Natural area desert table. Natural land areas

At the core geographic zoning lie climate change, and above all differences in the flow of solar heat. The largest territorial units of the zonal division of the geographical shell - geographic zones.

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

The external appearance of the natural area is determined vegetation type . But the nature of vegetation depends on climatic conditions - thermal conditions, moisture, illumination.

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

For example, in the temperate latitudes of North America, natural zones are located in the meridional direction, which is associated with the influence of the Cordilleras, which prevent the passage of moist winds from Pacific Ocean deep into the mainland. In Eurasia, there are almost all zones of the Northern Hemisphere, but their width is not the same. For example, the zone of mixed forests gradually narrows from west to east as the distance from the ocean increases and the continentality of the climate increases. In the mountains, natural zones change with height - high-altitudezonation . Altitudinal zonality due to climate change with uplift. The set of altitudinal belts in the mountains depends on the geographical position of the mountains themselves, which determines the nature of the nature of the lower belt, and the height of the mountains, which determines the nature of the highest altitudinal belt for these mountains. The higher the mountains and the closer they are to the equator, the more altitudinal zones they have.

The location of altitudinal belts is also affected by the direction of the ridges relative to the sides of the horizon and prevailing winds. Thus, the southern and northern slopes of the mountains may differ in the number of altitudinal zones. As a rule, there are more of them on the southern slopes than on the northern ones. On slopes exposed to moist winds, the nature of the vegetation will differ from that of the opposite slope.

The sequence of changes in altitudinal belts in the mountains practically coincides with the sequence of changes in natural zones on the plains. But in the mountains, belts change faster. There are natural complexes that are typical only for mountains, for example, subalpine and alpine meadows.

Natural land areas

Evergreen tropical and equatorial forests

Evergreen tropical and equatorial forests are located in the equatorial and tropical zones South America, Africa and the Eurasian Islands. The climate is humid and hot. The air temperature is constantly high. Red-yellow ferralitic soils are formed, rich in iron and aluminum oxides, but poor in nutrients. Dense evergreen forests are the source a large number plant litter. But organic matter entering the soil does not have time to accumulate. They are absorbed by numerous plants, washed out by daily precipitation into the lower soil horizons. The equatorial forests are characterized by multilayered.

The vegetation is represented mainly by woody forms that form multi-tiered communities. Characterized by high species diversity, the presence of epiphytes (ferns, orchids), lianas. Plants have hard leathery leaves with devices that get rid of excess moisture (droppers). The animal world is represented by a huge variety of forms - consumers of rotting wood and leaf litter, as well as species that live in tree crowns.

Savannahs and woodlands

Natural areas with their characteristic herbaceous vegetation (mainly cereals) in combination with individual trees or their groups and shrub thickets. They are located north and south of the equatorial forest zones. southern continents in tropical zones. The climate is characterized by the presence of a more or less long dry period and high air temperatures throughout the year. In savannas, red ferralitic or red-brown soils are formed, which are richer in humus than in equatorial forests. Although nutrients are washed out of the soil during the wet season, humus accumulates during the dry season.

Herbaceous vegetation with separate groups of trees predominates. Umbrella crowns are characteristic, life forms that allow plants to store moisture (bottle-shaped trunks, succulents) and protect themselves from overheating (pubescence and wax coating on the leaves, the location of the leaves with an edge to the sun's rays). The fauna is characterized by an abundance of herbivores, mainly ungulates, large predators, animals that process plant litter (termites). With distance from the equator in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the duration of the dry period in the savannas increases, the vegetation becomes more and more sparse.

Deserts and semi-deserts

Deserts and semi-deserts are located in tropical, subtropical and temperate climatic zones. The desert climate is characterized by extremely low rainfall throughout the year.

The daily amplitudes of air temperature are large. By temperature regime they vary quite a lot: from hot tropical deserts to temperate deserts. climate zone. All deserts are characterized by the development of desert soils, poor in organic matter, but rich in mineral salts. Irrigation allows them to be used for agriculture.

Soil salinization is widespread. The vegetation is sparse and has specific adaptations to the arid climate: the leaves are turned into thorns, root system greatly exceeds the aerial part, many plants are able to grow on saline soils, bringing salt to the surface of the leaves in the form of plaque. Great variety of succulents. Vegetation is adapted either to "capture" moisture from the air, or to reduce evaporation, or both. The animal world is represented by forms that can do without water for a long time (storage water in the form of fat deposits), travel long distances, survive heat by going into holes or hibernating.

