Natural zones of Eurasia. Zones of the arctic, subarctic, temperate, subtropical climatic zones. Mainland Eurasia - characteristics and basic information about the largest continent

Eurasia is the largest continent of our planet, which for a long time remained the least explored. It is washed by the waters of four oceans, all climatic zones meet on its territory. The nature of Eurasia is so diverse that it is easy to find areas that are completely opposite in terms of conditions. The contrasts of the continent are due to its relief, length and history of formation.

Features of the geographical location

The mainland is washed by the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Eurasia's closest neighbors are Africa and North America. From the first mainland is connected through the Sinai Peninsula. North America and Eurasia are separated by the relatively small Bering Strait.

The continent is conditionally divided into two parts: Europe and Asia. The border between them runs along the eastern foot of the Ural Mountains, then along the channel along the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, the Kuma-Manych depression, along the line of meeting of the waters of the Black and Sea of ​​Azov and, finally, along the straits connecting the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

The coastline of the continent is quite indented. In the west, the Scandinavian Peninsula stands out, in the south - Arabian and Hindustan. East Coast also strongly inferior to waters in places Pacific Ocean. Here you can find whole chains of islands: Kamchatka, Big Sunda and so on. The north of the continent is less indented. The land areas that protrude more than others into the ocean are the Kola and Chukotka.

The nature of the Eurasian continent as a whole is determined by the influence of the waters of the oceans only to a small extent. The reason for this is the considerable length of the continent and the features of its relief. The vast territories of Eurasia for a long time remained poorly studied. A special contribution to the development of the territories of Asia was made by Petr Petrovich Semenov-Tyan-Shansky and Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky.

Relief

The natural wonders of Eurasia are, first of all, its contrast. In many ways, it is due to the features of the relief of the mainland. Eurasia is above all other continents. There are mountain ranges here that are larger than similar formations in Africa, Australia and both Americas. The most famous peak of the mainland is Everest, or Chomolungma. This is the highest point on the planet - 8848 meters above sea level.

The Eurasian plains occupy vast areas. There are much more of them than on other continents. The lowest point of the planet on land is also located here - this is the depression of the Dead Sea. The difference between it and Everest is approximately 9 kilometers.

Formation

The reason for such a variety of surface topography lies in the history of its formation. At the heart of the mainland lies the Eurasian lithospheric plate, consisting of sections different ages. The "oldest" areas are the South China, East European, Siberian and Sino-Korean platforms. They are connected by later mountain formations. As the continent formed, fragments of ancient Gondwana were added to these platforms, which today underlie Hindustan and the Arabian Peninsula.

The southern edge of the Eurasian Plate is a zone of elevated seismic activity. Here are the processes of mountain building. In the eastern part of the mainland, the edge of the Pacific went under the Eurasian plate, as a result deep depressions and extended island arcs. Earthquakes and related disasters are not uncommon in this area.

In the so-called ring of fire of the Pacific Ocean is located and a large number of volcanoes. The highest operating on the territory of Eurasia is (4750 m above sea level).

A significant contribution to the formation of the relief of the continent was made by glaciation, which in ancient times occupied the northern part of the mainland.

Plains and mountains, old and young

The nature of Eurasia has undergone many changes. The vast West Siberian Plain, which occupies one of the first places in terms of area in the world, was once the bottom of the sea. Today only reminds of the distant past big number sedimentary rocks found here.

The mountains of the mainland were not always what they look like today. The most ancient of them are Altai, Ural, Tien Shan, Scandinavian. The process of mountain building here has long been completed, and time has left its mark on them. The massifs are badly damaged in places. In some areas, however, later uplifts also occurred.

"Young" mountain ranges form two belts in the southern and eastern parts of the mainland. One of them, the Alpine-Himalayan, includes the Pamirs, the Caucasus, the Himalayas, the Alps, the Carpathians, the Pyrenees. Some of the ranges of the belt converge to form highlands. The largest of them is the Pamirs, and the highest is Tibet.

The second belt, the Pacific, extends from Kamchatka to the Big Sunda Islands. Many of the mountain peaks located here are extinct or active volcanoes.

