Natural zones of Eurasia - geography. Continent Eurasia - characteristics and basic information about the largest continent

Climate, natural zones of Eurasia.

Climate.

The climatic features of Eurasia are determined by the huge size of the continent, long distance from north to south, by the variety of dominant air masses, as well as specific features of the structure of the relief of its surface and the influence of the oceans.

Natural areas.

Arctic deserts ( ice zone), tundra and forest-tundra located in the west of the continent beyond the Arctic Circle. In Northern Europe, tundras and forest-tundras occupy a narrow strip, which, as it moves east, gradually expands with increasing severity and continental climate. Basically, sparse low-growing vegetation, poor peat-gley soils and adapted to harsh conditions animal life.

IN temperate zone significant areas are represented by zones of coniferous forests (taiga), mixed coniferous- deciduous forests, broad-leaved forests, forest-steppes and steppes, semi-deserts and deserts.

Coniferous forests stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. When moving from west to east, the continental climate increases. In the Asian part of the zone, permafrost is widespread, and as a result, the composition of taiga tree species changes. In the European taiga, pine and spruce predominate; beyond the Urals, fir and Siberian cedar, V Eastern Siberia- larch. Animal world: sable, ermine, beaver, fox, squirrel, marten, hares, chipmunks, lynxes and wolves, moose, brown bears, wood grouse, black grouse, hazel grouse, crossbills, nutcrackers.

Zone mixed coniferous-deciduous forests changes the taiga zone when moving south. Deciduous litter and grass cover of these forests contribute to the accumulation of a certain amount of organic matter. Therefore, podzolic soils of the taiga are replaced by soddy-podzolic soils.

Zone deciduous forests also does not form a continuous strip. In Europe, it stretches from the Atlantic to the Volga. As the climate becomes more continental, moving from west to east, beech forests are replaced by oak forests. In the east of the continent, broad-leaved forests have been mostly cut down.

Forest-steppe and steppe change forest zones when moving south in the inner-central continental sector of the continent. Here the amount of precipitation sharply decreases and the amplitudes of summer and winter temperatures increase. IN forest-steppes Characteristic is the alternation of open spaces with herbaceous vegetation on chernozem soils with areas of broad-leaved forests. Steppes - treeless spaces with dense grassy grass vegetation and a dense root system. In the eastern part of the mainland, forest-steppe and steppe are preserved in the relief basins of Northern Mongolia, Transbaikalia, and Northeast China. They are far removed from the ocean and are in harsh conditions. continental climate, poor moisture. The Mongolian dry steppes are characterized by sparse grass vegetation and chestnut soils.

Semi-deserts and temperate deserts occupy the lowlands of Central Asia and the interior basins of Central Asia north of the Tibetan Plateau. There is very little rainfall, hot, long summers and cold winters with noticeable frosts.

Zone tropical deserts - deserts of Arabia, Mesopotamia, the south of the Iranian plateau and the Indus basin. These deserts in their own way natural conditions are similar to African ones, since there are wide historical and modern connections between these territories and there are no obstacles to the exchange of species in flora and fauna. The oceanic sectors of the continent are closed in the south by zones of subtropical (in Europe) and tropical forests(in Asia).

Zone hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs in the Mediterranean region is particularly unique. Summers here are dry and hot, humid and warm winter. Plants are adapted to climatic conditions: waxy coating, thick or dense leathery bark. Many plants produce essential oils. Fertile brown soils are formed in this zone. Olives, citrus fruits, grapes, tobacco, and essential oil crops are grown on the plantations in the zone.

Zone monsoon evergreens mixed forests expressed in the Pacific sector subtropical zone. Here are others climatic conditions: precipitation falls mainly in the summer - during the growing season. The forests are ancient.

Subequatorial belt covers the peninsulas of Hindustan, Indochina and the north of the Philippine Islands. In this belt different conditions hydration. The zone of subequatorial forests stretches along the western coasts of the peninsulas and receives up to 2000 mm of precipitation per year. The forests here are multi-tiered and diverse. species composition(palm trees, ficus, bamboos). Zonal soils are red-yellow ferralitic. Zones seasonally wet monsoon forests, shrub savannas and woodlands present where precipitation decreases.