Many animals are nocturnal.

Hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs

Natural zones are located in subtropical zones in a Mediterranean climate with dry, hot summers and wet, mild winters. Brown and red-brown soils are formed.

The vegetation cover is represented by coniferous and evergreen forms with leathery leaves covered with a wax coating, pubescence, usually with a high content of essential oils. So the plants adapt to the dry hot summer. The animal world is strongly exterminated; but herbivorous and leaf-eating forms are characteristic, there are many reptiles, birds of prey.

Steppes and forest-steppes

Natural complexes characteristic of temperate zones. Here, in a climate with a cold, often snowy winter and warm, dry summers, the most fertile soils are formed - chernozems. The vegetation is predominantly herbaceous, in typical steppes, prairies and pampas - cereals, in dry variants - sagebrush. Almost everywhere natural vegetation has been replaced by agricultural crops. The animal world is represented by herbivorous forms, among which ungulates are heavily exterminated, mainly rodents and reptiles, which are characterized by a long period of winter dormancy, and birds of prey have survived.

broad-leaved and mixed forests

broad-leaved and mixed forests grow in temperate zones in climates with sufficient moisture and a period of low, sometimes negative temperatures. The soils are fertile, brown forest (under deciduous forests) and gray forest (under mixed forests). Forests, as a rule, are formed by 2-3 species of trees with a shrub layer and a well-developed grass cover. The animal world is diverse, clearly divided into tiers, represented by forest ungulates, predators, rodents, and insectivorous birds.

Taiga

Taiga is distributed in the temperate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere in a wide strip in climate conditions with short warm summers, long and severe winters, sufficient rainfall and normal, sometimes excessive moisture.

In the taiga zone, under conditions of abundant moisture and relatively cool summers, intensive washing of the soil layer occurs, and little humus is formed. Under its thin layer, due to washing of the soil, a whitish layer is formed, which appearance looks like ash. Therefore, such soils are called podzolic. Vegetation represented various types coniferous forests in combination with small-leaved ones.

The tiered structure is well developed, which is also characteristic of the animal world.

Tundra and forest tundra

Distributed in subpolar and polar climatic zones. The climate is harsh, with a short and cold growing season, long and harsh winters. With a small amount of precipitation develops excessive moisture. The soils are peat-gley, under them there is a layer of permafrost. The vegetation cover is represented mainly by grass-lichen communities, with shrubs and dwarf trees. The fauna is peculiar: large ungulates and predators are common, nomadic and migratory forms are widely represented, especially migratory birds, which spend only the nesting period in the tundra. There are practically no burrowing animals, few grain eaters.

polar deserts

Distributed on islands in high latitudes. The climate of these places is extremely severe, winter and polar night dominate most of the year. Vegetation is sparse, represented by communities of mosses and scale lichens. The animal world is connected with the ocean, there is no permanent population on land.

Altitude zones

They are located in a variety of climatic zones and are characterized by a corresponding set of altitudinal zones. Their number depends on the latitude (in the equatorial and tropical regions it is larger and on the height of the mountain range) the higher, the greater the set of belts.

Table "Natural areas"

Summary of the lesson "Natural areas". Next topic:

Practical work "Natural zones of Russia"

natural areas
Spreading
Climatic conditions
Average temperatures
Precipitation,
mm per year
organic world
characteristic
elements of nature

January
July

Arctic deserts
Islands of the Arctic Ocean, north of the Taimyr Peninsula
Dominance of cold arctic air masses
up to - 40
· WITH
less
+ 5
· WITH
less
200
Plants - mosses and lichens, sometimes - dwarf birch. The animal world is poor.
The sea feeds birds and polar bears. There are noisy bird markets.
The presence of icebergs. Polar day and night. This is where glaciers form.