The riches of the continent

Features of the nature of Eurasia include minerals that are unique in their diversity. On the territory of the mainland, tungsten and tin, necessary for industry, but rarely found, are mined. Their deposit is located in the eastern part of the continent.

Gold is also mined on the territory of Eurasia, as well as diamonds, rubies and sapphires. The mainland is rich in deposits iron ore. Large quantities of oil and gas are produced here. In terms of the reserves of these minerals, Eurasia is ahead of all other continents. Most large deposits are situated in Western Siberia, in the Arabian Peninsula. Natural gas and oil are also found at the bottom of the North Sea.

Eurasia is also famous for its coal deposits. On the mainland, bauxites, table and potash salts are also mined.

Climate

The diversity of the nature of Eurasia is largely due to the peculiarities climatic conditions. The mainland is famous for their rather abrupt changes both from north to south and from east to west. The main features of the nature of Eurasia on and Hindustan were formed under the influence of monsoons. Part of the year they blow from the ocean and bring a huge amount of precipitation. In winter, monsoons come from the continent. In summer, a zone is formed above the heated earth reduced pressure, and equatorial air masses come here from the ocean.

Features of the nature of Eurasia in the southern part of the continent are associated with high mountain ranges stretching from west to east. These are the Alps, the Caucasus, the Himalayas. They don't miss cold air from the north and at the same time do not interfere with the penetration into the depths of wet masses coming from Atlantic Ocean.

The wettest places on the continent are where the monsoons from the ocean meet the mountain ranges. Thus, a large amount of precipitation falls on the southern slopes of the Western Caucasus. One of the wettest places on the planet is located in India, at the foot of the Southeastern Himalayas. Here is the city of Cherrapunji.

Climatic zones

The nature of Eurasia is changing as we move both from north to south and from west to east. Not the last role in this is played by climatic zones. Northern and eastern part of the mainland, including arctic islands, is an arid and cold region. Here reign low temperatures, the air warms up a little only in summer period. In winter, the Arctic climate is characterized by severe frosts.

The next belt is characterized by less severe conditions. subarctic climate in Eurasia, it dominates a small territory stretching in a narrow strip from west to east. It also includes the island of Iceland.

The most significant territory on the mainland is occupied by the northern temperate zone. It is characterized by a gradual change in climate types as you move from west to east. The regions of Eurasia bordering the Atlantic Ocean are distinguished by warm and mild winters with frequent rains and fogs (the temperature does not drop below 0º), cool cloudy summers (10-18º on average) and high humidity (up to 1000 mm of precipitation falls here). Such features are characteristic of a maritime temperate climate.

With distance from the western coast, the influence of the Atlantic Ocean weakens. A temperate continental climate extends to the Ural Mountains. This area is characterized by warm summers and cold winters. Behind Ural mountains the nature of the Eurasian continent is determined by the continental temperate climate. In Central and Central Asia, it is very hot in summer and cold in winter. Temperatures can drop below 50º below zero. Due to the small amount of snow, the ground freezes to a fairly large depth.

Finally, in the east of the temperate zone, the climate becomes monsoonal. Its main difference is a clear change in the seasons of air masses.

It stretches from the Iberian Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean. It is also divided into zones. The subtropical Mediterranean climate is characterized by warm, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. As you move east, the humidity decreases. The central regions of the belt have a continental subtropical climate: hot summers, Cold winter, low rainfall.

The east coast, washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, is characterized by high humidity. The air masses that come here in the summer are shed by endless rains, causing rivers to overflow. IN winter time subtropical monsoon climate is characterized by temperatures down to 0º.

Diversity of nature in Eurasia: natural areas

The climatic zones of the mainland provide uniqueness in their variability of the animal and plant world. Here are all the natural areas that are found on the planet. Many of them are quite strongly modified by man. This is especially true of the area suitable for agriculture, and areas that are comfortable for living. The wild nature of Eurasia, however, has been partially preserved, and today every possible effort is being made so that even after a long time people know what the area around them was originally like.

