Soils, vegetation and fauna. Ecological problems of the Russian Plain. Problems of rational use of resources of the Russian Plain

Soils, vegetation and animal world

The soil-vegetation cover and fauna of the Russian Plain show a distinct zonality. Here there is a change of natural zones from tundra to deserts. Each zone is characterized by certain types of soils, peculiar vegetation and the animal world associated with it.

Soils. In the northern part of the plain, within the tundra zone, coarse-humus gley tundra soils are most common, in the upper horizon of which there is an accumulation of weakly decomposed mosses and strong gleying. The degree of gleying decreases with depth. Found in well-drained areas tundra gleyic soils with a lower degree of gleying. Where the stock precipitation difficult, formed tundra peaty and peaty gley soils.

Podzolic type soils are widespread under the forests of the Russian Plain. In the north it is gley-podzolic soils in

combined with marsh-podzolic peaty and peaty-gley; in the middle taiga - typical podzolic soils varying degrees of podzolization, and to the south - sod-podzolic, developed not only in the southern taiga, but also in the zone of mixed and deciduous forests. Under broad-leaved, mainly oak forests, i.e. mainly in the forest-steppe zone are formed, gray forest soils.

Chernozems are widespread under the steppe vegetation. In more humid conditions, developed leached and podzolized chernozems, which, as dryness increases, are replaced by chernozems typical, ordinary and southern. In the southeast, the plains are represented chestnut And brown desert-steppe soils. This is where they got most widespread in Russia. Chestnut, light chestnut and brown soils are often solonetzic. Among these soils in the dry steppes, semi-deserts and deserts of the Caspian Sea, salt licks And salt marshes.

Vegetation The Russian Plain differs from the vegetation cover of other large regions of our country by a number of very significant features. Common here only mixed coniferous-broad-leaved and broad-leaved forests, semi-deserts and deserts with their grass-wormwood, wormwood and wormwood-but-saltwort vegetation. Only on the Russian Plain, in the sparse forest-tundra forests, spruce dominates, and in the forest-steppe, the main forest-forming species is oak. The taiga of the plain is remarkably uniform: all subzones are dominated by spruce forests which give way on a sandy substrate pine forests. In the eastern part of the plain in the composition of the taiga, the role of Siberian conifers. The steppe occupies here the largest areas in Russia, and the tundra - a relatively small area and is represented mainly by the southern shrub tundra of dwarf birch and willow.

In the animal world Eastern European plain meet western and oriental views animals. Tundra, forest, steppe and, to a lesser extent, desert animals are common here. Forest animals are the most widely represented. Western animal species gravitate towards mixed and broadleaf forests ( pine marten, black polecat, dormice hazel and garden, etc.). The western border of the range of some eastern species of animals (chipmunk, Siberian weasel, Ob lemming, etc.) passes through the taiga and tundra of the Russian Plain. From the Asian steppes, the saiga antelope, which is now found only in the semi-deserts and deserts of the Caspian Sea, the marmot and the reddish ground squirrel, penetrated the plain. Semi-deserts and deserts are inhabited

In the fauna of the East European Plain, western and eastern species of animals are found. Tundra, forest, steppe and, to a lesser extent, desert animals are common here. Forest animals are the most widely represented. Western species of animals tend to mixed and broad-leaved forests (pine marten, black polecat, hazel and garden dormice, etc.). The western border of the range of some eastern species of animals (chipmunk, Siberian weasel, Ob lemming, etc.) passes through the taiga and tundra of the Russian Plain.

From the Asian steppes, the saiga antelope, which is now found only in the semi-deserts and deserts of the Caspian Sea, the marmot and the reddish ground squirrel, penetrated the plain. Semi-deserts and deserts are inhabited by inhabitants of the Central Asian subregion of the Palearctic (jerboas, gerbils, a number of snakes, etc.).

As in the vegetation cover, in the animal world of the Russian Plain, a mixture of western and eastern species is observed. The western border of the range is on the Russian Plain, for example, such eastern species as lemmings (hoofed and Ob) - representatives of the tundra, columns and chipmunk - inhabitants of the taiga, marmot (baybak) and reddish ground squirrel, inhabiting the open Steppes, saiga antelope, found in Caspian semi-desert and desert, and many others. Western species gravitate towards mixed and broad-leaved forests. These will be: pine marten, mink, forest cat, wild boar, garden dormouse, forest dormouse, hazel dormouse, polchek, black polecat.