Tundra
Coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Arctic Circle. The greatest length from north to south is in Western and Central Siberia.
A small amount of heat, permafrost, excessive moisture due to low evaporation. In the west, sea air masses penetrate.
up to - 30
· WITH
up to + 10
· WITH
300- 600
species composition organic world- poor.
There are many mosses and lichens, shrubs are plentiful. There are few herbaceous plants.
This is a reindeer breeding area, in the lakes - fish. Many berries: cloudberries, blueberries, cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries.
A lot of mosquitoes and midges (gnats)
There are many swamps, soil and air humidity is high (low evaporation).
From north to south, arctic tundras pass into moss-lichen, then shrubs from dwarf birch and polar willows.

forest tundra
Transitional zone with a combination of tundra and forest vegetation and wildlife.
The climate is subarctic. Most of the year there is snow cover.
from - 10
· WITH
up to - 40
· WITH
+10
· WITH
+ 14
· WITH
200- 400
Along the river valleys there are strips of rather high forest. In the interfluves - islands of low-growing sparse forests with lichen cover
The combination of tundra and forest vegetation and wildlife.

Taiga
The largest natural zone of the Russian Federation, with a maximum width in Central Siberia (more than 2000 km). Taiga is a coniferous forest.
Moderately warm summer And Cold winter. Continentality increases in Central Siberia.
in the West
- 10
·-20
· WITH
in Siberia
up to 50
· WITH
from + 13
· WITH
up to +19
· WITH
300- 600
Main tree species: larch, fir, spruce, cedar, centennial pine. Deciduous species: birch, aspen, alder.
Animals: Brown bear, elk, squirrel, hare - hare; birds - capercaillie, hazel grouse, nutcracker, crossbill. Predators: wolf, lynx, sable, marten, fox.
Sufficient and excessive moisture, many swamps, meadows.

mixed forests
To the south of the taiga zone (in the non-chernozem zone European Russia and in the south of Western Siberia). Absent in Central Siberia.
Temperate zone. It is located in the oceanic and transitional sectors of Eurasia.
- 5
S-14
· WITH
+10
· WITH
+20
· WITH
400-1000
Animals: Elk, hare, beaver, muskrat, raccoon, dormouse, wild boar, fox.
Birds: black grouse, pheasant.
Mixed forest of the Far East: spotted deer, tiger, black bear, harza.
In the north, mixed
broad-leaved forests on soddy-podzolic soils.

broadleaf forests
Distributed on the Russian Plain and in the south of the Far East
Moderate on the Russian Plain and monsoonal in the Far East.
- 5
C-10
· WITH
up to + 20
· WITH
up to 1000
Oak forests are heavily cut down.
In the southern part there are multi-tiered broad-leaved forests on gray forest soils.
Far Eastern forests: next to the Siberian species there is a lot of vegetation and fauna of Korea, China, Japan, Mongolia.

Forest-steppe
They form a transition zone from forest to steppe.
Moderate continental with snowy winters.
up to - 5
·WITH
+ 18
· WITH
+ 25
· WITH
400- 1000
On the interfluves, broad-leaved (oak) and small-leaved forests alternate on gray forest soils with forb steppes on chernozems.
Transition zone from forest to steppe.

steppes
Represented in the south of the Russian Plain and the West Siberian Lowland.
The climate is arid, with a predominance of evaporation over precipitation.
negative
+ 20
· WITH
+ 25
· WITH
300-500
Animals: ferret, ground squirrel, field mouse, wolf, hare.
Birds: steppe eagle.
In the past - steppe forb-grass vegetation and sod-grass vegetation on chernozems and chestnut soils. Now the steppes are mostly plowed up.

semi-deserts
Transitional zone from steppes to deserts. Distributed in the Caspian and Eastern Ciscaucasia.
Dry continental climate with cold winters (in some places up to -20
· WITH)
negative
up to + 30
· WITH

less than 300
Wormwood-cereal vegetation is widespread.
Fauna: a combination of representatives of the steppe and desert zones. Lots of earthmovers.
Inhabitants of semi-deserts: turtle, viper, scorpion, jerboa, eared hedgehog, lark.