Wonders of nature on the mainland of Eurasia are not uncommon. There are plants and animals here that are not found anywhere else. The diversity of the nature of Eurasia is created in places by a smooth, and sometimes quite a sharp change in climatic zones.

harsh north

The zone of arctic deserts, tundra and forest-tundra stretches in a narrow strip across the territory of Eurasia. Due to the harsh climate, there is little vegetation. Vast tracts of land remain bare all year round. Of the animals here you can meet polar bears, reindeer, arctic foxes. The area is characterized by a large number of birds arriving in warm time of the year.

The tundra is particularly dry and permafrost is impressive in depth. These features lead to the formation of swamps characteristic of the area.

Taiga

To the south of the tundra, swamps are also found in large numbers. The taiga, located here, is divided into European and Asian. The first is dominated by such conifers as pine and spruce. They are adjacent to birch, mountain ash and aspen. As you move south, maples and oaks are more common, as well as ash trees. The Asian taiga is the birthplace of cedar and fir. Here, larch is also found in large numbers - a coniferous tree that sheds foliage for the winter.

Taiga animals are also very diverse. Brown bears, white hares, squirrels, moose, wolves, foxes and lynxes live here, as well as forest lemmings, martens, polecats and weasels. Bird polyphony is a familiar background for these places. Here you can meet woodpeckers, white partridges, black grouse, capercaillie, owls and hazel grouses.

forest land

The nature and animals of Eurasia are changing along with climatic conditions. On the vast territory of the East European Plain, the main part of the mixed forests of the mainland is concentrated. When moving to the west, they gradually disappear and reappear on the Pacific coast.

IN mixed forests coniferous, small-leaved and broad-leaved species grow together. There are much fewer swamps here, the soils are soddy-podzolic, and the grass cover is well defined. The broad-leaved forests of the Atlantic zones are characterized by beech and oak. When deepening to the east, the latter begins to predominate. Also there are hornbeam, maple and linden. On the Pacific coast monsoon climate The composition of forests is also very diverse.

Animal world represented here by wild boars, roe deer, deer, as well as almost all the "inhabitants" of the taiga. Brown bears are found in the Alps and Carpathians.

Changed zone

To the south lie the forest-steppe and the steppe. Both zones are quite strongly modified by man. The forest-steppe is interspersed areas of forest and grassy vegetation. steppe zone mainly represented by cereals. Here, rodents, ground squirrels, voles, marmots are found in large numbers. The natural vegetation of the area has been preserved today only on the territory of reserves.

The eastern part of the Gobi plateau is a zone of dry steppes. Low grasses grow here, there are areas completely devoid of vegetation or saline.

Devoid of vegetation

Semi-desert and desert zones occupy a considerable part of the continent. They extend from the Caspian lowland along the plains of Central and Central Asia. The main features of the nature of Eurasia here are practically complete absence vegetation and poor wildlife. Extremely low rainfall, dry air, clay and stony soils do not contribute to the appearance of even grasses in this area. Rather sparse vegetation is found in sandy deserts. Wormwood, astragalus, saxaul, saltwort "live" here.

The fauna of the deserts is also poor. However, here you can find enough rare representatives fauna, such as wild kulans, Przewalski's horse. Rodents and camels are common in this zone.

Subtropics

Warm winters with high rainfall and hot dry summers good conditions for hard-leaved forests and shrubs that spread along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. There are cork and cypress, pine, wild olive. The nature of Eurasia and here has undergone many changes due to human activities. Forests in the modern Mediterranean are almost completely cut down. Their place was taken by low trees, as well as shrubs.

The subtropics in the south of China and the Japanese islands look somewhat different. Magnolias, palms, camellias, ficuses, camphor laurel and bamboo grow here.

On the inner part of the mainland are subtropical and tropical desert and semi-deserts. This zone is characterized by dry hot weather, low rainfall. Vegetable world presented in the same way as in the deserts of the temperate zone. In addition, acacias are found here, date palms grow in oases. Fauna is not numerous: Przewalski's horse, kulans, jerboas, antelopes, jackals, hyenas, wild donkeys, onagers, gerbils.

Close to the equator

The Eurasian savannas are a place where a large number of cereals grow, as well as teak and sal trees, acacias, and palm trees. Vast areas are covered with variable-humid subequatorial forests. They are located on the coast of Hindustan and Indochina, in the lower reaches and the Brahmaputra, as well as in the northern part of the Philippine Islands. Only a few trees growing here shed their leaves during the dry period.