The fauna of the Russian Plain, more than any other part of the former USSR, has been changed by human intervention. The modern ranges of many animals are not determined by natural factors, but by human activity - hunting or changing the habitat of animals (for example, deforestation).
Hardest hit fur animals and ungulates, the former for their valuable fur, the latter for their meat. river beaver, marten and squirrel were the main subjects of fur trade and trade among Eastern Slavs in the IX-XIII centuries. Already then, a thousand years ago, the beaver was valued very highly, and as a result of unregulated hunting, only a few individuals of this animal survived by the beginning of the 20th century.

Sable in the 16th century mined in the forests of Belarus and Lithuania. Several centuries ago, a brown bear was a common animal in the island forests of the forest-steppe and steppes.
Wolverine is now considered to be a purely taiga and partly forest-tundra animal. However, less than two centuries ago, it was widespread in the zone of mixed forests and in the forest-steppe.
Until the end of the XVIII century. in mixed and deciduous forests lived wild forest horse - tarpan. Another subspecies of the tarpan was found in the steppes; in the 60s of the XVIII century. it was described in detail by S. Gmelin.

In the west of mixed and broad-leaved forests there were aurochs and bison. Tour - the ancestor of the gray Ukrainian breed cattle- for a long time, like the tarpan, it has been completely exterminated, and bison have survived to this day in very small numbers, are taken under protection and are not found in the wild.
In the XVII-XVIII centuries. the common animal of the steppes of the Russian Plain was the saiga antelope, now living only in semi-deserts and deserts. Caspian lowland. Wild ungulates were characterized by seasonal migrations. Huge herds of saigas in late spring, when it began to burn out southern steppe, moved to the north, to the forest-steppe rich in herbs, in the fall, under the influence of cold weather, they again returned to the south. According to P.S. Pallas, in 1768, numerous herds of saigas, under the influence of drought, reached the Samara River in the Trans-Volga region and even moved further north. Even in the middle of the 19th century, according to E. A. Eversmann, mass migrations of saigas from the semi-deserts of Kazakhstan to the Ural valley in the north were observed.

Others were seasonal migrations of roe deer in the west of the forest-steppe. In the spring, they headed south, from the forests to the steppes, and in the autumn they moved back north, into the forests.
As a result of centuries of human economic activity, the animal world of the Russian Plain was greatly impoverished. IN Soviet years done big job for the enrichment of the animal world: hunting is strictly regulated, reserves for the protection of rare animals have been created, re-acclimatization and acclimatization of valuable species are being carried out.

Of the reserves located on the Russian Plain, the most interesting are: Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Voronezh, Askania-Nova, Astrakhan. In the dense mixed forests Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Western Belarus) is protected by bison. In the Voronezh Reserve, for the first time in the world practice, they began to successfully breed beavers in captivity. From here, beavers are taken from the Voronezh Reserve for reacclimatization to various regions. former USSR. The Askania-Nova steppe reserve (southern Ukraine) is known for its work on acclimatization and hybridization of a wide variety of animals from Asia, Africa and even Australia. The reserve is under the jurisdiction of the All-Union Research Institute of Acclimatization and Hybridization of Animals. M. F. Ivanov, whose employees bred valuable breeds of domestic sheep and pigs. The Astrakhan Nature Reserve was created in the Volga Delta to protect waterfowl and fish spawning grounds.

The experience of acclimatization on the Russian Plain of such valuable fur animals turned out to be successful. North America like the muskrat and mink, the South American nutria, the Ussuri raccoon and the Far Eastern sika deer.

Thanks to protection, the number of moose has increased dramatically. IN last years elk, marten and some other forest animals are energetically moving south, which, obviously, is facilitated by the large areas forest plantations. The elk appeared, for example, in Stalingrad and Voronezh regions. In many forests, a wild boar that has been killed earlier is also being restored (Voronezh, Lipetsk, Belgorod and other regions).
Despite the strong human disturbance, the wild fauna of the Russian Plain retains its great national economic importance. Many animals serve as a subject of trade (squirrel, fox, marten, ermine, mole, white hare and hare, from birds - capercaillie, hazel grouse and many others).