Equatorial rainforests represented mainly on the islands of Southeast Asia. In terms of climatic conditions, they are similar to the forests of the equatorial belt of other continents. However, the equatorial forests of Asia have a number of specific features. In terms of flora composition, these are the richest forests in the world. globe(over 45 thousand species). The species composition of tree species is 5000 species (in Europe there are only 200 species).

Altitudinal zone in the mountains of Eurasia is diverse. Quantity altitude zones in the mountains it always depends on what natural zone is located on the plain at the foot of the mountains; from height mountain system and on the exposure of the slopes. For example, the northern, drier slopes of the Himalayas, facing the Tibetan Plateau, do not have forest belts. But on the southern slopes, which are better moistened and heated, there are several forest zones.

The warmth of the sun clean air and water are the main criteria for life on Earth. Numerous climatic zones have led to the division of the territory of all continents and waters into certain natural zones. Some of them, even separated by huge distances, are very similar, others are unique.

Natural areas of the world: what are they?

This definition should be understood as very large natural complexes (in other words, parts geographical zone Earths) that have similar, homogeneous climatic conditions. The main characteristic of natural areas is the flora and fauna that inhabit the given territory. They are formed as a result of the uneven distribution of moisture and heat on the planet.

Table “Natural areas of the world”

Natural area	Climate zone	Average temperature (winter/summer)
Antarctic and Arctic deserts	Antarctic, Arctic	24-70°C /0-32°C
Tundra and forest-tundra	Subarctic and subantarctic	8-40°С/+8+16°С
	Moderate	8-48°С /+8+24°С
Mixed forest A	Moderate	16-8°С /+16+24°С
Broadleaf forests	Moderate	8+8°С /+16+24°С
Steppes and forest-steppes	Subtropical and temperate	16+8 °С /+16+24°С
Temperate deserts and semi-deserts	Moderate	8-24 °С /+20+24 °С
Hardleaf forests	Subtropical	8+16 °С/ +20+24 °С
Tropical deserts and semi-deserts	Tropical	8+16 °С/ +20+32 °С
Savannas and woodlands		20+24°С and above
Variably humid forests	Subequatorial, tropical	20+24°С and above
Permanently wet forests	Equatorial	above +24°С

This characteristic of the natural zones of the world is only for informational purposes, because you can talk about each of them for a very long time, and all the information will not fit into the framework of one table.

Natural zones of the temperate climate zone

1. Taiga. It surpasses all other natural zones of the world in terms of land area (27% of the territory of all forests on the planet). It is characterized by very low winter temperatures. Deciduous trees cannot withstand them, so the taiga is dense coniferous forests (mainly pine, spruce, fir, larch). Very large areas Taigas in Canada and Russia are occupied by permafrost.

2. Mixed forests. Characteristic in to a greater extent for the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth. It is a kind of border between the taiga and deciduous forest. They are more resistant to cold and long winters. Tree species: oak, maple, poplar, linden, as well as rowan, alder, birch, pine, spruce. As the table shows " Natural areas world", the soils in the mixed forest zone are gray, not highly fertile, but still suitable for growing plants.

3. Broad-leaved forests. They are not adapted to harsh winters, are deciduous. They occupy most of Western Europe, the south of the Far East, northern China and Japan. Suitable for them is a maritime or temperate continental climate with hot summers and sufficient warm winter. As the table “Natural zones of the world” shows, the temperature in them does not fall below -8°C even in the cold season. The soil is fertile, rich in humus. Characteristic the following types trees: ash, chestnut, oak, hornbeam, beech, maple, elm. The forests are very rich in mammals (ungulates, rodents, predators), birds, including game birds.

4. Temperate deserts and semi-deserts. Their main distinctive feature- practically complete absence vegetation and sparse fauna. There are quite a lot of natural areas of this nature; they are located mainly in the tropics. There are temperate deserts in Eurasia, and they are characterized by sharp changes in temperature across the seasons. Animals are represented mainly by reptiles.

Arctic deserts and semi-deserts

They are huge areas of land covered with snow and ice. A map of the natural zones of the world clearly shows that they are located in North America, Antarctica, Greenland and the northern tip of the Eurasian continent. In fact, these are lifeless places, and only along the coast are polar bears, walruses and seals, arctic foxes and lemmings, and penguins (in Antarctica). Where the ground is free of ice, lichens and mosses can be seen.