In the subequatorial forests, the animal world is very diverse. There are various ungulates, monkeys, lions and tigers, as well as wild elephants.

Equatorial forests amaze with a variety of palm trees. There are more than three hundred species of them, and coconut is also found among them. There is also a lot of bamboo in this area.

Climatic zones of mountain regions

The features of the nature of the Eurasian continent are also a clearly noticeable change in the flora and fauna in the Alps and the Himalayas. These mountain systems are the highest in Europe and Asia, respectively. The Alps reach a maximum of 4807 meters (Mount Blanc).

On the southern slopes here is the lower zone altitudinal belt. It extends up to 800 m and has features of the Mediterranean climate. In the western part of the Alps, mixed and beech forests are mainly located. In the east, in the lower zone, the climate is drier. Pine and beech forests grow here, interspersed with steppe meadows. The second belt extends up to the mark of 1800 m. Oak and beech forests are located here, conifers are found. The next, subalpine, belt (up to 2300 m) is characterized by shrubs and meadow vegetation. Above, only crustaceous lichens are found.

At the foot of the Eastern Himalayas are Terai, wetlands. Palm trees, bamboo, sal grow here. The fauna of this area is quite diverse. Here you can meet snakes, elephants, tigers, rhinos, monkeys, leopards and so on. The territory from 1500 to 2000 m above sea level is occupied by evergreen subtropical forests. Higher increases the number of deciduous and coniferous species. The belt of shrubs and meadow vegetation begins at 3500 m.

Due to the peculiarities of geography, the diversity of nature, Eurasia is a unique place on our planet. The contrasts of the mainland contribute to the vigilant interest in it on the part of researchers and travelers. However, a description of the nature of Eurasia without mentioning the traces of human activity looks somewhat ideal. As on any other continent, the territory here has undergone a lot of changes. A huge number of the population living on the mainland needs developed agriculture, constant mining. Therefore, the areas suitable for this are very different from the state in which they were at the dawn of mankind. Today Eurasia is vast fields, big cities and abandoned villages, huge industrial complexes. Preserving wildlife often fails. For salvation rare species Animal and plant reserves have been created, but they do not quite cope with the task. Nevertheless, the opinion about the need to respect the environment is increasingly supported by government organizations. I would like to believe that thanks to this wonderful nature Eurasia, whose photos are found on the pages of all thematic magazines, will be preserved in the future not only in pictures.

Natural areas, like no other continent, are well-defined and diverse.

Arctic deserts, tundra and forest-tundra occupy the northern islands and a narrow strip of the northern coast of the mainland. In the west, the southern border at 69 ° N. sh. to the east it shifts to 60°N. sh. The temperate forest zone includes coniferous, mixed and broad-leaved forests and occupies most of Europe and Siberia.

The taiga is represented by fir and cedar. Among the animals there are martens, chipmunks, hares, elks, brown bears, insectivores (woodpeckers, finches), predator birds, as well as capercaillie, partridge, black grouse.

For the zone of broad-leaved forests of beech and oak, moist warm climate and brown forest soils. However, the forests have been severely cut down and in their place are industrial areas. The forest-steppe is replaced by the steppe, which is located north of the Black Sea. Cereals dominate here, under which fertile chernozem soils have formed.

Desert landscapes are located in the center of Eurasia: winters are cold and frosty. There is no succulent vegetation capable of storing water, and saltwort, wormwood, and saxaul prevail. In Arabia and Mesopotamia, the deserts are similar to African ones.

Evergreen hardwood forests and shrubs grow in the Mediterranean. Summers are dry and hot, while winters are warm and humid. Various palm trees, grapes, olives and citrus fruits feel good here.

In the east in subtropical zone a different picture is observed: precipitation falls in summer, winters are cool and dry. Magnolias, camellias, bamboo, oak, beech, hornbeam grow here. Few wild animals survived. Among them are the Himalayan bear, leopards, monkeys.

Variably humid (monsoon) forests are common in areas with a well-defined dry period.

