What natural zones is South Asia located in? Southeast Asia

Natural areas of the plains. In different parts of Central Asia, the amount of total solar radiation is different: in the north it is less (100 kcal/cm2), in the south it is more (160 kcal/cm2). The uneven distribution of temperature and moisture contributes to the formation of climatic zones, and within them natural zones. The presence of high mountains on the territory of Central Asia and changes in temperature and humidity depending on altitude contributed to the formation of altitudinal zones.

Central Asia is located in the southern temperate and northern, arid subtropical zones. In the temperate climate zone there are steppe, semi-desert and desert zones, in the subtropical zone there is a zone of subtropical deserts.

The steppe zone includes the northern part of the Turgai plateau, the northern and central parts of the Kazakh hillocks.

In the north of the steppe zone, chernozems are common, in the south - dark chestnut soils. Steppe vegetation consists of low-growing sedge, feather grass, flax, alfalfa, and buttercup caustic, roofing fire, etc. Of the animals in the steppe zone, the most common are rodents. The steppe zone is now almost completely plowed and turned into crop land.

The semi-desert zone includes the southern part of the Turgai plateau and the large southern part of the Kazakh small hills. There is more sun here, the climate is dry and hot in summer, and cold in winter. Chestnut soils are common here; their layer is less thick than chernozem, and there is less humus in them. Lack of moisture prevents intensive development of agriculture. In some places, soil salinization is observed. The main plants of the semi-desert zone: weeds, Chernobyl grass, white quinoa.

The desert zone covers the Turan lowland and the Balkhash plains. In Central Asia, sandy, rocky, and clayey deserts are common. The formation of deserts was facilitated by high temperatures, low rainfall, and the absence of rivers. The vegetation is sparse, its mass is small, and in a short time, before it has time to grow, it dries out without forming humus. Basically, desert sandy, gray-brown, clayey, rocky soils and gray soils predominate here. When irrigated, gray soils produce a good harvest. In the lowlands there are salt marshes and solonetzes.

The vegetation cover consists mainly of saxaul, yantak, sand acacia, saltwort, and wormwood. Among the animals, kulans live here; from arachnids - scorpions, phalanges; of reptiles - geckos, monitor lizards, boas, cobras, ephas. The flora and fauna of deserts are adapted to anhydrous conditions. The roots of the plants are long, the leaves are needle-shaped or completely absent. Animals live in burrows or hide in the sand, some are nocturnal or hibernate throughout the summer.

Natural zones of the subtropical zone. This belt includes the Turkmen-Khorasan Mountains and the Atrek Valley. A dry subtropical climate has developed here. The soils are grey-earth, and thickets of bushes, juniper and pistachio grow on the mountain slopes. Agriculture is developed in the valleys.

The desert belt is located at the foot and on the slopes of Central Kyzylkum, in the foothills of the Kopetdag and Sultan-Uvays.

The semi-desert belt includes foothill adyrs with an absolute height of 500 to 1200 m. Their relief is uneven, mostly gray soils, where mainly angustifolia sedge and bulbous bluegrass grow.

The steppe belt is developed in the mountains at an altitude of 1200 to 2000 m. The average annual temperature in the steppe zone is 3-4° lower than in the adyrs, precipitation falls in spring, winter and autumn, the soils are gray and brown, rich in humus. Such ephemera as creeping wheatgrass, wormwood, feather grass, cornflower, and harelip (Lagochilos intoxicans) grow here.

The forest-steppe and forest belt includes areas at an altitude of 2000-2700 m above sea level. Mountain-forest brown soils are common here. The vegetation cover consists of trees and shrubs, in some places the humus content reaches 12%. Precipitation ranges from 800 to 1000-1200 mm per year. Precipitation mainly falls in autumn, winter, spring, and occasionally in summer. Four types of juniper, walnut, pistachio, maple, rosehip and other plants grow here.

The belt of subalpine and alpine meadows includes high-mountain meadows located at an altitude of 2700 m and above. These lands are used only as pastures for the Gissar breed of sheep.

Subalpine meadows include areas at altitudes from 2700-2800 to 3000-3200 m. Light brown and light brown soils are developed here. The main plants are cereals and turf-forming plants. From the trees grow apricot, juniper, rowan, from the herbs - prangos, kuziniya, meadow sainfoin, fescue, geranium, adonis (Turkestan adonis), etc.

Alpine meadows are located at an altitude of 3200 m and higher above sea level. Dark brown and brown soils predominate here. Xerophytic plants are widespread. Precipitation occurs throughout the year. The vegetation includes arlaut, azhrikbash, meadow sedge, bulbous bluegrass, etc.

The belt of snow and glaciers (nival) covers the highest parts of the mountains, covered with eternal snow and glaciers.

Natural zones and physiographic zoning
Overseas Asia

Geographical zones and zones

In Foreign Asia there are natural areas:
- Equatorial
- Subequatorial
- Tropical
- Subtropical
- Temperate zones.
The latitudinal orientation of the zones is preserved only in
continental sector of the temperate zone (in Central
Asia).
In the oceanic sectors and in the subequatorial
belt there are violations of latitudinal zonality,
associated with the characteristics of atmospheric circulation and
the structure of the relief, creating a clearly defined
“barrier relief”: it is especially clearly manifested in Malaya
Asia, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in the NE
China, on the Hindustan and Indochina peninsulas.
LOOK AT THE MAP!!!:

