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What determines the location of natural areas. Regularity in the distribution of natural zones on the territory of the earth. What caused the spread of natural zones on earth

Question 1. List the main natural areas of the Earth.

Natural zones are natural complexes that occupy large areas and are characterized by the dominance of one zonal landscape type. They are formed mainly under the influence of climate - the features of the distribution of heat and moisture, their ratio. Each natural zone has its own type of soil, vegetation and wildlife.

The main natural zones include: taiga, tundra, mixed and broad-leaved forests, steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, savannas, humid equatorial forests.

Question 2. What determines the distribution of natural zones on Earth?

The distribution of natural zones on the planet depends on the climate, mainly on the distribution of heat and moisture.

Question 3. Give a brief description of the tundra.

Treeless natural area with vegetation of mosses, lichens and creeping shrubs. Tundra is common in the subarctic climatic zone only in North America and Eurasia, which are characterized by harsh climatic conditions (little solar heat, low temperatures, short cold summers, low rainfall).

Moss lichen was called "reindeer moss" because it is the main food for reindeer. Arctic foxes also live in the tundra, lemmings are small rodents. Among the sparse vegetation there are berry bushes: blueberries, lingonberries, blueberries, as well as dwarf trees: birch, willow.

Permafrost in the soil is a phenomenon characteristic of the tundra, as well as the Siberian taiga. It is worth starting to dig a hole, as at a depth of about 1 m there will be a frozen layer of earth several tens of meters thick. This phenomenon must be taken into account in the construction, industrial and agricultural development of the territory.

In the tundra, everything grows very slowly. It is with this that the need for careful attention to its nature is connected. For example, pastures damaged by deer are restored only after 15-20 years.

Question 4. What trees form the basis of the taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests?

To the south of the tundra, where the winters are still very cold, there is the taiga. The basis of the natural community of the taiga is coniferous trees that are undemanding to heat. Larch, cedar pine, spruce, fir form taiga forests that occupy vast areas. Capercaillie, nutcracker, flying squirrel, sable live in the taiga.

To the south of the taiga, where there is more heat and no permafrost at all, heat-loving deciduous trees grow - oak, maple, linden. Together with other trees, various shrubs, herbs, mushrooms and, of course, animals, they form mixed and broad-leaved forests.

Question 5. What do all the grassy plains of our planet have in common?

In areas where there is a lot of heat, but moisture is not enough for the existence of forests, grassy plains are spread - steppes and savannahs. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. The steppes are especially extensive in Eurasia, and the savannahs are in Africa. The basis of the community of grassy plains is, of course, grasses, although separately growing trees are also found in savannahs. A variety of insects and large animals feed on grasses: in the African savannah, for example, antelopes, zebras. These animals are hunted by predators. The most famous predator of the African savanna is the lion.

Question 6. Give a brief description of the desert.

The desert is a natural area characterized by the virtual absence of flora and fauna. There are sandy, rocky, clayey, saline deserts. The largest sandy desert of the Earth - Sahara (from the ancient Arabic as-sahra - "desert, desert steppe") - covers an area of ​​more than 8 million square meters. km. Deserts are located in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, subtropical and tropical zones of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. During the year, less than 200 mm falls in the desert, and in some areas - less than 50 mm. Desert soils are poorly developed, the content of water-soluble salts in them exceeds the content of organic matter. The vegetation cover usually occupies less than 50% of the soil surface, and may be completely absent for several kilometers.

Due to the infertility of soils and lack of moisture, the animal and plant worlds of the deserts are quite poor. In such conditions, only the most persistent representatives of flora and fauna survive. From plants, mainly leafless thorny shrubs are common, from animals - reptiles (snakes, lizards) and small rodents. The vegetation cover of the subtropical deserts of North America and Australia is more diverse, and there are almost no areas devoid of vegetation. Low-growing acacia and eucalyptus trees are not uncommon here.

Life in deserts is concentrated mainly near oases - places with dense vegetation and reservoirs, as well as in river valleys. Deciduous trees are common in oases: turanga poplars, dzhidy, willows, elms, and in river valleys - palm trees, oleanders.

Question 7. Why are there few trees in the steppes, savannahs and deserts?

There are few trees in savannahs and deserts because there is very little rainfall. And the trees just don't have enough water.

Question 8. Why is the tropical rainforest the most species-rich natural community?

It is very warm here all year round, with heavy rains. These conditions are especially favorable for plants and animals. Therefore, the tropical rainforest is the most species-rich natural community on Earth.

Question 9. Using examples, prove that the distribution of natural zones on Earth depends on the distribution of heat and moisture.