Equatorial rainforests

Their second name is rain forests. They are located mainly in South America, as well as in Africa, Australia and the Greater Sunda Islands. The main condition for their formation is constant and very high humidity (more than 2000 mm of precipitation per year) and a hot climate (20°C and above). They are very rich in vegetation, the forest consists of several tiers and is an impenetrable, dense jungle, which has become home to more than 2/3 of all types of creatures now living on our planet. These rain forests are superior to all other natural areas in the world. The trees remain evergreen, changing foliage gradually and partially. Surprisingly, the soils of humid forests contain little humus.

Natural zones of the equatorial and subtropical climate zone

1. Variably humid forests, they differ from rain forests in that precipitation falls there only during the rainy season, and during the period of drought that follows, the trees are forced to shed their leaves. The flora and fauna are also very diverse and rich in species.

2. Savannas and woodlands. They appear where moisture, as a rule, is no longer enough for growth variable-humid forests. Their development occurs in the interior of the continent, where tropical and equatorial air masses dominate, and the rainy season lasts less than six months. They occupy a significant part of the territory of subequatorial Africa, the interior South America, partly Hindustan and Australia. More detailed information about the location is reflected in the map of natural areas of the world (photo).

Hardleaf forests

This climate zone is considered the most suitable for human habitation. Hard-leaved and evergreen forests are located along sea and ocean coasts. Precipitation is not so abundant, but the leaves retain moisture due to their dense leathery shell (oaks, eucalyptus), which prevents them from falling. In some trees and plants they are modernized into spines.

Steppes and forest-steppes

They are characterized by an almost complete absence of woody vegetation, due to the poor level of precipitation. But the soils are the most fertile (chernozems), and therefore are actively used by humans for farming. The steppes occupy large areas in North America and Eurasia. The predominant number of inhabitants are reptiles, rodents and birds. Plants have adapted to the lack of moisture and most often manage to complete their life cycle in a short spring period, when the steppe is covered with a thick carpet of greenery.

Tundra and forest-tundra

In this zone the breath of the Arctic and Antarctic begins to be felt, the climate becomes more severe, and even coniferous trees cannot withstand it. There is an abundance of moisture, but there is no heat, which leads to swamping of very large areas. There are no trees at all in the tundra; the flora is mainly represented by mosses and lichens. It is considered to be the most unstable and fragile ecosystem. Due to the active development of gas and oil fields it is on the verge of an environmental disaster.

All natural areas of the world are very interesting, be it the seemingly absolutely lifeless desert, the endless arctic ice or thousand-year-old rain forests with boiling life inside.

Natural areas of Eurasia

Natural area Climate type Climate Features Vegetation Animal world TJan. TJuly Total precipitation Subarctic Islands of small birches, willows, rowan trees Rodents, wolves, foxes, polar owls Forest-tundra Moderately marine Curved birch and alder Elk, partridge, arctic fox Coniferous forest Temperate temperate continental Norway spruce, Scots pine Leming, bear, wolf, lynx, capercaillie Mixed forest Moderate Temperate continental Pine, oak, beech, birch Wild boar, beaver, mink, marten broadleaf forest Temperate marine Oak, beech, heather Roe deer, bison, muskrat Coniferous forests Moderate monsoon Fir, esl, Far Eastern yew, small-leaved birch, alder, aspen, willow Antelope, leopard, Amur tiger, mandarin duck, white stork Evergreen subtropical forests Subtropical Masson pine, sad cypress, Japanese cryptomeria, lianas Asian mouflon, marking goat, wolves, tigers, marmots, ground squirrels Tropical rainforests Subequatorial Palm trees, lychee, ficus Monkeys, rodents, sloths, peacocks Moderate Cereals: feather grass, fescue, tonkonogo, bluegrass, sheep gophers, marmots, steppe eagle, bustard, wolf Temperate, subtropical, tropical tamarix, saltpeter, solyanka, juzgun Rodents, lizards, snakes

Purpose of the lesson: consideration common features placement natural zones Eurasia, confirm the manifestation of latitudinal zonality; familiarizing students with the features of nature and typical representatives of the flora and fauna of the Arctic, subarctic and temperate zones; formation of emotional and sensory perception of the surrounding world.

Lesson type: a lesson in learning new things educational material.

Lesson type: conversation with elements practical work.

Teaching methods:

Verbal: teacher’s story based on knowledge, frontal conversation

Visual: working with a map of natural areas, working with a group (with task cards).