Natural areas of Foreign Asia

Vegetation of Asia

Equatorial belt

The equatorial belt occupies almost the entire Malay Archipelago, south
Philippine Islands, Malacca Peninsula and southwest Sri Lanka. Constantly
high temperatures, abundant and uniform moisture (more than 3000 mm), constant
high humidity (80-85%). The radiation balance is lower than in the tropics - 60-65 kcal/cm2
per year, which is associated with heavy cloudiness.
The zone of equatorial forests (gile) dominates. Floristically these are the most
rich forests on the globe (over 45 thousand species). Species composition of tree species
reaches 5 thousand (in Europe there are only 200 species). The forests are multi-tiered, abundantly represented
lianas and epiphytes. There are about 300 types of palm trees: palmyra, sugar, areca, sago, caryota,
rattan palm liana. Tree ferns, bamboos, and pandanuses are numerous. On
coast mangroves from Avicenia, rhizophora, nipa palms.
Zonal soils are leached and podzolized laterites. For the mountains
vertical belts are characteristic. Typical hylea at altitudes of 1000-1200 m gives way to mountain
hylaea, less tall, but wetter and denser. Above are deciduous formations. On
At the tops, low-growing shrubs alternate with patches of meadow vegetation.
The fauna is rich and diverse. Preserved: orangutan, as well as monkeys
gibbon, macaques. Predators include tiger, leopard, sun bear, wild elephant. Remained
tapirs, tupai, woolly wings, reptiles - flying dragons, lizards, giant
Komodorian monitor lizard (3-4 m). From snakes - pythons (reticulated up to 8-10 m), vipers, arboreal
snakes. There is a gharial crocodile in the rivers.
Hylean forests are preserved on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. On cleared
Hevea, spices, tea, mango, and breadfruit are grown in the lands.

Subequatorial belt

The subequatorial belt covers the Hindustan Peninsula, Indochina, and the north of the Philippine Islands.
Radiation balance from 65 to 80 kcal/cm2 per year. Differences in moisture have led to the formation here
several natural zones: subequatorial forests, seasonally wet monsoon forests, shrub
woodlands and savannas.
Zone of subequatorial forests - along the western coasts of Hindustan, Indochina, northern
the extremities of the Philippine archipelago and the lower reaches of the Ganges-Brahmaputra, where more than 2000 mm of precipitation falls. Forests
They are distinguished by a variety of species composition, multi-tiered, and difficult to pass. Dipterocarpus are typical for them,
streculia, albizia, ficus, palms, bamboos. Most have soft wood. Trees provide valuable by-products
products: tannins, resin, rosin, rubber.
Zonal soils are red-yellow ferrallitic with low fertility. tea plantations,
coffee tree, rubber plants, spices, bananas, mangoes, citrus fruits.
The zone of seasonally wet monsoon forests is confined to the eastern outskirts of Hindustan and Indochina,
where precipitation is no more than 1000 mm. Deciduous evergreen forests are multi-tiered and shady with many vines and epiphytes.
Valuable species grow: teak, sal, sandalwood, dalbergia. Monsoon forests have been severely damaged by deforestation.
With a decrease in precipitation to 800-600 mm, monsoon forests are replaced by a shrub zone
woodlands and savannas, the largest areas of which are confined to the Deccan Plateau and inland areas
peninsula of Indochina. Woody vegetation gives way to formations of tall grasses: bearded grass,
alang-alang, wild sugar cane. In summer the savannah turns green and in winter it turns yellow. Single palm trees, banyan trees and
acacias diversify the landscape.
The soils are dominated by red-colored varieties: red, red-brown, red-brown soils. They
poor in humus, susceptible to erosion, but widely used in agriculture. Stable yields only when
irrigation. Rice, cotton, and millet crops are cultivated.
The fauna was rich, but is now greatly exterminated: rhinoceroses, bulls (gayal), antelopes, deer, hyenas,
red wolves, jackals, leopards. There are many monkeys and semi-monkeys (lories) in the forests. Peacocks, wild chickens, parrots,
blackbirds, pheasants, starlings.

Tropical zone

The tropical zone occupies the southern part of Arabia, the south of Iranian
highlands, Thar desert. Radiation balance 70-75 kcal/cm2 per year. IN
throughout the year trade wind circulation, high temperatures, large
daily fluctuations. Precipitation less than 100 mm at evaporation rate 3000
mm.
Under such conditions, zones of deserts and semi-deserts are formed.
Large spaces are occupied by shifting sands and barren
rocky deserts (hammads). Vegetation consists of ephemerals,
hard subshrubs and cereals (wormwood, astragalus, aloe, spurge,
ephedra). There is an edible lichen "manna from heaven"
(linacora edible). The date palm grows in the oases. Soil
the cover is poorly developed and is absent over large areas.
In mountainous areas, dragon trees grow on windward slopes.
trees, gum acacias, incense trees (myrrh, boswellia).
juniper.
The fauna is diverse: wolf, jackal, fennec fox, striped
hyena, ungulates - sand gazelle, mountain goat. Rodents - jerboas, gerbils. Birds - eagles, vultures, kites

Subtropical zone

The subtropical zone stretches from Asia Minor to the Japanese Islands. Radiation balance 55-70
kcal/cm2 per year. It is characterized by sectored landscapes.
In the largest continental sector, zones of deserts, semi-deserts and steppes are distinguished. On
in the west, in a Mediterranean climate, a zone of evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs is developed, in
the Pacific sector is a zone of monsoon mixed forests. Natural zoning is complicated by vertical
clarity.
Continental
sector
Mediterranean
sector
Pacific
sector
Evergreens
forests and
bushes
Monsoon
evergreen
mixed
forests
Deserts,
semi-deserts
Steppes

1. The zone of evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs in Asia is entering
a narrow strip along the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor and Arabia. The climate here is more
continental than in Europe, annual temperature ranges are greater, precipitation falls
less. The vegetation has pronounced xerophytic features. There are almost no forests left,
They were replaced by shrub formations. Maquis predominates, depleted in species
in comparison with European ones. It is dominated by shrub oak
kermes. In the Levant it is mixed with carob and Palestinian pistachio, and in
Asia Minor - red juniper, myrtle, heather, wild olive. On dry coastal
On the slopes, maquis gives way to freegana and shiblyak, as well as deciduous shrubs - rosehip, wild rose, euonymus, and jasmine. Brown soils are replaced by chestnut soils.
Altitudinal zone: Shrub formations rise into the mountains up to 600-800 m,
higher up grow coniferous-deciduous forests (black pine, Cilician fir, cypress, oak,
maple). From 2000 m xerophytic vegetation predominates, often having
cushion-shaped (euphorbia, Cretan barberry, sticky rose).
2. In the continental sector of the subtropical belt, occupying the Western Asian
highlands, dominated by deserts and semi-deserts. The basin structure of the uplands is
the reason that natural areas are shaped like concentric circles. In the central
Parts of the highlands are deserts. They are framed by semi-deserts, then mountain steppes and
shrubby woodland.
The largest areas of deserts and semi-deserts are in the Iranian Plateau. More than 30% of it
The territory is covered by salt marshes, devoid of vegetation, and a significant area is occupied by
rocky and sandy deserts. Zonal soils are desert gray soils and brown soils.
The fauna is quite diverse. Of the ungulates - white-browed goat, mouflon, wild
donkey onager (kulan), among predators - caracal, striped hyena. Rodents - gophers, jerboas, marmots.