The appearance of the natural zone is determined by the type of vegetation cover. But the nature of vegetation depends on climatic conditions - thermal conditions, moisture, illumination, soils, etc.

As a rule, natural zones are elongated in the form of wide strips from west to east. There are no clear boundaries between them, they gradually pass into one another. The latitudinal location of natural zones is disturbed by the uneven distribution of land and ocean, relief, and remoteness from the ocean.

Usually savannahs extend where moisture is no longer sufficient even for the growth of variable rainforests. They develop in the depths of the mainland, as well as far from the equator, where for most of the year not the equatorial, but the tropical air mass already dominates, and the rainy season lasts less than 6 months. Precipitation here falls on average from 500 to 1000 mm per year. Summer temperature 20-25°C and above, winter - 16-24°C.

Steppes are found on all continents of the Earth, except for Antarctica (in the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres). They are distinguished by an abundance of solar heat, low rainfall (up to 400 mm per year), as well as warm or hot summers. The main vegetation of the steppes is grasses. The steppes are called differently. In South America, the tropical steppes are called pampas, which in the language of the Indians means "a large expanse without a forest." Animals characteristic of the pampa are the llama, the armadillo, the viscacha, a rodent that looks like a rabbit.

Question 10. Analyze the drawings on page 129-131 of the textbook. Is there a relationship between the coloration of animals and the habitat (natural area)? What is it connected with?

In the course of evolution, organisms acquire various properties that allow them to more successfully adapt to living conditions. For example, the fur of northern animals (arctic foxes, bears) is white, making them almost invisible against the background of snow. Insects that feed on flower nectar have a proboscis structure and length that is ideal for this. The seal flippers, modified from the paws of their land ancestors, are perfectly adapted to movement in the water. Giraffes live in the savannah and eat the leaves of trees at high altitudes, with the help of their long necks.

There are many such examples, since each living creature has a large number of features acquired in the process of adapting to specific living conditions.

Question 11. Name these organisms. What natural areas do they live in?

Dwarf birch is common in the tundra zone. The sloth lives in the rainforest. Nutcracker is common in the taiga. Zebra lives in the savannah. Oak is characteristic of a broad-leaved forest. Goitered gazelle is found in deserts. The white owl lives in the tundra.

Question 12. Using the map on page 132-133 of the textbook, name the natural areas found on the territory of our country. Which of them occupy the largest area?

On the territory of Russia, the zoning of many natural processes and phenomena is clearly expressed. This is due to the large length of the country from north to south and the dominance of the flat relief. The following natural zones are consistently represented on the vast plains: arctic deserts, tundra, forest-tundra, forests, forest-steppes, steppes, semi-deserts, deserts, subtropics. Altitude zonality is expressed in mountainous regions.

The earth's surface and moistening conditions in different parts of the continents natural zones do not form continuous bands parallel to the equator. Only in and on some large plains do they extend in a latitudinal direction, replacing each other from north to south. More often they change in the direction from the coasts of the oceans to the depths of the continents, and sometimes they stretch almost along the meridians.

Natural zones are also formed in: from the equator to the poles, the properties of surface waters, the composition of vegetation and wildlife change. There is also . However, oceanic natural complexes do not have pronounced external differences.

There is great diversity on earth. However, against the background of this diversity, large parts stand out - natural zones and. This is due to the different ratio of heat and moisture that the earth's surface receives.

Formation of natural zones

The uneven distribution of solar heat over the Earth's surface is the main reason for the heterogeneity of the geographic envelope. In almost every land area, the oceanic parts are better moistened than the inland, continental regions. Humidification 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 precipitation can lead to excessive moisture in one zone and insufficient moisture in another. Thus, the annual precipitation of 200 mm in the cold subarctic zone is excessive (bogs are formed), while in the hot tropical zones it is sharply insufficient (there are deserts).

Due to differences in the amount of solar heat and moisture within geographic zones, natural zones are formed - large areas with uniform temperature and moisture conditions, similar surface and groundwater features, and wildlife.

Features of the natural zones of the continents

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

At the same time, other factors, in addition to climate, also influence the distribution of plants and animals: the geological history of the continents, the relief and features of rocks, and people. The unification and separation of the continents, the change in their relief and climate in the geological past have caused different types of plants and animals to live in similar natural conditions, but on different continents. The African savannahs, for example, are characterized by antelopes, buffaloes, zebras, African ostriches, and in the South American savannas, several species of deer, armadillos and an ostrich-like flightless nandu bird are common. On each continent there are endemic species (endemics) that are characteristic only of this continent.