The Russian Plain is rich in vegetation, which is feed for cattle. Steppes and semi-deserts are a pasture for sheep, the breeding of which is very common in southern regions. Moss tundras are a food base for reindeer herding.
From industrial species animals of the forest-tundra and tundra, ermine, scribe and upland game are of great value, from fish - whitefish, pike, salmon, char. To preserve endangered species of plants and animals in 1931, the Central Forest Reserve was organized on the territory of the Russian Plain, which functions to this day.

The article contains information that gives a complete picture of the East European Plain, its topography and minerals. Indicates the states that are located in this territory. Allows you to accurately determine the geographical position of the plain and indicates the factors that influenced the climatic features.

The East European Plain

The East European Plain is one of the largest territorial units on the planet. Its area exceeds 4 million km. sq.

On a flat plane, in whole or in part, there are such states as:

The Russian Federation;
Finland;
Estonia;
Latvia;
Lithuania;
Republic of Belarus;
Poland;
Germany;
Ukraine;
Moldova;
Kazakhstan.

Rice. 1. East European Plain on the map.

The type of geological structure of the platform was formed under the influence of shields and folded belts.

It occupies the second position in the ranking of magnitudes after the Amazonian plain. The plain is localized in the eastern part of Europe. Due to the fact that its main part is localized within the borders of Russia, the East European Plain is also called Russian. The Russian plain is washed by the waters of the seas:

Minerals of the East European Plain

There is a significant accumulation of Russian minerals here.

Natural resources that lie in the bowels of the East European Plain:

iron ore;
coal;
Uranus;
non-ferrous metal ores;
oil;

Monuments of nature - a protected area in which there are unique objects of animate or inanimate nature.

The main monuments of the East European Plain: Lake Seliger, Kivach Waterfall, Kizhi Museum-Reserve.

Rice. 3. Kizhi Museum-Reserve on the map.

A large part of the territory is reserved for agricultural land. Russian regions on the territory of the plain are actively using its potential and exploiting water and land resources to the maximum. However, this is not always good. The territory is highly urbanized and significantly altered by man.

The level of pollution of the mass of rivers and lakes has reached a critical level. This is especially noticeable in the center and south of the plain.

Security measures are caused by uncontrolled economic activity human, which is today the main source of environmental problems.

The plain almost absolutely corresponds to the boundaries of the East European Platform.

This explains the flat shape of the relief. Small hill-like formations within the East European Plain arose as a result of faults and other processes of a tectonic nature. This suggests that the plain has a tectonic structure.

Glaciation contributed to the formation of the flat relief.

The water arteries of the plain have snow food that occurs during the spring flood. high-water northern rivers flow into the White, Barents, Baltic Seas, and occupy 37.5% of the entire area of the plain. Stock inland waters due to the seasonal nature of the distribution, which occurs relatively evenly. IN summer season rivers are not subject to rapid shallowing.

What have we learned?

We found out what is the total area of \u200b\u200bthe territory of the East European Plain. We learned in which areas the greatest water pollution as a result of human activities was noted. We learned what natural monuments are located on the territory of the plain. Get an idea of the zonality of soils.

Topic quiz

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The East European Plain is second in size only to the Amazonian Plain, located in South America. The second largest plain of our planet is located on the continent of Eurasia. Most of it is located in the eastern part of the mainland, the smaller one is in the western part. Since the geographic location of the East European Plain is mainly in Russia, it is often called the Russian Plain.

East European Plain: its boundaries and location

From north to south, the plain has a length of more than 2.5 thousand kilometers, and from east to west, 1 thousand kilometers. Its flat relief is explained by almost complete coincidence with the East European platform. And that means large natural phenomena it is not threatened, small earthquakes and flooding are possible. In the northwest the plain ends Scandinavian mountains, from the south-west - by the Carpathians, from the south side - by the Caucasus, in the east - by Mugodzhary and the Urals. Its highest part is located in the Khibiny (1190m), the lowest is located on the Caspian coast (28 m below sea level). Most of the plain is in the forest zone, the southern and central part- these are forest-steppes and steppes. The extreme south and eastern part is covered with desert and semi-desert.