Ways of organizing the activities of the teacher and students: frontal, individual, collective.

Lesson progress

Checking homework

1) Give a general description of the rivers of Eurasia

Plan for describing the river: 1. In what part of the continent does the river flow?

Where does the river start? Where does this river flow?

In which direction does the river flow?

Explain the dependence of the nature of river flow.

Identify the river's food sources.

What is the river regime and how does it depend on climate?

2.Checking the material covered

Test “Inland waters of Eurasia” (written on pieces of paper)

What rivers belong to the Pacific Ocean basin?

Ganges, Amur, Danube

Yangtze, Yellow River, Volga

Lena, Yenisei, Amur

Yellow River, Yangtze, Amur

Which rivers belong to the basin Indian Ocean?

Cupid, Ganges

Ganges, Indus

Yellow River, Yangtze

Yangtze, Danube

Which rivers are glacially fed?

Which rivers belong to the internal drainage basin?

Amu Darya, Amur, Syrdarya

Volga, Lena, Amu Darya

Volga, Amudarya, Syrdarya

Yenisei, Lena, Amur

Which lake has both fresh and salt water?

1) in Baikal

2) in Balkhash

3) in Aral

4) in Caspian

Name the deepest and largest lakes in the world

Baikal, Caspian

We repeated our homework and know what a climate zone and natural zone are. Today in class we will talk about natural zones Eurasia.

Learning new educational material

Geography teacher:- We will begin our journey with a geographical warm-up. Let's remember what is called a natural area?

Children: A natural area is a natural complex.

Geography teacher:- What is a natural complex?

Children: A natural complex is a collection of natural components of one territory, or in other words is called a geographical complex.

Geography teacher:- A natural complex is a combination of natural components, which ones? List natural ingredients.

Children: Natural components - climate, relief, water, fauna, flora, soil.

Man interacts with all natural components and influences their change.

Geography teacher: How?

Children: Plowing land, building canals, creating reservoirs.

Geography teacher: Guys, what is the name of a natural complex that is subject to change as a result economic activity person?

Children: Anthropogenic natural complex

Geography teacher: Name and show on the map which natural zones of Eurasia are already familiar to you?

Children: go to the board and show the zones

1) distribute the natural zones from north to south (the guys attach numbers in order from north to south to the corresponding zones)

Eurasia is located in all climatic zones of the northern hemisphere, so within its borders there are all types of natural zones of the Earth. As a rule, the zones extend from west to east.

Why does such a change in natural zones occur?

The point is that complex structure The surface of the continent and atmospheric circulation determine the uneven moisture content of its different parts. Because of this, the zonal structure becomes much more complicated; many zones do not have a continuous distribution. Like North America, Eurasia is most elongated from west to east in temperate and subarctic latitudes, so the zones of these belts occupy most of the continent.

There are also areas of altitudinal zonation - a change in natural zones and landscapes in the mountains as the altitude increases above sea level.

Mountainous areas occupy almost half of the continent's area. The most distinct altitudinal zonation can be observed on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, abundantly moistened by the monsoons, as well as on the southern slopes of the Alps.

Students work in groups

I propose to study the natural areas of Eurasia on your own, working in groups (cards with tasks are provided)

Now you will have to select a leader, speaker and timer for each group. The result of each group’s work will be filling out a table, cards, and a speech by the speaker.

Well, now you can hit the road. On your tables are geographic atlases, guidebooks, and a table of natural zones (partially unfilled). You need to use the guide sheet, climate map and using a map of natural zones, make a short presentation characterizing the proposed natural zone. You are given 7 minutes + 3 minutes (for discussion in the group) to complete the work on the guide sheets.

Each team will have to present their natural area for 3 minutes. At this time, representatives of other teams must fill out the table very quickly and briefly. We write down the most important material presented.

Checking your understanding of the material

What is unique about the Eurasian continent in terms of the location of natural areas?(On the continent of Eurasia, unlike other continents, all natural zones are located).

Name the reason for the change in natural zones on the Eurasian continent.(The main reason for the change in natural zones from north to south on the mainland is a change in the amount of incoming heat with distance from the equator - latitudinal zonation, and a decrease in the amount of moisture in the temperate zone with distance from Atlantic Ocean– due to the westerly direction of air masses, climate changes occur)

Lesson summary

– Today in class we will get acquainted with the natural areas of Eurasia

– Take a look at the map of natural areas, name the natural areas of the mainland

– What natural zones stretch from west to east across the continent?

