extends south tundra . In the cold Arctic tundra, areas of bare ground alternate with lichens and mosses. In the subarctic tundra, a rather warm summer allows shrubs to grow: blueberries, lingonberries, cloudberries and herbs. To the south, dwarf birches, willows, wild rosemary appear.

Rice. 50. Tundra and its inhabitants: 1 - lemming; 2 - arctic fox

Permafrost is developed in the arctic and subarctic zones. The surface that thaws in summer becomes waterlogged, and under these conditions, tundra-gley or peat-gley soils are formed - waterlogged, low-humus and thin.

Lemmings constantly live in the tundra, arctic foxes migrate in the summer (Fig. 50), polar owls, wolves, and reindeer; many birds fly. In the coastal zone, a polar bear fishes, walruses and seals live. Gradually, to the south, trees appear in the tundra - birch, spruce, larch, and it turns into forest-tundra .

temperate geographical zone - the longest in Eurasia and the most extensive of all geographic belts of the planet's land.

Most of the belt, provided with moisture, is occupied by forests. In the north it taiga . Its species composition changes from west to east - following the climate. In Europe, where it is about -10 °C in winter, spruce and pine grow. Among the swamps of Western Siberia (up to -25 ° C) - spruce, fir and cedar. In Eastern Siberia, where winters are especially cold (up to –50 °C) and permafrost is widespread, Daurian larch dominates, shedding needles during a severe winter (Fig. 51). Spruce, fir and cedar reappear in the taiga of the eastern monsoon coast. Gray forest and podzolic soils form under the taiga in Europe, peat-bog soils in Western Siberia, and permafrost-taiga soils in Eastern Siberia. All of them are poor in humus (about 1%). The eastern taiga is richer in animal species than the western one. Typical inhabitants of taiga forests are lynx, brown bear. Lots of moose, wolves, foxes, martens, ferrets. In the Far East, there are black Ussuri bear, raccoon dog, Ussuri tiger.

Rice. 51. Daurian larch

South, in mixed forests , coniferous trees coexist - on the outskirts of the mainland - with broad-leaved oak, elm, maple, and inside the continent - with small-leaved birch and aspen. Soddy-podzolic soils are formed. The animal world becomes even more diverse: roe deer and wild boars appear. Coniferous-deciduous forests are common on the monsoon Pacific coast. They are distinguished by a special richness of flora: taiga and subtropical species coexist peacefully here.

Rice. 52. Wolverine of the Far East

broadleaf forests grow only in the west of the forest zone - in Europe, where winters are mild (not lower than -5 ° C), and moisture is uniform throughout the year. On the Atlantic coast, chestnuts dominate, and to the east - beeches and oaks. The forests have a rich undergrowth of hazel, euonymus, bird cherry. Brown forest soils containing up to 7% humus are highly fertile.

To the south, the amount of precipitation decreases, the forest stand becomes sparse and alternates with rich forbs. This is forest-steppe - transition zone. In the eastern part of the zone, trees practically disappear, and only in the hollows of aspen and birch do they form insular groves - pegs (Fig. 53). Soils of the forest-steppe - chernozems - the most fertile, the content of humus in them reaches 16%. The zone of distribution of chernozems in Eurasia is the most extensive on the planet.

Peculiarities of the vegetation cover steppes - complete absence of trees (Fig. 54). There is little precipitation here - about 300 mm. Summer is hot (+24 °C). Winters in the west are warm (0 ... -2 °С), and in the east they are cold, as in the taiga (up to -30 °С). Before plowing, forbs and grasses dominated in these territories - feather grass, fescue, bluegrass, and in the south - wormwood. Chernozems are formed under the grasses, and in the south - chestnut soils with a humus content of 4-8%.

The transitional zone - semi-desert - is formed by sparse vegetation of feather grass and wormwood. The soils under it are light chestnut, with a low content of humus (2-3%). In deserts, plants are rare, and, depending on how the surface is composed, they are different. In the sandy deserts among the dunes and dunes grow saxaul, which can extract moisture from great depths with its powerful roots, and hold the tree, which has turned the leaves into scales so as not to evaporate moisture. In the salt marshes kevirah- saltworts grow, extracting water from brines and storing it in thick stems and glossy leaves. In rocky deserts - gammads - the rocks are covered with lichens that feed on night dew. Wormwood is common in clay deserts. In the south of the zone there are many annual ephemerals - poppies, tulips.

Desert soils are also varied. Formed on clay soils takyrs(Fig. 57), on solonetzes and solonchaks - solonchak, on sands - sandy desert, on hard rocks - gray-brown soils.

Desert dwellers are adapted to living conditions - daytime heat, night cold, lack of water, food, shelters. Animals move quickly, lead an underground and nocturnal lifestyle. These are reptiles: snakes (efa, cobra), lizards (lizard); ungulates: Bactrian camel, kulan, goitered antelope; predators: jackal, hyena, corsac fox; rodents: ground squirrels, gerbils, jerboas; arthropods: scorpions, tarantulas, mosquitoes.