The steppe zone is confined to the foothill areas, in which there are alternating
wormwood and feather grass formations. In spring, ephemerals and some
cereals that burn out by summer. On the slopes of the mountains, steppes give way to shrubby
open forests. The Western Asian highlands are the birthplace of the phryganoid
formations of mountain xerophytes - thorny cushion-shaped subshrubs
forms less than 1 m high. The most typical types are acantholimon, astragalus,
juniper.
The Tibetan Plateau, due to its enormous relative altitudes (more than
4000 m), characterized by vegetation of high mountain steppes, semi-deserts and
deserts.
3. The zone of monsoon evergreen mixed forests is typical for
Pacific sector of the subtropical belt. It covers the southern regions
Eastern China and the Japanese Islands. Natural vegetation has given way
place for plantations of tea, citrus fruits, cotton, rice. The forests retreated into the gorges,
on steep cliffs, in the mountains. The forest stand is dominated by laurels, myrtles, camellias,
Podocarpus, Cunningamia. Forests in Japan are better preserved.
The dominant species are evergreen oaks, camphor laurel, Japanese pine,
cypresses, cryptomerias, thujas. In the rich undergrowth of bamboo, gardenia, magnolia,
azaleas.
Red soils and yellow soils predominate (from 5 to 10% humus). But
fertility is low, since the soils are poor in calcium, magnesium, and nitrogen.
The fauna is preserved only in the mountains. Among the rare animals are lemurs (the slow loris), a small predator - the Asian civet, and among the ungulates - the tapir.
The avifauna is rich: pheasants, one species of parrots, geese, ducks, cranes, herons,
pelicans.

Temperate zone

The temperate zone is limited in area, occupies part of Central Asia, Eastern
and Northeast China, Hokkaido Island. Radiation balance 30-55 kcal/cm2 per year.
Climatic conditions in the continental and oceanic sectors are different. Particularly large
contrasts in moisture: more than 1000 mm of precipitation falls on the coast, inland it falls
the quantity is reduced to 100 mm. Accordingly, the landscape features are varied. Zones
taiga, mixed and deciduous forests are characteristic of the oceanic sector;
the inland region is occupied by zones of deserts, semi-deserts, steppes and forest-steppes.
Inland
sector
Ocean sector
Deserts,
semi-deserts
Taiga
Steppes, forest-steppes
Mixed and
broadleaf
forests

OCEANIC SECTOR
1. The taiga zone is found in Northeast China, where Dahurian larch and
Scots pine. The tracts of coniferous forests on the island of Hokkaido are more extensive. Here they prevail
Hokkaido spruce and Sakhalin fir, mixed with Ayan spruce, Japanese pine, yew
Far Eastern, in the undergrowth there are bamboos and grasses. The soils are podzolic, and in the lowlands they are peat-boggy.
2. Mixed forest zone mainly in Northeast China. Glaciation in
The Quaternary period was not here, so representatives of the Arcto-Tertiary flora found refuge here.
Mixed forests abound in endemics and relicts. This is the so-called Manchurian flora, very
rich in species. The forests include Korean cedar, white fir, larch
Olginskaya, Ayan spruce, Mongolian oak, Manchurian walnut, greenbark and bearded maple. IN
undergrowth Amur lilac, Ussuri buckthorn, Manchurian currant, chokeberry,
aralias, rhododendrons. From vines: Amur grapes, lemongrass, hops. The soils are dominated by
dark-colored, podzolized forest brown soils and gray soils to varying degrees.
Broadleaf forest zone
adjoins mixed ones from the south.
The forests have mostly been cut down,
the remaining arrays consist of
maple, linden, elm, ash, walnut
nut Forests are better preserved
Japan, where beech and
oak, maple are widely represented
(up to 20 species), ash
Manchurian, local species
walnuts, as well as chestnuts,
linden, cherry, birch, magnolia.
Zonal soil type - forest
brown soils.

Inland sector

1. The prairie zone is located on the plains of Northeast China. Unlike
North American Asian prairies receive less precipitation (500-600 mm). However
the presence of permafrost spots that thaw in summer additionally moisten the soil. Formations develop
tallgrass prairie, often interspersed with oak woodlands. Currently
natural vegetation has been completely destroyed. Fertile meadow chernozem-like soils (up to
9% humus) are plowed and occupied by crops of millet (kaoliang), legumes, corn, rice, vegetables,
watermelons
2. In the continental sector of the temperate zone, aridity features are clearly pronounced: especially
The interior parts of Central Asia are arid, dominated by desert and semi-desert zones.
Large areas are devoid of life and represent an ideal desert. Where there is vegetation, it
sparse and represented by psammophytes (sand lovers) and halophytes (salt lovers). These are different
species of saltwort, wormwood, tamarisk shrubs, juzgun, ephedra, saxaul. Developed in deserts
gray soils, in semi-deserts - brown soils (less than 1% humus).
Ungulates and rodents. Among the ungulates are the Bactrian camel, the wild ass, antelopes (gazer,
goitered gazelle, Przhevalsky), in the mountains - goats and rams. Rodents include gophers, jerboas, and voles.
3. The steppe zone occupies the basins of western Dzungaria, the northern parts of Mongolia (up to
41-42°N) and the foothills of the Greater Khingan. Precipitation up to 250 mm. Low-grass dry steppes predominate,
in which there is no continuous vegetation cover - low-growing feather grass, chamomile, tonkonog, caragana,
wormwood. Soils are chestnut; are divided into dark and light chestnut. With artificial
Irrigated dark chestnut trees produce high yields of wheat, beans, corn, and kaoliang. Light chestnut trees are not used for agriculture; transhumance is developed on them.