– In which climate zone does the change in natural zones occur from west to east?

– In what natural zone are located: o. Kalimantan, Indochina Peninsula, Arabian Peninsula, o. Iceland, o. Wrangel, Fr. Crete, about Sakhalin

A natural area is a vast area with a certain type climate to which they correspond inland waters soils, vegetation and fauna. The nature of the natural zone is determined by the climate; it gets its name from the type of vegetation cover. Natural zoning is called a natural change in natural zones by latitude or longitude. The distribution of continental vegetation is controlled by two climate factors: heat and moisture. Both heat and moisture may be in short supply. Typically, vegetation and soil cover are controlled by whichever factor is more scarce in a given region. Within Eurasia, three large parts can be distinguished, with different character the influence of these factors. In the northern part of the continent, heat is in short supply. There is excess moisture everywhere. As a result, the distribution of natural zones does not depend on the amount of moisture, but is subject to the distribution of heat. So arctic tundra occupy spaces where average July temperatures vary from 0° to +5°C, typical tundra between isotherms +5° and + 10°, taiga between July isotherms +10° and +17 +18°. Each of these zones stretches across the entire continent from its western coast to the eastern. The length of the taiga is especially impressive: it stretches from the Scandinavian mountains to the Okhotsk coast and Kamchatka.

In the southern part of the continent, on the contrary, heat is not scarce. Moisture is scarce. It is the factor that determines the distribution of vegetation cover. Depending on the incoming annual precipitation (GPR), vegetation zones are distributed as follows:

over 1500 mm - evergreen (humid) tropical forests;

1500 - 1000 mm - semi-deciduous forests and wet savannas;

1000-500 mm - deciduous (dry) forests and typical savannas;

500 - 200 mm - deserted savannas and thorny trees;

200 - 50 mm - semi-deserts;

less than 50 mm - deserts.

At the same time, evergreen forests can grow in the equatorial, subequatorial and tropical zones, and savannas and tropical dry forests - in the subequatorial and tropical zones. In the middle latitudes, that is, in the subtropical and most of the temperate zones, the relationship between vegetation and climate becomes more complex: its distribution depends on both factors at once: both the amount of heat and the amount of moisture. Warmth in mid-latitudes increases from north to south, and natural zones change in the same direction. However, from the western and eastern coasts inland the amount of moisture decreases, and with distance from the coast also there is a shift natural areas. So, along the parallel 45° N. w. in the direction from the Atlantic Ocean, broad-leaved forests - forest-steppes - steppes - semi-deserts - deserts are replaced, and then as they approach the Pacific Ocean - back from deserts to broad-leaved forests of the east coast. Steppes, semi-deserts and mid-latitude deserts nowhere reach the shores of the oceans; these are inland zones.

Thus, there are three types of latitudinal zonality that correspond to three longitudinal sectors of the continent: western oceanic, eastern oceanic and central continental. The western oceanic sector in Europe includes zones of arctic and typical tundra, forest-tundra, mixed, deciduous forests, dry xerophytic forests and Middle-earth shrubs. If West Africa can be considered a continuation of the landmass of Europe, then to the south there are semi-deserts, deserts, semi-deserts, savannas and tropical rainforests. The eastern oceanic sector in its northern part begins the same way, but in the tropics deserts and savannas do not reach the ocean: in the east of the continent the zonation is tundra-forest: tundra, forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and deciduous forests, subtropical evergreen forests, tropical evergreen forests to the Equator . The central continental sector is represented by tundra, forest-tundra, taiga, forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert, temperate, subtropical, tropical zones, savannas and tropical rainforests - this is the zonation if you move south through the West Siberian and Turanian plains, the Iranian Plateau, the north-west of the Indo-Gangetic lowland, Hindustan, Sri Lanka. A similar sectorial pattern of zonal cover is characteristic of other regions of the Earth. A brief description of the natural zones of Eurasia is as follows.