South Asia is located in the subequatorial and equatorial belts and is under the influence of the southwest monsoons. Territories here are occupied by wet equatorial forests.

In the Himalayas, altitudinal zonality is pronounced. Here you can find almost all the natural zones of the Earth, which replace each other when climbing the mountains. It is not for nothing that plant hunters tend to the Himalayas, because here you can collect an extraordinary collection, especially since the places are difficult to access and little mastered by man.

From the history of the study of the mainland.

Eurasia is a continent on which developed and dominated for a long time ancient civilizations ancient india, Ancient China, Ancient Babylonia, Ancient Greece, ancient rome. Both European and Asian explorers and travelers actively explored the territory of the mainland. One of the first were the Phoenicians, who in the II century. BC e. explored the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, then the ancient Greeks completed the discovery of southern Europe. And during the reign of the Romans, who conquered the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the name of the third part of the world appeared - Africa. An exceptional period in the history of the development of civilization was the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries.

It was at this time that the most important geographical discoveries were made: the famous journey of the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama to India, as well as the circumnavigation of Ferdinand Magellan, who, having crossed the Pacific Ocean, approached the islands of Indonesia, and many other travels. For a long time, the interior regions of Eurasia remained little explored. The nature of Central Asia, Siberia and the Far East has long remained a mystery to European geographers.

The famous expeditions of our compatriots - Semyon Dezhnev to Siberia and the Far East, Vladimir Atlasov to Kamchatka, Pyotr Chikhachev to Altai, Pyotr Semenov-Tyan-Shansky to the Tien Shan mountains, Nikolai Przhevalsky to Central Asia- filled in the blanks geographical maps Asia.

Eurasia is located in all climatic zones northern hemisphere, and therefore within its limits there are all types of natural zones of the Earth. Basically, the zones are elongated from west to east. But the complex structure of the surface of the continent and the circulation of the atmosphere determine the uneven moistening of its different parts.

Therefore, the zonal structure is greatly complicated, many zones do not have a continuous distribution or deviate significantly from the latitudinal direction.

Arctic deserts, tundra and forest tundra located further north than in North America. In the west of the mainland, they lie far beyond the Arctic Circle, due to the influence of the warm North Atlantic Current. Tundra and forest-tundra occupy a narrow strip in Northern Europe, expanding to the east with an increase in the severity of the climate. In winter, in continental regions, there are very low (-15 ° ... -45 ° С) air temperatures. Not uncommon strong winds, blizzards. Summers are short, cool, with average monthly temperatures not exceeding +10 ° C. Precipitation is frequent, but their total amount is small - 200 - 300 mm per year. The amount of precipitation exceeds evaporation, therefore, excessive moisture is typical in the tundra and forest-tundra.

characteristic feature earth's surface within the tundra is the predominance of permafrost. In conditions short summer tundra-gley soils were formed, in lowland areas - peat-bog soils. The main vegetation of the tundra is mosses, lichens, and dwarf trees. The species composition of forest-tundra woodlands includes birch, spruce, and larch. The fauna is represented by lemmings, polar hares, reindeer, white partridges, polar owls. Economic importance has hunting for animals and birds, deer breeding.

To the south, within the temperate zone, coniferous forests (taiga) stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. There is enough heat and moisture for the growth of trees. Where there are conditions for moisture retention, marshes are formed. From west to east, within the taiga zone, natural conditions are gradually changing.

In the Asian part, permafrost is widespread, which to a certain extent causes a change in the species composition of the taiga. So, in the west of the mainland, pine and spruce prevail, fir reigns beyond the Urals, Siberian cedar (cedar pine), in Eastern Siberia- larch. Small-leaved species are often mixed with conifers - birch, aspen, alder. In the taiga, the animal world is rich and diverse, there are many fur-bearing animals. Sables, beavers, and ermines stand out with valuable fur. Foxes, squirrels, martens are found in the taiga. There are common rabbits

chipmunks, lynxes, from large animals - elks, brown bears. A large number of birds that feed on seeds, buds, young shoots of plants (grouse, hazel grouse, crossbills, nutcrackers, etc.) are insectivorous (finches, woodpeckers), predatory. Some of the birds are the object of fishing: hazel grouse, partridge, black grouse.