Rice. 57. Takyr

Bibliography

1. Geography grade 9 / Textbook for grade 9 institutions of general secondary education with the Russian language of instruction / Edited by N. V. Naumenko/ Minsk "People's Asveta" 2011

Russia is located on the most interesting and diverse continent of the planet, which has collected a little bit of almost everything.

So what place does the Eurasian continent occupy in the world?

Characteristics of the largest continent on Earth

There are 6 continents in total on the planet. Eurasia (in English it says Eurasia) is the largest.

Characteristics:

Area - 55,000,000 km².
There was no such researcher who discovered Eurasia in its entirety. Different peoples discovered it bit by bit, and in different periods great ancient civilizations were formed. The term "Eurasia" was introduced in 1880 by Eduard Suess.
The mainland is so large that on the map it can be seen immediately in 3 hemispheres: northern, eastern and western.
The population density is about 94 people per sq. km.
Eurasia is the continent with the largest population. For 2015, the number is 5 billion 132 million.

Extreme points on the mainland Eurasia with coordinates

List of Eurasian countries with capitals

Countries on the mainland are usually divided into countries of Europe and Asia.

European countries with capitals:

Asian countries with capitals:

What oceans border Eurasia

The main feature of the geographical position of Eurasia is that the mainland is washed by almost all oceans. And since in some countries the 5th Ocean (Southern) has not yet been recognized, it can be partly argued that Eurasia is washed by all existing oceans.

What parts of the mainland are washed by the oceans:

Arctic - northern;
Indian - southern;
Pacific Ocean - east;
Atlantic - western.

Natural zones of Eurasia

There are all existing types of natural zones on the territory. They stretch from west to east and from north to south.

How are they geographically located?

Arctic- islands in the very north;
and forest-tundra- in the north of the Arctic Circle. In the eastern part, an expansion of the zone is observed;
taiga- located a little to the south;
mixed forests - located in the Baltic States and in the eastern part of Russia;
broadleaf forests- zones in the western and eastern parts of the mainland;
hardwood forests- located in the Mediterranean region;
forest-steppes and steppes- located in the central part south of the taiga;
deserts and semi-deserts- are located south of the previous zone, as well as in the eastern part in China;
savannas- coast of the Indian Ocean;
variable wet forests- the most southeastern and southwestern regions, as well as the Pacific coast;
rainforests are islands in the Indian Ocean.

Climate

Due to the geographical position of the mainland, the climatic conditions on its territory are quite diverse. In different regions, all climatic indicators differ: temperature, rainfall, air masses.

The southernmost regions are the hottest. To the north, the climate is gradually changing. The central part is already characterized by moderate climatic conditions. BUT northern part of the mainland is in the realm of ice and cold.

Proximity to the oceans also plays an important role. The winds of the Indian Ocean bring a large amount of precipitation. But the closer to the center, the less they are.

In what climatic zones is Eurasia located:

arctic and subarctic;
tropical and subtropical;
equatorial and subequatorial.

Relief

On other continents, a certain type of relief is common. Mountains are usually located on the coast. The relief of Eurasia is different in that the mountainous regions are located in the center of the mainland.

There are two mountain belts: the Pacific and the Himalayan. These mountains are of different ages and formed at different times.

To the north of them are several plains:

Great Chinese;
West Siberian;
European;
Turan.

Also in the central part are the Kazakh hills and the Central Siberian plateau.

The highest mountains

One of the main features of Eurasia is that on the mainland there is the highest mountain in the world - Everest (8848 m).

Mount Everest

But there are several other highest mountain peaks:

Chogori (8611 m);
Ulugmuztag (7723 m);
Tirichmir (7690 m);
peak of Communism (7495 m);
Peak Pobeda (7439 m);
Elbrus (5648).

Volcanoes

The highest active volcano in Eurasia is Klyuchevaya Sopka. It is located near the eastern coast of the mainland in Kamchatka.

Volcano Klyuchevaya Sopka

Other active volcanoes:

Kerinchi (Sumatra Island, Indonesia);
Fujiyama (Honshu Island, Japan);
Vesuvius (Italy);
Etna (Sicily, Italy).

Volcano Erciyes

The highest extinct volcano is Erciyes (Turkey).

The largest island

Kalimantan is the largest island in Eurasia.

Parts of the island belong to 3 different countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. It is the 3rd largest island in the world.

Peninsulas of Eurasia

The biggest river

The largest river in Eurasia, the Yangtze, flows through China.

Its length is approximately 6300 km, and the basin area is 1,808,500 km².

The largest lake

Lake Baikal is the largest in Eurasia and in the world.

Its area is 31,722 km². The lake is located in the eastern part of Siberia. It is truly unique, because it is not only the largest, but also the deepest in the world. The maximum depth of Baikal is 1,642 m.

Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, is the northernmost in the world.
One plant of interest is bamboo. It is able to grow up to 90 cm per day.
"Altai" in translation from the Mongolian language means "Golden Mountains".

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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.