Wet evergreen forests. The climate is equatorial or subequatorial humid, with annual precipitation exceeding 1500 mm, with a dry season lasting no more than 2 months. These forests are divided into two subzones: constantly wet and variable wet. Constantly wet forests are characteristic of the equatorial belt; the growing season in them occurs evenly throughout the year; flowering and fruiting of trees and shrubs does not occur simultaneously: in the forest you can always find both flowering and fruiting trees. There are no seasons in this forest. In a variable wet forest there is seasonality: during the short dry season the growing season is interrupted, flowering usually occurs with the beginning of the rainy season. By the beginning of the next dry season, fruiting ends. But the trees do not shed their leaves, since there is a sufficient supply of moisture in the soil; it does not have time to be used up in a short dry time. The main types of trees in both subzones are the same: huge dipterocarpus, giant ficus, palm trees, pandanus, etc. However, in a permanently humid forest there are more lianas, and they reach very large sizes. Thus, the rattan palm is a liana up to 300 m long. There are almost no epiphytes in the variable-humid forest; during the dry season, their aerial roots dry out. Deciduous trees in the upper tier may also appear in this forest. The soils of humid forests are red and yellow ferallitic, often podzolized. They are composed of hydroxides of aluminum, iron and manganese; the color depends on the combination of these compounds. Animals of the humid forest live mainly in trees, since it is dark under the forest canopy, there is no grass, and the branches with leaves are high. Numerous primates (monkeys and prosimians) live in the branches of trees, cats and leopards, snakes, lizards, some species of frogs, worms, caterpillars, insects, and birds climb. Butterflies and birds amaze with their bright colors and size. Such forests are preserved in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Malacca, on the slopes of the Western Ghats, in Assam (along the Brahmaputra), on the shores of Indochina. Cutting down these forests for the purpose of plowing the land is not always possible: podzolized ferrallite soils quickly lose fertility and have to be abandoned. Currently, Fr. has lost its forests. Java: its soils are formed on volcanic rocks, are distinguished by high natural fertility and are fully developed and produce 2-3 harvests per year with an abundance of heat and moisture. The forest reserves protect rich flora and rare animals: primates, tigers, leopards, rhinoceroses, wild buffalos, wild bulls, deer, tapirs, etc.

Dry forests and savannas. Deciduous tropical forests are called dry. They are characteristic of the interior regions of Hindustan and Indochina, where less than 1500 mm of precipitation falls per year and the duration of the dry season exceeds 2 months. In practice, the transition from evergreen moist forests to deciduous forests occurs gradually. First, semi-deciduous forests with an upper deciduous layer and an evergreen lower layer appear; the evergreen undergrowth gradually disappears. The main trees of deciduous forests are the teak tree from the verbena family and the sal tree from the dipterocarp family. They provide valuable construction and ornamental wood. In the driest places, grass savannas with terminalia, acacias, and a cover of tropical cereal plants (imperata, wild sugar cane, bearded grass) are common. The soils in savannas are brown-red and brown-red, somewhat more fertile than the soils of humid forests due to their humus content. On the basaltic lavas of the north-west of Hindustan, special black soils are formed; they are often called cotton soils for the high yield of cotton grown on them. The fauna of savannas and woodlands is rich: a variety of monkeys, locally preserved elephants and rhinoceroses, nilgai antelopes, and buffaloes. Savannah is characterized primarily by terrestrial animals due to the abundance of grasses and low trees and shrubs. Even some birds in the savannas prefer not to fly, but to run: in India and Indochina, the homeland of chickens, wild “weed” chickens are still found. There are many pheasants, peacocks are birds of the gallinaceae order. Reptiles are abundant in savannas and woodlands. On the Ganges Plain, in a number of regions of Hindustan and Indochina, the lands of this zone have been developed and cultivated for a long time, especially the flooded lands of the alluvial plains.

Deserts and semi-deserts. Characteristic of dry areas of the tropical, subtropical and temperate zones, where annual precipitation does not exceed 200 mm. Desert soils are underdeveloped, regardless of the climatic zone of gray soil and brown soil; their color is determined by compounds of iron and manganese. Tropical deserts occupy the south of Arabia (Rub al-Khali), the lower reaches of the Indus - the Sind Desert and the north-west of Hindustan - the Thar Desert. They are characterized by a sparse grass cover of aristida (wire grass) and rare acacia bushes, similar to the Sahara deserts. Typical animals of these deserts are addax antelopes and oryx. In the oases, the date palm and long-staple cotton are cultivated, producing fiber of the highest quality. The subtropical deserts are the Syrian, Greater and Lesser Nefud in Arabia, and Dashte Kavir and Dashte Lut on the Iranian Plateau. Typical trees are saxauls, tamarix shrubs, and evergreen cushion-shaped subshrubs in rocky areas. Of the desert cereals, seline is close to aristida, perfectly fixing moving sands. Temperate deserts are characteristic of the Turan Lowland, Taklamakan and Gobi. Evergreen shrubs disappear and deciduous shrubs predominate. The dominant herbs are wormwood, fescue, and sometimes seline.