Taiga forests are rich in timber. Trees are being cut down on large areas, and measures for their restoration are being considered at the same time.

To the south, the taiga zone is replaced by a zone of mixed forests. Fallen leaves and grass cover of these forests contribute to the accumulation of a certain amount of organic matter in the surface layer. Mixed forests are not distributed in a continuous strip, but only in Europe and East Asia.

The zone of deciduous forests stretches to the south. It also does not form a continuous strip, it curves near the Volga. In Europe, in conditions of a sufficient amount of heat and precipitation, beech forests predominate, in the east they are replaced by oak forests, since the oak better tolerates summer heat and dryness. The main tree species in this zone are mixed with hornbeam, elm, elm - in the west, linden, maple - in the east.

IN deciduous forests, especially oak, the usual grass cover of plants with wide leaves: goutweed, drop caps, ferns, lilies of the valley, lungwort, etc.

In the east of the mainland, broad-leaved forests have survived only in mountainous areas. Under the conditions of a warm and very humid summer of the monsoon climate, these forests are very diverse in species composition. IN temperate zone there are southern elements, such as bamboo. There are creepers. Under the forest canopy there is a dense shrub layer and grass cover. Many relic forms.

Few indigenous forest types remain.

In mixed and broad-leaved forests there are many animals that are typical for the taiga (hares, foxes, squirrels, etc.). Previously, there were many roe deer, wild boars, and red deer. They still live in the preserved forest massifs. In the east, the world of animals in the forests, remaining more diverse, therefore enriched with species of southern latitudes. So, in Japan, monkeys are found in this zone ( japanese macaque), in the Amur basin - tigers.

In the central parts of the mainland, forests to the south change into forest-steppes and steppes due to a decrease in precipitation and an increase in evaporation. The forest-steppe is dominated by herbaceous vegetation on chernozem soils, but there are areas of broad-leaved or small-leaved forests, under which gray forest soils are formed.

Steppes are treeless spaces dominated by grasses with a dense and dense root system. Fertile black earth soils formed under them. Therefore, the steppes and forest-steppes are almost completely plowed up, and all over the world there are only a few protected areas of steppe vegetation. The fauna of Stetsiv is almost not preserved. Only rodents - gophers, marmots, field mice adapted to life on agricultural land. Numerous herds of ungulates disappeared with the plowing of the steppe, their remains are under protection. In the eastern part of the mainland, as you move away from the ocean, the "continental climate" grows. Therefore, dry steppes with sparse vegetation and chestnut soils appear in the Eastern Gobi, containing less humus than chernozems.

IN central regions Eurasia in the inner basins are semi-deserts and deserts. They formed because there is very little rainfall. Summers are dry and hot, while winters are dry and cold. There is not enough moisture for plant life. In the deserts of the temperate and subtropical zones of Eurasia, wormwood, saltwort, and saxaul grow. In Central and Central Asia, in the zone of semi-deserts and deserts, there are numerous rodents, mostly hibernating in winter. Once there lived wild donkeys-ku-fields, wild horses, camels. Now
they almost did not survive, but as a result of active measures to protect and restore the population of these animals, they were saved from extinction.

The tropical deserts of Arabia, Mesopotamia and the Indus basin are similar in their natural conditions to African ones, since there are wide ties between these territories and there are no obstacles to exchange.

In the south of the oceanic sectors of the mainland there are subtropical zones, and in the east and rainforest. The zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs of the Mediterranean is distinguished by a special originality. Summers are dry and hot, winters are wet and warm. Plants are adapted to tolerate heat and drought.

conditions for growth woody vegetation are unfavorable, therefore cut down forests are not restored, their place is occupied by shrub formations. Coastal forests are dominated by evergreen oaks, wild olives, noble laurels, southern pines - pines, cypresses. In the undergrowth - stunted and shrubby forms of oaks, myrtle, strawberry, rosemary, etc. They are the main vegetation of shrubs. Large areas are occupied cultivated plants.Grow olives, citrus fruits, grapes, essential oil crops such as lavender.In the past, cattle breeding was developed here.As a result of overgrazing, some areas have become completely devoid of soil and vegetation cover or overgrown with thorny bushes.There are few wild animals, rodents (for example, a wild rabbit ), a small number of wild goats and mountain sheep (in the mountains, mainly on islands), genet huts.There are many reptiles: snakes, lizards, chameleons.A peculiar world of birds, many of which are not found in other places (blue magpie, Spanish sparrow and etc.) Large birds of prey live - vultures, eagles.