Under the influence of human activity, the geographic envelope is undergoing significant changes. To preserve representatives of the organic world and typical natural complexes in all natural zones of the world, specially protected areas are created - nature reserves, etc. In national parks, unlike, nature protection is combined with tourism and people's recreation.

Formation of natural areas

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 of solar heat on the Earth's surface.

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, natural zones are formed within geographic zones.

Patterns of placement

In the placement of natural zones on the earth's surface, a clear pattern is visible, which can be clearly seen on the map of natural zones. 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, in addition to climate, other factors also influence the features of the distribution of plants and animals: 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, antelopes, buffaloes, zebras, African ostriches are characteristic of the African savannas, and several species of deer and a flightless rhea bird similar to an ostrich are common in the South American savannahs.

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 darkness constantly reigns, monstrous humidity, constant high temperature, there is no change of seasons, downpours 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.

The rainforests of South America are 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. A distinctive feature of the savannas is the 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 the very humid natural zones of the equatorial forests and the very dry zones of the deserts, 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 stretches from west to east for more than 5 thousand km, and in Eurasia, originating in the Scandinavian Peninsula, it spread to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The Eurasian taiga is the largest continuous forest zone on Earth. It occupies more than 60% of the territory of the 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 the influence of human activity, the geographical envelope is changing. 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 ().

What determines the formation of natural zones? What natural areas stand out on our planet? You can answer these and some other questions by reading this article.

Natural zoning: the formation of natural zones on the territory

The so-called our planet is the largest natural complex. It is very heterogeneous, both in the vertical section (which is expressed in vertical zonality) and in the horizontal (latitudinal), which is expressed in the presence of various natural zones on Earth. The formation of natural zones depends on several factors. And in this article we will talk about the latitudinal heterogeneity of the geographic envelope.

This is a component of the geographical shell, which is distinguished by a certain set of natural components with its own characteristics. These components include the following:

  • climatic conditions;
  • the nature of the relief;
  • hydrological network of the territory;
  • soil structure;
  • organic world.

It should be noted that the formation of natural zones depends on the first component. However, natural areas receive their names, as a rule, according to the nature of their vegetation. After all, flora is the brightest component of any landscape. In other words, vegetation acts as a kind of indicator that reflects the deep (those that are hidden from our eyes) processes of the formation of a natural complex.

It should be noted that the natural zone is the highest step in the hierarchy of the physical and geographical zoning of the planet.

Factors of natural zoning

We list all the factors in the formation of natural zones on Earth. So, the formation of natural zones depends on the following factors:

  1. Climatic features of the territory (this group of factors should include the temperature regime, the nature of moisture, as well as the properties of the air masses that dominate the territory).
  2. The general nature of the relief (this criterion, as a rule, affects only the configuration, the boundaries of a particular natural zone).

The formation of natural zones can also be influenced by proximity to the ocean, or the presence of powerful ocean currents off the coast. However, all these factors are secondary. The main root cause of natural zonality is that different parts (belts) of our planet receive unequal amounts of solar heat and moisture.

Natural areas of the world

What natural zones are distinguished today by geographers on the body of our planet? Let's list them from the poles - to the equator:

  • Arctic (and Antarctic) deserts.
  • Tundra and forest tundra.
  • Taiga.
  • Broadleaved forest zone.
  • Forest-steppe.
  • Steppe (or prairie).
  • Semi-desert and desert zone.
  • Savannah zone.
  • Tropical rainforest zone.
  • Humid zone (hylaea).
  • The zone of rain (monsoon) forests.

If we look at the map of the natural zonality of the planet, we will see that all natural zones are located on it in the form of sublatitudinal belts. That is, these zones, as a rule, extend from west to east. Sometimes this sublatitudinal direction can be violated. The reason for this, as we have already said, is the features of the relief of a particular territory.

It is also worth noting that there are simply no clear boundaries between natural areas (as shown on the map). So, almost each of the zones smoothly "flows" into the neighboring one. At the same time, border "zones" can very often form at the junction. For example, such are semi-desert or forest-steppe zones.

Conclusion

So, we found out that the formation of natural zones depends on many factors. The main ones are the ratio of heat and moisture in a particular area, the properties of the prevailing air masses, the nature of the relief, and so on. The set of these factors is the same for any territory: mainland, country or small area.

Geographers distinguish over a dozen large natural zones on the surface of our planet, which are elongated in the form of belts and replace each other from the equator to the polar latitudes.

Topic:"Natural zones of the Earth"

Target: to expand the existing knowledge of students about the natural zones of the Earth (demonstrate the location of the main zones on the surface of the planet, explain the reasons for the change in natural zones, show changes in natural zones under the influence of human activity).