Physiographic zoning

Regions:
1. SW Asia
2. Western Asian
highlands
3. South Asia
4. SE Asia
5. Central Asia
6. East Asia
Physiographic regions of Foreign
Asia

Regions or physical-geographical countries: SW Asia Western Asian Highlands S. Asia SE Asia Central Asia East Asia

Asian
Mediterranean
Omorye
(Levant),
Mesopotam
and I,
Arabian
peninsula
Asia Minor
highlands,
Armenian
highland,
Iranian
highlands
Northeastern
China and
peninsula
Korea,
Central
China, South
China,
Northern Mongolia,
Japanese
plains and
islands
South plateau
Mongolia and
Northern China,
mountains and basins
Northwestern
China, Hindu Kush and
Karakoram systems
Kunlun-AltyntagNanshan, Tibetan
highlands
Indochina,
Malay
archipelago,
Filipino
islands
Himalayas,
Indo-Gangetic
lowland,
peninsula
Hindustan,
island
Ceylon
Physiographic regions

Central Asia: Central Kazakhstan, Turan Lowland and Balkhash region, mountains of the southeast and east of Central Asia

D/Z: Prepare a presentation according to plan

Physiographic countries generally correspond to the main morphostructural regions. They have territorial integrity, from

Physiographic countries generally correspond to the main
morphostructural regions.
They have territorial integrity, isolation, and
an independent history of the development of relief, hydraulic networks, organic world,
characterized by a specific landscape structure.
1. Central Asia – high plains, highest
mountains and highlands on heterogeneous structures with
dominance of dry steppe, semi-desert and desert
landscapes;
2. East Asia - with highly dissected terrain,
alternating medium-high and low mountains, extensive
alluvial lowlands, with dissected
sea ​​coasts and chains of islands along them,
monsoon climate (temperate to
tropical), forest landscapes;
3. SW Asia – arid plains and plateaus with tropical
rocky and sandy deserts, dry
trade wind climate, sparse vegetation;

4. The Western Asian highlands are closed, dry
highlands, vast empty basins and salt marshes,
drainless
depressions,
With
continental
subtropical
climate,
dry
steppes,
woodlands and shrubs.
5. South Asia
6. SE Asia
Most
loved ones in
landscape
respect
regions, with
warm seasonally
wet
climate
equatorial
monsoons and
dominance
various
tropical
forest
landscapes.
Fenced by the Himalayas
north,
characterized
more
high temperatures, great
contrasts in hydration and therefore
a richer range of landscapes
– from evergreen humid tropical
forests to tropical deserts.
Mostly
mountain
relief, higher and more uniform
hydration, especially on the islands,
absolute
dominance
forest
landscapes – from gil to dry
deciduous monsoon forests and
woodlands.

Central Asia – sharp continental climate and monotonous landscapes associated with an extreme degree of aridity; The region is remote from the Oka

Central Asia – sharp continental climate and monotony
landscapes associated with an extreme degree of aridity;
The region is remote from the oceans, isolated by powerful mountain systems, elevated
(from 1000-1200 m in Central Asia proper to 4000-5000 m in Tibet).
After the collapse of the USSR, the territory
Central Asian republics and Kazakhstan
is being considered
V
composition
Central Asian
subcontinent.
Thus, Central Asia includes
the following physical-geographical countries:
Central Kazakhstan, Turan plains
plates and Balkhash region, mountains and basins
Northwestern China and Central Asia,
plains and plateaus of Southern Mongolia and
Northern China, Northern Mongolia,
Pamir - Hindu Kush - Karakorum, Kunlun Altyntag - Nanshan, Tibetan Plateau. On
in the north the subcontinent borders Western
Siberia and the mountains of Southern Siberia, on
in the east from the East, in the south - from the South
Asia, in the west - with the Southern Urals and
Mugodzhars, the Caspian region, then in the southwest - with the Iranian Plateau.
Region - a system of basins limited
more or less high mountains and
hills.

The main natural features of Central Asia:
- “Lattice-honeycomb” surface structure. Almost the entire region is a system of basins,
limited by more or less high mountains and hills. The central parts of the basins are
hard blocks of different geological ages, mountain uplifts formed by neotectonic
movements within the limits of different age moving belts. All physical-geographical countries of the subcontinent are similar in this respect, except for Central Kazakhstan.
- Large amplitudes of heights. They are associated with the activity of neotectonic movements (Turfan depression
lies at an altitude of 154 m below sea level, the city of Chogori in Karakoram has an absolute height of 8611 m). Eat
data that over the past 10 thousand years the Kunlun, Nanshan and other mountains have risen by 1300-1500 m.
- Aridity of the climate, due to the inland location and basin relief. With this
many features of different components of nature are connected.
- Erosion dismemberment of mountain slopes occurred only in pluvial eras; glaciation is not
developed because there was not enough water; ancient leveling surfaces have been preserved;
modern denudation is slow, mainly due to weathering processes, talus and work
temporary streams; debris material is not carried far from the slopes where it formed (“mountains are drowning in
own wreckage"); groundwater is usually deep and often mineralized; rivers
low in water, sometimes they don’t flow anywhere; lakes are mostly salty, often with intermittent
outlines, and in some cases “wander” from one shallow basin to another; dominate
deserts, semi-deserts and dry steppes on brown, gray-brown and in some places chestnut soils; wide
salt marshes and solonetzes are widespread; plants and animals have adaptations to life in dry conditions
conditions.
- Disorganized flow (according to V. M. Sinitsyn): areas of internal flow and drainless areas predominate. This
explained both by the aridity of the climate and the basin structure of the territory.
- The highest degree of continental climate: annual temperature amplitudes can reach 90°C,
Low winter temperatures are especially typical. The features of continentality are most clearly manifested in
numerous large and small basins, so characteristic of the region’s topography.
- Central Asia has long been a little-studied region. Mountain barriers, harsh climate
conditions and remoteness from European countries prevented the penetration of scientific expeditions into
Central Asian territory. The political isolation of many parts of the region also played a role. Only in the XIX
V. the first expeditions took place, and, overcoming natural obstacles and Mongol resistance,
Tibetan and Chinese authorities, scientists from many countries explored and mapped this territory.
The pluvial period is a stage of intense climate humidification due to an increase in the amount
liquid precipitation.