Xerophytic forests and shrubs Mediterranean. In the Mediterranean climate, special brown soils with a significant humus content and high natural fertility are formed. In relief depressions, semi-hydromorphic dark-colored soils are common. In Yugoslavia they are called smolnitsa. Clay composition, very high dry density, and richness in humus are their characteristic features. Vegetation in climates with dry, hot summers is characterized by xerophytic adaptations: a powerful root system, high root suction capacity (turgor), small leaf blade, hard skin or pubescence on the leaves, and the secretion of essential oils. Depending on the distribution of precipitation, 4 types of formations are distinguished: hard-leaved forests, maquis, freegans and shiblyak. Hard-leaved forests are characteristic of the western shores of the peninsulas, which receive the greatest amount of precipitation. The forests consist of southern coniferous and evergreen deciduous trees. Conifers include subtropical pines: Italian pine, seaside and Aleppo pines, Lebanese and Cypriot cedars, tree-like junipers, cypresses. Of the evergreen trees, first of all are evergreen oaks with small, hard leaves: cork in the western and holm in the eastern Middle-earth. Forests are usually cut down. They were replaced by plantations of grapes, citrus and olive trees; in other cases, the lands were abandoned and overgrown with tall bushes. These thickets of evergreen large and dense shrubs are called maquis. The main types in them: arbutus, noble laurel, wild olive (olive), etc. In drier places in the interior regions and eastern shores of the peninsulas, thickets of low-trunked sparse shrubs - freegan or garrigue - are common. Low, often cushion-shaped bushes dominate: cistus, burnet, etc. In the south of the Iberian Peninsula and in Sicily, the low-growing chamerops palm grows - the only wild palm in Europe. In the driest places of the eastern Middle-earth, along with evergreens, there are deciduous shrubs: sumac, orchard tree, lilac, wild rose. Such thickets are called shiblyak. The fauna of Middle-earth differs from the temperate zone in the following species: wild goats and wild sheep- the ancestors of domestic goats and sheep. There are rabbits. Of the southern predators, the genetta belongs to the civet family. Southern birds appear: pheasants, blue magpie. In the south of the Iberian Peninsula lives the only small monkey in Europe - the tailless macaque.

Mesophytic subtropical forests The humid subtropics of China and Japan consist of both deciduous and evergreen trees. However, these forests were preserved only in the form of sacred groves at Buddhist temples. Ancient plant species were discovered in them: ginkgo, metasequoia. From conifers - various types pine trees, cryptomeria, cunningamia, false larch, etc. Among the deciduous trees there are laurels, cinnamon and camphor trees, magnolias, tulip trees, wild tea bushes, etc. The humid subtropical forests are dominated by yellow soils and red soils, sometimes podzolized. On the non-terraced slopes of the mountains they are busy planting tea bushes, tung trees, citrus trees, apple trees, etc. On the terraced slopes and on the floodplains of rivers they grow rice, cotton, soybeans, and kaoliang. In the mountains of Japan, forests of coniferous and deciduous trees, with evergreen undergrowth. The forests of Japan are home to numerous animals: Japanese macaque, sika deer, etc.

Broadleaf forests characteristic of humid temperate climates Western Europe and the Yellow River basin. The main representatives of forest species: beech and oak. Along with them, chestnut grows near the Atlantic, and in more continental areas - hornbeam, elm, maple, etc. The soils under such forests in climates with mild winters are brown forest, and in frosty winters - gray forest. They are distinguished by a high humus content, but a small amount of mineral salts. They respond well to the application of mineral fertilizers and produce high yields when cultivated. For this reason, these forests have practically not been preserved.