Teaching tasks:

  1. Explain the concepts of "natural zone", "altitude zonality", "latitudinal zonality".
  2. To form a holistic concept of the natural zones of the Earth as natural territorial complexes.
  3. Show the pattern and reason for the change in natural zones.

Development tasks:

  1. Development of skills in working with a geographical map.
  2. The ability to generalize and classify information (self-compilation of the characteristics of the natural zones of the Earth).

Educational tasks:

  1. Development of a respectful and caring attitude towards wildlife.
  2. Development of interest in geography and related disciplines (biology, botany, etc.).

Lesson steps:

  1. Organizational moment (reading an epigraph poem).
  2. Introduction to the topic (method of repeating the material covered), problem statement.
  3. Learning new material (lecture method, working with a geographical map, game time).
  4. Fizkultminutka.
  5. Generalization of the material covered.
  6. Homework.

During the classes

  1. Organizing time

As an additional introduction to the topic, the teacher may read a poem (or ask the student to read it) about the natural areas of the Earth. This is necessary to create a special mood among students and better assimilation of new knowledge.

As an epigraph, you can use:

  • V. Keulkuta "Quiet in the tundra at dawn";
  • V. Bezladnov "And in the North, friends";
  • N. Zabolotsky "In the taiga";
  • E. Asadov "In the taiga";
  • Yu. Drunina "In the steppe";
  • P. Vyazemsky "Another troika";
  • N. Bozhukova "You told about the desert ...".

  1. Introduction to the topic, problem statement

The teacher reminds the students about the related topics covered on the natural zones of the earth, asks leading questions:

Is the climate the same all over the earth?

What is zonation?

What are the reasons for zoning?

How many belts of illumination on Earth, what are they called?

Which light zone do we live in?

What is altitudinal zonation?

The teacher corrects the answers of the children, supplementing them.

  1. Learning new material

The teacher under the record defines the term "natural zone" and explains it with specific examples. Next, the teacher turns to the geographical map, and the students - to personal atlases. Natural zones of the Earth are visually shown. To stimulate brain processes, the question is asked:

Why are natural areas called natural? (so named because of the vegetation prevailing in this area)

In the form of a story, the teacher explains the reason for the placement of natural zones (the law of latitudinal zonality). This is how the final formation of the concept of "latitudinal zoning" takes place.

To consolidate new knowledge, students are called in turn to the blackboard and show one or another natural zone on the map.

The teacher explains that natural areas change not only in latitude, but also in height (formation of the concept of "altitude zoning"). For better memorization and reflection, the question is asked:

Why is this happening? (pressure and temperature change with altitude)

To consolidate the result, a game moment is introduced - riddles. The following can be used as riddles:

Here we have a forest biome,

There are a lot of plants and animals in it.

It is multi-tiered, braided with a liana,

And it is called "the lungs of the Earth".

There are many "jewels" growing in it,

People use them in medicine.

On the map along the equator you will find

And you will call me this zone

(answer: moist equatorial forests)

As summer approaches, it gets hotter every day. The rays of the hot sun drink the last water from the soil and plants. Here comes the hot dry wind. And there are no longer flowers, no bright grass - it turned yellow, burned out, as if the fire had burned down: only grasses with narrow leaves remained

(answer: steppe)

This is a treeless swampy plain in the north of the country. Nature is harsh here. Winter windy, cold​ naya, with frosts below 50 degrees, lasts 8-9 months,

there is little snow, the ground freezes to a great depth?

(answer: tundra), etc.

The teacher makes brief conclusions on the amount of knowledge received.

  1. Physical education minute

It is carried out in the traditional form, i.e. in the form of exercises (squats, jumping in place, etc.). There may also be a cognitive moment: for each physical exercise performed, the student must answer a question (for example, what animals are found in the tundra or how humid equatorial forests are useful for the planet).

  1. Generalization of the material covered

It is carried out in the form of a story with elements of a conversation, i.e. involving children in the learning process. Once again, work is being done with a geographical map. As a reinforcement, children draw contour maps in notebooks, painting over natural areas with a certain color.

The summary of the lesson is carried out by the teacher independently or with the help of students. To do this, questions are asked about the concepts obtained (natural zone, latitudinal and altitudinal zoning).

  1. Homework

It is given according to the recommendation of the textbook. As a creative task, you can offer a synthesized work - an essay on the topic "How I visited ... (tundra, desert, taiga, etc.)". This will simultaneously consolidate the knowledge gained in the lesson, develop creative abilities and have a positive effect on the development of speech.