In the subtropical zone in the east of the mainland, variable-humid (monsoon) forests predominate. Precipitation here falls mainly during hot summers, while winters are cool and relatively dry. The forests are very rich in species. Evergreen trees grow: magnolias, camphor laurel, camellias, tung tree, bamboo. They are mixed with deciduous: oak, beech, hornbeam,: and. "Southern conifers: special types pines, cypresses, etc. There are many vines. There is almost no natural vegetation on the densely populated plains of China. Subtropical crops are grown here. Wild animals are preserved mainly in the mountains. The composition of the fauna is peculiar: there are black Himalayan bear, bamboo bear- panda, leopards, monkeys - macaques and gibbons. Birds usually have bright feathers: pheasants, parrots, etc.

Where the dry season is well defined, subequatorial belt characterized by savannas and woodlands.

In the South and South-East Asia comparatively large areas are occupied by moist equatorial forests. Forests are distinguished by a wide variety of plants and animals, among which there are many peculiar groups. Especially a large number of species of palm trees (up to 300 species), bamboo.

In Eurasia, large areas are occupied by high mountain systems and highlands, in which altitudinal zonation is well expressed. Its structure is extremely diverse and depends on the geographical position of the mountains, the exposure of the slopes, and the height. Especially peculiar Tibetan Plateau, raised to a very high altitude -4-6 km. It is located in the 30-40s latitudes, however, it has an extremely unusual climate. During the daytime, the surface of the earth is very hot, and at night the soil and air are very cool. The difference in heating sometimes reaches tens of degrees. This causes a pressure difference and contributes to the formation of strong winds. Winter and summer temperatures are also very different. The climate of the Tibetan Plateau is very unfavorable for plant and animal life. In the center and west of the uplands, where these conditions are especially pronounced, high-mountain deserts with low-growing perennials are formed. Some hardy meadow grasses (bent grass, oatmeal, sedges) and sea buckthorn bushes grow along the streams. The animals of this region have adapted to adverse conditions. During frosts and storms, many of them, including birds, hide in burrows. There are common rodents: pikas, marmots, mice, hares. Among predators, special species of foxes, martens, and bears are characteristic. The main animal of Tibet is like an unpretentious bull with thick long hair. Of the other ungulates, there are many antelopes, there are wild donkeys - Kiang, mountain sheep.

Within the other highlands of Eurasia, climatic conditions have some similarities to Tibet, but nowhere are there such large expanses of high mountain deserts.

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 (Fig. 50), polar owls, wolves migrate for the summer, reindeer; many birds fly. Fishing in the coastal zone polar bear live walruses and seals. 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%). Eastern taiga richer in animal species than the western one. Typical inhabitants of taiga forests are lynx, Brown bear. Lots of moose, wolves, foxes, martens, ferrets. On the Far East meet black Ussuri bear, raccoon dog, Ussuri tiger.

Rice. 51. Daurian larch

South, in mixed forests , coniferous trees adjoin - 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 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 °С). 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 underground and night image life. 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 / Tutorial for the 9th grade of institutions of general secondary education with the Russian language of instruction / Edited by N. V. Naumenko/ Minsk "People's Asveta" 2011

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. 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, ground cover, fauna). 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. Turning your gaze to the corner symbols became more or less clear. 12 natural zones have been formed on the mainland, and a zone is distinguished separately altitudinal zonality. This long list:

1. Arctic desert zone.
2. variable rainforests.
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 they mix external features natural components of neighboring territories.

I will continue the analysis of the map. Especially large areas are occupied by colors: orange and dark green, which correspond to the zones of deserts, semi-deserts and taiga, respectively. central part the mainland and the Arabian Peninsula are clearly distinguished 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.