Relief

Central Asia is characterized by high altitudes, and clearly
There are 2 main relief tiers.
The lower tier is formed by the Gobi, Alashan, Ordos, Dzungarian and
Tarim Plain, the prevailing heights of which are 500-1500 m.
The upper tier is the Tibetan Plateau, within which the average
heights increase to 4-4.5 thousand m.
Plains and plateaus are separated from each other linearly
elongated mountain systems of the Eastern Tien Shan, Kunlun,
Nanshan, Mongolian Altai, Karakorum, Gandhishan, etc.,
having a predominantly latitudinal and sublatitudinal strike.
The highest peaks of the Tien Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun reach
6-7 thousand m; the highest point of Central Asia is the city of Chogori, in Karakorum (8611 m).
Chogori, Karakoram

Kun-Lun

The Turfan depression lies at an altitude of 154 m below sea level

Climate

Modern climatic conditions are characterized by large amplitudes
temperatures
Summer is hot (with average monthly temperatures of 22-24°C the air can
warm up to 45°C, and the soil - to 70°C). Winters with frosts and little snow. Veliki
daily temperature fluctuations, especially during transition seasons when they can
reach 2-3 tens of degrees.
In winter, the Asian Anticyclone is located over Central Asia, and in summer,
area of ​​low atmospheric pressure with a predominance of moisture-depleted
air masses of oceanic origin.
The climate is sharply continental, dry, with significant seasonal and daily
temperature fluctuations. Average January temperatures on the plains are from -10 to -25 °C,
July from 20 to 25 °C (on the Tibetan Plateau about 10 °C). Annual precipitation amount on
plains usually does not exceed 200 mm, and areas such as the Taklamakan desert,
Gashun Gobi, Tsaidam, Changtang Plateau, receive less than 50 mm, which is tens of times
less evaporation. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in summer. In the mountains
in the ridges of precipitation is 300-500 mm, and in the south-east, where the influence of the summer monsoon is felt, up to 1000
mm per year. Central Asia is characterized by strong winds and an abundance of sunny days
(240-270 per year).
A reflection of the dry climate is the significant height of the snow line,
reaching 5-5.5 thousand m in Kunlun and Nanshan, and 67 thousand m on the Tibetan Plateau, in Changtan (its highest position on the globe). Therefore, despite the enormous
the height of the mountains, there is little snow in them, and intermountain valleys and plains are usually snowless in winter.
The scale of modern glaciation is insignificant (the glaciation area is Central
Asia is estimated at 50-60 thousand km2). The main centers of glaciation are located in the most
high mountain nodes of the Karakoram, Kunlun, as well as the Eastern Tien Shan and
Mongolian Altai. Cirque, hanging and small valley glaciers predominate.

Surface water

Due to the dry climate, Central Asia is characterized by low
water cut. Most of the territory belongs to the area of ​​internal
flow, forming a series of closed basins (Tarim, Dzhungar,
Tsaidamsky, Basin of the Great Lakes, etc.).
The main rivers are Tarim, Khotan, Aksu, Konchedarya, Urungu, Manas, Kobdo,
Dzabkhan - originate in high peripheral mountain ranges, and upon exiting
on the plains, a significant part of their runoff seeps into loose sediments
foothill plumes, evaporates and is spent on irrigating fields; That's why
downstream, the water content of rivers usually decreases, many of them dry up
or carry water only during the summer flood caused by the main
by melting snow and ice in the mountains of Central Asia Driest
regions of Central Asia (Alashan, Beishan, Gashun and Trans-Altai Gobi,
central part of the Taklamakan Desert) are practically devoid of surface
watercourses. Their surface is covered with dry riverbeds in which water appears
only after occasional showers. Only the outskirts have flow into the oceans
Central Asia, in the mountains of which the great rivers of Asia originate: the Yellow River,
Yangtze, Mekong, Salween, Brahmaputra, Indus, Irtysh, Selenga, Amur.
There are many lakes in Central Asia, the largest of which is Lake
Kukunor, and the deepest is Khubsugul. The largest number of lakes is in Tibet
highlands and in the north of the Mongolian People's Republic. Many of them are terminal river floods
(for example, Lop Nor), due to which their outlines and sizes often change in
depending on fluctuations in river water content. Salt lakes predominate; from
The largest fresh ones are Khara-Us-Nur, Bagrashkol, Khubsugul. Many lakes on
plains are in a stage of decline.

Tarim River

Tarim wanders around
basin,
breaks down into
sleeves, changes
direction,
leaving without water
oases with
populated
points that
due to
throw this away.
The location of the river mouth has not been determined either: in
different years it flows in different directions.
Most rivers flowing from mountains into basins
lost in the sand, dismantled for irrigation or
At times, salt lakes fill with water.

Lake Khubsugul in Mongolia. Mountain range in the background
Munku-Sardyk

Gobi Desert, Central Asia (territory of Mongolia and
China).
Construction of the Lotos Hotel,
China

Khotan River crossing the sandy
Taklamakan Desert, China.

Soils. The predominant soil types in the north are chestnut, in the deserts of Northwestern China - gray-brown, desert, in the Tibetan region

Soils.
The predominant soil types in the north are chestnut, in deserts
Northwestern China - gray-brown, desert, on the Tibetan Plateau -
frozen soils of cold high mountain deserts. In relief depressions -
salt marshes and takyrs. In the upper mountain belt there are mountain-meadow and (in the north) mountain forest soils. The soils of the Central Asian plains are usually thin, almost
devoid of humus, often contain large amounts of carbonates and gypsum;
significant areas of sandy and rocky deserts are generally devoid of
soil cover. In the mountains there are gravelly and coarse-skeletal soils.