Semi-deserts are characterized by transitional features from steppes to deserts. Their climate is continental.

desert
They have a limited distribution in the Caspian and Ciscaucasia.
Extremely dry climate. In extra-arid conditions, precipitation is less than 100 mm per year
to 10
· WITH
+ 22
· WITH
+ 30
· WITH
200-250
Desert dwellers: turtle, viper, scorpion, jerboa, eared hedgehog, lark.
The soils are gray-brown, among them solonchaks and solonetzes are often found.
Desert vegetation is valuable food for sheep and camels.

mountainous areas
Altitudinal zonality depends on the geographical location of mountain systems. Climatic features determined by height. Alpine climate forms at altitudes above 2000 m. Above the forest line in the Caucasus and the Urals - alpine meadows; in the mountains of Siberia - mountain tundra;
in the mountains of the Far East (the mountains of Kamchatka, the Kuriles, Sakhalin, Sikhote-Alin) - forest belts of stone birch and thickets of cedar dwarf (these belts are absent in the mountains of other regions of the country), mountain tundra.

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

Natural areas of the world: what is it?

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

Table "Natural zones of the world"

natural area	climate zone	average temperature(winter/summer)
Antarctic and Arctic deserts	Antarctic, arctic	24-70°С /0-32°С
Tundra and forest tundra	Subarctic and Subantarctic	8-40°С/+8+16°С
	Moderate	8-48°C /+8+24°C
mixed forests	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
hardwood forests	Subtropical	8+16 °С/ +20+24 °С
Tropical deserts and semi-deserts	Tropical	8+16 °С/ +20+32 °С
Savannahs and woodlands		20+24°C and above
Variable rainforests	subequatorial, tropical	20+24°C and above
Permanently wet forests	Equatorial	above +24°C

This characteristic of the natural areas of the world is only introductory, because you can talk about each of them for a very long time, all the information will not fit in the framework of one table.

Natural zones of the temperate climate zone

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

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

3. Broad-leaved forests. They are not adapted to harsh winters and are deciduous. They occupy most of Western Europe, the south of the Far East, the north of China and Japan. Suitable for them is a maritime or temperate continental climate with hot summers and fairly warm winters. 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. The following types of trees are characteristic: ash, chestnut, oak, hornbeam, beech, maple, elm. The forests are very rich in mammals (ungulates, rodents, predators), birds, including commercial ones.

4. Temperate deserts and semi-deserts. Their main distinguishing feature- almost complete absence of vegetation and sparse animal world. There are 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 temperature changes during the seasons. Animals are represented mainly by reptiles.

Arctic deserts and semi-deserts

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

Moist equatorial forests

Their second name is rainforests. 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 a 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 that has become home to more than 2/3 of all types of creatures that now live on our planet. These rainforests are superior to all other natural areas of the world. Trees remain evergreen, changing foliage gradually and partially. Surprisingly, the soil moist forests contain little humus.

Natural zones of the equatorial and subtropical climatic zone

1. Variably humid forests, they differ from rainforests in that precipitation falls there only during the rainy season, and during the period of drought that follows it, the trees are forced to shed their leaves. The animal and plant world is 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-moist forests. Their development occurs in the depths of the mainland, 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 of South America, partly Hindustan and Australia. More detailed information about the location is reflected in the map of natural areas of the world (photo).

hardwood forests

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

Steppes and forest-steppes

They are characterized by the almost complete absence of woody vegetation, this is due to the meager level of precipitation. But the soils are the most fertile (chernozems), and therefore are actively used by man for agriculture. 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. Moisture is in excess, 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 believed that this is the most unstable and fragile ecosystem. Due to the active development of gas and oil fields, it is on the verge of an ecological disaster.

All the natural areas of the world are very interesting, whether it is a seemingly completely lifeless desert, endless arctic ice or millennia-old rainforests teeming with life.

The Russian Federation ranks first in terms of area among other countries. For this reason, the territory of the country is divided into several natural zones. Their percentage of the area of Russia can be seen in the table below.

How many natural zones is the territory of Russia divided into

Zonal study is associated with the name of the famous geographer and traveler Alexander von Humboldt. This man is the progenitor whole science landscape science.

It was Humboldt who introduced the concept of "natural areas". He classified Russia as a transcontinental (located in several parts of the world) countries. Allocated 10 natural zones. Despite the huge area, namely 17,000,000 sq. km, in terms of the number of natural zones, Russia is inferior to the United States due to the location of two states in the tropics.