East European Plain: its rivers and lakes

Onega, Pechora, Mezen, Northern Dvina are large rivers of the northern part that belong to the Arctic Ocean. The Baltic Sea basin includes big rivers, how Western Dvina, Neman, Wisla. The Dniester, the Southern Bug, the Dnieper flow to the Black Sea. The Volga and the Urals belong to the Caspian Sea basin. TO Sea of Azov the Don strives its waters. Apart from major rivers, on the Russian Plain there are several large lakes: Ladoga, Beloe, Onega, Ilmen, Chudskoye.

East European Plain: wildlife

Animals of the forest group, arctic and steppe live on the Russian Plain. IN more forest representatives of the fauna are widespread. These are lemmings, chipmunks, ground squirrels and marmots, antelopes, martens and forest cats, mink, black polecat and wild boar, garden, hazel and forest dormouse etc. Unfortunately, man has caused significant damage to the fauna of the plain. Even before the 19th century, the tarpan (wild forest horse) lived in mixed forests. Today at Belovezhskaya Pushcha trying to save bison. There is a steppe reserve Askania-Nova, in which animals of Asia, Africa and Australia settled. BUT Voronezh Reserve successfully protects beavers. Moose and wild boars, which had previously been completely exterminated, reappeared in this area.

Minerals of the East European Plain

The Russian Plain contains many mineral resources that have great importance not only for our country, but also for the rest of the world. First of all, these are the Pechora coal basin, the Kursk deposits of magnetic ore, nepheline and apathetic ores on Kola Peninsula, Volga-Ural and Yaroslavl oil, brown coal in the Moscow region. No less important aluminum ores Tikhvin and brown iron ore of Lipetsk. Limestone, sand, clay and gravel are distributed almost throughout the plain. Salt is mined in the Elton and Baskunchak lakes, and potash salt is mined in the Kama Cis-Urals. In addition to all this, gas is being produced (the area of the Azov coast).

Topic: East European Plain: climate, water, flora and fauna.

The purpose of the lesson:create an image of the East European Plain.

Tasks:

Educational: create conditions for the formation of an idea of \u200b\u200bclimatic conditions largest territory Kazakhstan - East European Plain; introduce students to the rivers and lakes of the plain. Highlight the relationship between the components of the animal and flora to show their uniqueness.

Developing: develop speech activity, the ability to independently obtain knowledge from various sources geographic information. Continue the formation of skills to work with contour maps.

Educational: educate patriotism, love for nature.

Equipment: wall map physical map Kazakhstan, textbook for grade 8 av. A. Beisenova, atlas for grade 8, contour map, collection of minerals.

Methods: verbal, partly search, actualization of cartographic knowledge and skills.

Lesson type: combined.

During the classes

Teacher activity

Student activities

1. Organizational moment. Greeting, encourage students to work together, check the readiness of each student for the lesson.

2. Actualization of knowledge and skills.

1. Tell us about geographical location East European Plain.*

2. Using the mineral collection, show and tell what minerals the plain is rich in.*

3. Give a description of the relief of the East European Plain.

4. Describe the relief and geological structure the uplands of the Common Syrt and the Cis-Ural plateau.

5. Tell me why Caspian lowland is flat?

6. Test task p. 78(task 1-3)

3. Studying new material

3. 1 Today in the lesson we continue to study the topic "East European Plain". And let's talk about climatic conditions, rivers and lakes, get acquainted with the flora and fauna of the plain.

Climate - Kazakhstani part of the dry continental climate. Let's try to prove it.

Cold winter,

t*From Jan. N -15* , S -8* Hot summer,

t*Su.22-24*S

Dry

continent

linen

spring frost

dry winds

O. on N 350mm, on S - 140mm Siberian anticyclone

Using climate map atlas, give a description of the seasonal distribution of climatic elements. How does the climate change from north to south?***

3.2 Rivers and lakes.

Characteristics of rivers.

river name

Nutrition

Peculiarities

Zhaiyk (Ural)

Oyil (Wil)

Zhem(Emba)

Make a conclusion? What basins do the rivers of this region belong to?

3.3. Lake. In the south of the plain is the largest drainless lake the globe.- Caspian Sea. What do you know about him?

3.4 Flora and fauna of the East European Plain.