Some areas of sandy and gravelly deserts are completely devoid of vegetation, in other places they are typical desert communities with

Some areas of sandy and gravelly deserts are completely devoid of vegetation, in
in other places these are typical desert communities with wormwood, solyanka, ephedra,
camel thorn, tamarisk, sometimes with saxaul on the sands.
Only in the outlying mountains at altitudes of 1800-3000 m do forests of Tien Shan pine appear
spruce, elm, aspen. Variegated poplar, desert elm, and willows grow along dry riverbeds. IN
There are meadows in mountain valleys and on the slopes of high mountains.
Taklamakan - a sandbox in a bowl between the mountains

Ephedra

East Asia

The most extensive region of foreign Asia, located
between the Amur Valley and the coast of South China, including
adjacent Pacific Islands.
The situation in the eastern oceanic sector of Asia with
its characteristic monsoon circulation and abundant
moisture in the summer season determined the dominance of forest
landscapes (from southern taiga to constantly humid tropical
forests).
In the leeward position, in the north, where the monsoon circulation
weakens somewhat, forest-steppes and meadow steppes appear.
In contrast to the monsoon climate of South and South-East Asia, there is significant
cyclonic activity on the polar front plays a role,
therefore, intra-annual moisture in Eastern Asia is more uniform.
Fauna and flora of the region that did not experience glaciation
characterized by high species diversity and endemism.
A characteristic feature of nature is the vaguely expressed zonation of landscapes,
associated with the predominance
mountainous terrain with its inherent vertical zonation

Western Asian highlands

Form a continuous belt from the coast
Mediterranean Sea to Tibet and include
Asia Minor, Armenian and Iranian plateaus.
They are characterized by a combination of peripheral
folded structures of Cenozoic age with
more
ancient
median
arrays,
the great role of neotectonic movements in
formation of modern relief.
Typical Mediterranean landscapes are similar
with European ones, and as we move east
the influence of purely Asian features is growing -
continentality
climate,
drainlessness,
landscapes
acquire
dry steppe
And
desert features.

Sandy desert of Rub al-Khali, Arabia
peninsula.

Sandy-salt desert
Dasht-e Lut, Iran.

Infrared satellite
image of the Great Salt
desert (Dasht-Kevir), Iran.

The ancient Greeks called Asia the land over which the sun rises. This part of the world occupies 30% of the planet's landmass. Developed and poor states coexist on a vast territory. Asia is characterized by versatility in everything from living standards to cultural customs.

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Basic Geographical Information

The area of ​​Asia with adjacent islands is 43.4 million km². It is located in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth and covers almost all climatic zones. The land border with Europe runs through the Urals, and with Africa through the Suez Canal. A large proportion of land is surrounded by oceans and seas. Extreme points of the Asian part of the world:

• in the north - Cape Chelyuskin;
• in the south - Cape Piai;
• in the west - Cape Baba;
• in the east - Cape Dezhnev.

The major islands are Sakhalin, Severnaya Zemlya, Honshu and Taiwan. The landmass called Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean. Most of the islands are in the southeast. The Malay Archipelago, which includes the Philippine, Moluccas, Greater Sunda and Lesser Sunda Islands, settled there. Cyprus is located in the Mediterranean Sea. North Asia is known for the New Siberian Islands.

The shores are washed on all sides by four oceans and nineteen seas. The coastline is heavily indented. In the north are the Chukotka and Taimyr peninsulas. The Korean Peninsula and Kamchatka settled in the eastern part. The peninsulas of the southern regions - Indochina, Hindustan and Arabian - are separated by the Sea of ​​Bengal and the Arabian Gulf.

Asia is deservedly considered a rapidly developing part of the world. There are 48 countries on its territory. A population of 3 billion people makes up almost half of the total number of inhabitants of our planet. The population growth rate is high. A significant part of the people live on the coast of Hindustan, in the southern part of Korea and Central Asia. This region of land is diverse in national composition: all races of the world are represented here.

Relief

Mount Chomolungma (Everest)

The eastern part of Eurasia stands on the Caspian, Siberian, Hindustan and Arabian lithospheric plates. They are characterized by mobility, unlike European ones. Due to tectonic movements, plains, such as the Siberian Plateau, are characterized by elevations. Flat surfaces are represented by the West Siberian, Indo-Gangetic and Great Chinese Plains.

The mountains of Asia are higher than in the European part. The most significant of them:

• Himalayas: the highest mountain system in the world. Mount Chomolungma, located in Nepal, is 8848 m in height.
• Ural: the length of the mountain range is 2640 km. It forms a natural border with Europe.
• Altai: the highest region of Siberia. Thanks to several periods, education combines all possible types.
• Kunlun: the longest mountain system on the mainland, 2,700 km long. The chain originates in Tajikistan, passes through China and borders Tibet. Characterized by extensive depressions and volcanic formations.
• Tien Shan: This mountain system is located in Central Asia. It crosses the borders of Kazakhstan, China and Kyrgyzstan. The peak is considered to be Pobeda Peak. Its height is 7439 m. The section located in Kyrgyzstan is of value to travelers because it has a favorable climate.

The most powerful volcanoes are located on the Pacific rim: the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, Japan and the Philippine Islands. Earthquakes here are of a destructive scale.

Deserts

Gobi Desert

Asian deserts were formed due to lack of precipitation. Unlike other continents, most of them are located in the temperate climate zone. The territories are protected from the winds by mountain ranges. Among the many desert areas there are:

• Gobi: Mongolia's landmark is located on 1.5 million km². The surface is represented by salt marshes and sand. There are landscapes made of stone and clay. Camels, bears and saigas live here. The territory is poorly inhabited by people.
• Arabian Desert: occupies almost the entire peninsula of the same name. Its area is 2.33 million km². In addition to dry air, there is strong evaporation on the surface, so there are practically no animals and plants.
• Karakum: total area is 350 thousand km². Very hot air is filled with dust. Because of this, the land is unsuitable for agriculture. Animals adapted to the desert climate are nocturnal.

Inland waters

The glaciers of Central Asia play an important role in feeding reservoirs. Almost all Asian rivers belong to ocean basins. The longest river, the Yangtze, flows in China. Its length is about 6300 km. The Ob, Lena, Yenisei and Yellow River are dangerous with summer floods. Rivers overflow their banks for several kilometers and destroy coastal settlements. The reservoirs of the Indian Ocean basin, Indus, Brahmaputra and Ganges, are flooded in summer. They often dry out during the winter. The Tigris and Euphrates originate from the Armenian Highlands. They feed on meltwater.