Table of natural zones of Russia, occupied territory:

Name of the natural area	Percentage of the area of Russia	annual rainfall	average temperature
Arctic deserts	2 %	150 or less	-24 -70°C in winter; 0 -+12°C in summer
Tundra	7 %	100-250 mm	-8 - -40°C in winter; +8 - +12°C in summer
Forest tundra and northern meadows	9 %	150-300 mm	-4 - -31°С in winter; +10+14°C in summer
Taiga	62 %	250-1000 mm	-8 - -57°С in winter; +3 - +20°С in summer
Mixed and deciduous forests	3 %	500-700 mm	-8 - -26°C in winter; +16- +20°C in summer
Forest-steppe	3.5 %	250-500 mm	-16 - + 8 ° С in winter; +16- +21°C in summer
steppes	11 %	200-400 mm	+5 - -35°С in winter; +7 - +35°C in summer
Subtropics	0.5 %	600-800 mm	+8+16°С in winter; +20+36°C and above in summer
semi-desert	1 %	Less than 250 mm	+2°+24°C and above
Desert	1 %	Less than 200mm	+13+20°С in winter; +23+50°C and above in summer

The natural areas of Russia are diverse, due to the vast territory.

Despite the occupied territory (17,000,000 sq. km), the United States, in terms of the number of natural regions, overtakes Russia due to the location of two states at once on the equator.

Arctic deserts

The natural areas of Russia, the table of which is given above, begin with the Arctic biome. It is adjacent to the North Pole. Numerous scientific expeditions are currently being conducted on this territory in order to study the landscape and living organisms that live inside the area.

The zone includes: the northern regions of the Taimyr Peninsula, Franz Josef Land, Severnaya Zemlya, part of the seas of the Arctic.

The Arctic desert has many glaciers. Coastlines islands located in glaciation zones have flat low plains that are distributed throughout the natural region. They give way to table plateaus and huge stalactites in the hinterland.

Soils and climate

Permafrost, reaching 1000 m in depth, permeates the soil through and through. Therefore, it remains frozen for most of the year. In summer, this situation changes somewhat. Abnormally low temperatures are getting warmer. This leads to the flooding of small lakes, which cover the surface of the deserts with melt water. The soil layer, although moistened in summer, is thin and poor in organic matter.

In areas with relatively high temperatures, soils contain more organic matter, and therefore are able to provide vital activity for frost-resistant plant species (mosses, lichens). Long frosty winters give way to cool summers. According to the temperature difference, the zone Arctic deserts surpasses the rest of the biomes of the country.

The natural zones of Russia, the table of which is given above, determine different weather at the same time throughout the country.

In the frosty months, the temperature in some regions drops to -70 o C, and in the summer it reaches +12 o C (June, July). During the year, it usually stays at around 0 o C to -22 o C. On average, the amount of precipitation does not exceed 150 mm per year.

Flora and fauna

The natural zone has approximately 700 species of plants and 120 animals, and they are united by the fact that they are able to survive in the most difficult frosty conditions. The same is true with animals. Many are covered with thick fur or have a dense layer of fat that protects them from frost. Some adaptation mechanisms are associated with procreation (reproduction during warm periods), winter migration.

Plant life is very scarce. Its main part consists of varieties of mosses and algae, the only representatives of the flora that can survive. The animal world is more diverse. Mammals live in the Arctic (polar bear and narwhals, sea hare); fish (flounder and cod, haddock); birds (pink gull and guillemots, White Owl).

Recreational potential

Although scarce, the Arctic deserts hold some promise. Profitable crafts - hunting, fishing are real types of recreation for lovers of the exotic. Another popular activity is the collection of minerals. In terms of the volume of mined rocks and precious stones, the North is not inferior to the Altai Territory or the Ural deposits.

The tourism sector is connected with the Bolshoi Arctic reserve, which is the largest object of receiving tourists. The reserve shows the whole nature of the "Russian" North, the culture of ancient peoples and the life of the main representatives of flora and fauna. Tourists will be able to truly enjoy the magnificence of the Arctic.

Tundra

Geographer Fismer accurately described this zone: "High treeless mountain."

Geographical position and relief

The natural zone of the tundra covers part of the Kola Peninsula, the Urals, Kamchatka, according to the table, occupying 7% of the entire area of the country. On the territory of Russia, only 2 types of tundra are represented - arctic and alpine, which differ in some features.

The Arctic tundra has a predominantly flat relief with a partial presence of small mountain formations - hills covered with snow. In turn, the alpine tundra has a mixed relief - both mountains and plains predominate.