Mixed or coniferous-deciduous forests. The main forest-forming species in them are spruce and deciduous oaks, as well as their numerous companions: European cedar pine, fir, yew, ash, linden, maple, elm, and beech. These forests are characterized by herbaceous deciduous vines (hops) and deciduous undergrowth. The soils are gray forest and soddy-podzolic, somewhat less fertile than under deciduous forests. These forests are somewhat better preserved and are found on the German-Polish Plain, in Belarus, Northern Ukraine, Central Russia. The remaining large animals are bison, wild boars are becoming numerous, red deer, roe deer, forest cats. Along with them there are animals common to the taiga zone: squirrels, hares, foxes, wolves, sometimes moose, bears. In Northeast China and Primorye, tigers and Himalayan bears and sika deer live in these forests. The forests of the Far East are distinguished by their diverse species composition. The climate of European forests is transitional from maritime to continental and continental, on Far East moderate monsoon.

Taiga V Foreign Europe occupies Fennoscandia - the plains of Finland and Sweden, rises to the eastern slopes of the Scandinavian mountains. The main forest-forming species is European pine. The soils are often rocky, soddy-podzolic and podzolic; there are few lands suitable for ploughing; forestry and hunting predominate. There are typical taiga animals: wolves, foxes, hares, moose, bears, martens, and birds - wood grouse and black grouse. The climate is moderately cold, continental type, and is not very favorable for agriculture, which is of a focal nature.

Tundra occupies the north of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and the mountain tundra occupies the summit part of the Scandinavian Mountains. The climate of the zone is subarctic, or the climate of the mountains is a moderate-cold zone. Typical tundra vegetation. On high rocky and sandy places there is deer lichen with lingonberries and wild rosemary. Sedges, cotton grass, blueberries, cranberries, and cloudberries grow in damp marshy lowlands. Typical animals are reindeer, white hare, lemmings, and arctic foxes. Agriculture in the tundra is impossible; the inhabitants' occupations are hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding. The soils are underdeveloped, gley and peat-gley. Permafrost is common.

Eurasia is the largest of the continents of planet Earth, therefore, on its territory you can find almost all known natural zones, with the exception of areas Antarctic climate. To visually display information on the topic “natural zones of Eurasia,” a table would probably not be the best option, since it would turn out to be quite cumbersome and difficult to read, so we will analyze each large area separately.

Although first, of course, you need to inform the reader what, in general, is hidden behind the phrase “natural area”. It's very simple. That's what it's called certain territory, where similar climatic conditions are common, which is due to geographical location and a whole range of other factors. The natural zones of Eurasia, as well as all other continents, are distinguished by flora and fauna, the analysis of which sometimes helps to identify a new area or eliminate an old one as unnecessary.

Natural areas of the mainland

So, in the very north of the continent, arctic deserts are common, i.e. territories with a damp, cold climate, in which conditions only certain types of lichens can grow, which, however, have practically no place to grow here, since the regions arctic deserts only affect small islands in Arctic Ocean. Next on the list called “natural areas of Eurasia” is the tundra. Here the conditions are a little milder, so grass appears in the tundra in the summer, and the deer inhabiting its expanses receive excellent food. By the way, in winter they also have something to profit from: reindeer moss, which animals dig out from under the snow, is a real substitute for grass and helps them survive the long cold season. Further to the south, a vast taiga zone begins, which covers almost all of Siberia and from the north enters the European territory of Russia. The biodiversity of the taiga zone is significantly higher than that of the previous two regions.

The latitudinal location and the associated level of illumination have an effect. Taiga is mainly a source of quality wood. On such a large continent as Eurasia, natural zones, of course, cannot be located only in the latitudinal direction. What are we talking about? Moreover, the following two natural zones, namely the areas of mixed forests and forest-steppes, have a meridional distribution in many areas. This is due to the peculiarities of the terrain. Mountains, for example, break up the forest-steppe zone in the Urals region. The natural zones of Eurasia also include steppes and deserts, which can be found in the south of Ukraine, the Kuban, Central Asia, on the border of India and Pakistan, as well as in China. Regions arid climate could not help but appear on such a large continent, since moist masses of sea air often do not reach their locations. Not all deserts of Eurasia, of course, have similar origins.

Among them there are those that appeared as a result of human intervention.

Conclusion

Natural zones of Eurasia and their relative position are an excellent subject for study, because, having understood their climatic features, a person will be able to apply this information to all other continents, because in Eurasia you can find almost all known natural zones.