Most of the residual lakes, the Caspian, Aral, Balkhash, are concentrated in arid zones. In the wet era they were huge bodies of water. Baikal, the most voluminous lake in the world, fills a tectonic depression. There is as much water in it as in the Baltic Sea. Van, Issyk-Kul and Tuz also belong to tectonic lakes. In mountainous areas, reservoirs are of glacial origin.

Climate

Climate map of Asia according to Köppen

Weather conditions are very varied. The climate in the north is exceptionally cold, while in the central regions it is arid. The south and east are characterized by high humidity and heat. Due to the location of Asia, solar radiation is received unevenly in all climatic zones.

In winter, a high pressure area forms south of Baikal. Air masses diverge in all directions. Particularly powerful currents go towards the Pacific Ocean. This is how the winter monsoon is formed. In summer, hot weather sets in throughout the territory, which forms an area of ​​low pressure. The oceans warm up less, forming an area of ​​high pressure. The air flows to the continent and creates the summer monsoon.

The change in air currents in the off-season is not felt only in southwest Asia. Dry trade winds blow from the mainland in this area. In most parts of the world, seasonal changes in the directions of air masses are observed.

Flora and fauna:

Vegetable world

Asia is located in the temperate, subtropical, tropical and equatorial zones. The contrasts in the plant and animal world are stunning. Conifers and larches grow in the area. The soil here is peat bog. The mixed forest zone escaped the Ice Age. Here you can see Manchurian walnut, bearded maple, aralia and buckthorn. Broad-leaved forests were subjected to massive deforestation. The remaining areas are represented by linden, elm, and walnut. Turf-like grasses grow in deserts, and meadows have formed on the slopes. The foothills of the mountains of Hindustan are covered with palm trees, acacias, sandalwood and teak wood. Corn, cotton and groundnuts are grown in the fertile fields.

Animal world

The relief, rainfall and climatic zones of Asia affect the diversity of animals and birds. There are many predators in this part of the world:

Asia is rich in mineral deposits due to its tectonic structure. Most of the oil and gas reserves are concentrated here. Eastern countries are the largest exporters of coal and non-ferrous metals. Northern China is rich in iron ore. Precious metals are mined in Siberia.

Southeast supplies tungsten, iron, copper and bauxite. The Persian Gulf basin lies in southwest Asia. This region contains a huge amount of oil and gas. Phosphorites are mined in Jordan. The central region is developing the extraction of fuel and energy resources. The Kora-Bogaz-Gae Bay has huge reserves of minerals.

Ecological situation

The main problem of Asia is the high population growth of poor countries. Hence the shortage, uncontrolled plowing of land for agricultural land and the lack of treatment facilities.

Deforestation is another scourge. Two-thirds of the territory is under threat of deforestation. The soil is contaminated with toxic fertilizers. Uncontrolled fishing puts many species at risk of extinction. Industrial development leads to air pollution.

The region, and the planet as a whole, will be saved only by an integrated approach to problems. It can be achieved on the terms of a global partnership between the countries of the world.

In the tropical, subequatorial and equatorial zones with a monsoon climate, they dominate red soils -- red-brown And red savannah, yellow-red ferrallite And fersiallite (as moisture increases). Large areas are occupied by soils on volcanic ash (andosols) .

The largest areas of forests remain in Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago, where their conservation was facilitated by mountainous terrain, widespread soils unsuitable for mass farming and relatively unfavorable climatic conditions for humans.

In the countries of North America, Western Europe, and Australia, wood is used less and less as fuel, but in Asia it is the main source of its consumption. In the countries of Hindustan and Indochina, from 50 to 90% of harvested wood is used for fuel. Great damage to forests is caused by livestock grazing, which is allowed in most Asian countries as an economic necessity, as well as by collecting leaves, making hay, and trimming branches for livestock feed. As a result, the forest area is constantly decreasing.

The characteristics of the vegetation cover primarily reflect the paleogeographical features of the formation of the flora. Foreign Asia is located within Paleotropical floristic kingdom. The paleotropical flora developed continuously during the Cenozoic in a warm and humid tropical climate and retained the exceptional species diversity inherited from the Cenozoic and partly Mesozoic flora. The flora of the Malesian region is distinguished by the greatest antiquity and richness (45 thousand species), which is characterized by a high percentage of endemics: dipterocarps (Western Malesia is the center of origin of this family), nepentaceae, and aroids. The palm, madder, euphorbia, and myrtle families are very ancient. Such “living fossils” as tree ferns, cycads, and gingkos have been preserved here.

The Paleotropical region of Indochina and Southern China is somewhat less rich in species (over 20 thousand) and not as floristically homogeneous as Malesia. Its flora includes African and Australian elements, such as casuarina, the acacia family, sterculiaceae, etc. In the mountains, along with tropical species, there are boreal species - birch, aspen, spruce, larch, fir..

The fauna of these two areas is also characterized by exceptional richness and diversity. Animals leading a forest lifestyle predominate. In the Malayan or Sunda subregion, relict and endemic groups of high taxonomic rank have been preserved - the order of woolly wings, the tupai family, gibbons, bamboo bears, tarsiers.

The leading role in the formation of landscapes is played by the relief, which creates, against the background of monsoon circulation, pockets of increased (windward slopes and adjacent lowlands) and decreased (leeward slopes and internal basins) moisture. Mountain ranges are covered, as a rule, with humid tropical evergreen forests on red-yellow ferrallitic soils, and the basins located between them are covered with dry monsoon forests, open forests and thorn trees on red and red-brown soils.

Semi-evergreen oak-chestnut forests with an admixture of deciduous species on red soils are typical for the highlands of the central part of the peninsula. Large areas are occupied by pine forests with an undergrowth of alder and silver rhododendron. Above 2000-2500 m there are mixed and coniferous forests, in which boreal species predominate: hemlock, fir, spruce, birch, maple. The subalpine belt is represented by birch-rhododendron forests. Above 4000 m there are fragments of alpine meadows. On vast expanses of limestone pene-plains, as a result of slash-and-burn agriculture, an anthropogenic mountain savanna arose - grassy spaces with sparsely scattered oaks and pines.

The plains and lowlands of Indochina, which receive less rainfall, are dominated by monsoon forests. The lowlands of the Mekong and the Khorat Plateau are dominated by dry mixed forests of acacias, terminalias, and bamboos on black drainage and red soils. In the lowlands of Menama and Irrawaddy, wetter forests grow with teak and ironwood on meadow-alluvial soils. In the central part of the Irrawaddy Valley, in the so-called “dry zone” of Burma, where the duration of the dry period reaches 8 months and the annual rainfall is 700-800 mm, dry woodlands and shrubs of acacias, dalbergias, sour limonia with fragrant saplings develop , milkweed, etc.

The Malay Archipelago is still one of the most densely forested areas of the globe. The plains and mountains are dominated by tropical humid evergreen forests, which in areas with a long dry season are replaced by monsoon deciduous forests. The tropical rainforests of the Malay Archipelago are the oldest forest formations on the globe, the core of which has been preserved since Paleogene-Neogene times. Long-term land connections with Asia and Australia and the antiquity of the flora determined its extraordinary richness, and the cessation of these connections in the Anthropocene resulted in high endemism of fauna and flora.

Humid tropical or "rain" forests cover the lowlands and mountain slopes up to an altitude of 1500 m. At an altitude of 1500-- 2500 m, in the "cloud belt", where the air is saturated with moisture, the trunks and branches of trees, soils are covered with a thick cover of mosses and lichens, giving the forest unusual look. Subtropical evergreens dominate here - oaks, laurel trees, magnolias, and rhododendrons in the undergrowth. The summit areas of the mountains are covered with bushes and mixed-grass meadows. Red-yellow ferrallitic soils are formed under the “rain” forests, and ash-volcanic soils, or ando-salts, are formed on young volcanic deposits.

In the monsoon forests of the Philippine Islands, many species have very high quality wood - white and red lauan, mayapis, apitong, etc. Mangrove and swamp forests grow in the swampy coastal lowlands. Mangrove forests provide significant amounts of fuel wood, and freshwater swamp forests provide soft dipterocarp wood.

A distinctive feature of the structure of the Land Fund is a very high proportion of unproductive and unused lands (despite the fact that the majority of the Asian population lives in Southeast Asia) and the extremely uneven degree of their use. The main reasons for this phenomenon are the sharp contrast in natural conditions and the difference in the level of economic development of the countries of Southeast Asia.

Country name Relief BRUNEI flat coastal plain rising to the east and becoming mountains; in the west there are hilly lowlands. VIETNAM hilly, mountainous in the far north and northwest, low, flat deltas in the south and north; central hills. INDONESIA mainly coastal lowlands; There are mountains in the interior of the larger islands. CAMBODIA has mostly low and flat plains; in the northwest and north of the mountain. COCONUT ISLANDS are flat, low coral atolls. LAOS is mostly rocky mountains; small plains and plateaus. MALAYSIA coastal plains that give way to hills and mountains. MYANMAR is a central lowland surrounded by steep, steep hills. CHRISTMAS ISLAND steep cliffs along the coast rise steeply to the central plateau. ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS sandy and coral lowlands PAPUA NEW GUINEA mostly mountainous; lowlands on the coasts and hilly foothills. SINGAPORE lowlands; the slightly hilly central plateau contains the main drainage areas and natural water storage areas. THAILAND central plain; the Korat plateau in the east; mountains here and there. THE PHILIPPINES are predominantly mountains with long, narrow coastal lowlands.

Country name Climate BRUNEI tropical; hot, humid, rainy. VIETNAM tropical in the south; monsoon in the north, with a hot rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and a warm dry season (mid-October to mid-March). INDONESIA tropical; hot, humid; in mountainous areas it is more moderate. CAMBODIA tropical; rainy and monsoon season from May to November; dry season from December to April; Seasonal temperature fluctuations are insignificant. COCONUT ISLANDS pleasant, moderated by southeast trade winds for about 9 months of the year; moderate rainfall. LAOS tropical monsoon; rainy season from May to November; dry season from December to April. MALAYSIA tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons. MYANMAR tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoons from June to September); less cloudy, with infrequent rain, cooler, less humid winter (northeast monsoons from December to April). CHRISTMAS ISLAND tropical; hot and humid, moderated by trade winds. ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS tropical. PAPUA NEW GUINEA tropical; northwest monsoons (December to March), southeast monsoons (May to October); slight seasonal temperature fluctuations. SINGAPORE tropical; hot, humid, rainy; but there is no distinct rainy season or dry season; thunderstorms - 40% of days a year (including two thirds of days in April). THAILAND tropical rainy warm cloudy; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-March to September); dry cold northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); The southern isthmus is always hot and humid. PHILIPPINES tropical marine; northeast monsoons (November to April); southwest monsoons (May to October).

Population 482.5 million people live in the region. The maximum number is in Indonesia, the minimum is in Brunei. Extremely unevenly distributed. Most of the inhabitants of Indochina live in river valleys. The main activities are crop farming: they grow coconut palms, sugar cane, tea, spices, orchids, cotton, tobacco, coffee, pineapples, peppers, etc. -livestock farming: very poorly developed due to a shortage of pastures and the spread of tropical animal diseases. Sea and river fishing is widespread.

Large rivers and lakes Rivers in most regions form a dense network and, as a rule, are full of water all year round. The longest and deepest flows occur in Kalimantan. The largest lake is Toba in the northern part of the island of Sumatra, which is the largest volcanic lake on the planet and, with a depth of more than 500 m, is one of the deepest lakes in the world.

Population The average population density is about 124 people per km², and the population is extremely unevenly distributed. The highest population density is recorded in the Special Capital Region, the lowest in the province of Papua. The peoples are engaged in the cultivation of coconut palms, hevea, rice, sugar cane, timber production, fishing, and cattle breeding is poorly developed. The fauna is rich, the orangutan is especially revered. Currently, Indonesia has developed literature, theater, painting, and Baltic wood carving is famous.

Problems of the country and ways to solve them. Uneven distribution of population. To ensure a more even distribution of the population throughout the country, since the 1950s, the Indonesian authorities have been implementing a large-scale trans-migration program of relocating residents of densely populated areas (Java, Bali) to sparsely populated islands (Kalimantan, New Guinea).