natural areas of the earth. Natural zonation The main reason for the formation of natural zones

Polar poppy Moss pad Saxifraga Lichens Arctic desert plants. Moss pads growing among stones and rocks covered with a bizarre pattern and lichens, polar poppies and saxifrages look like real oases among the polar snows and glaciers.

Numerous bird markets are located on the Arctic coast, where guillemots, guillemots, and gulls nest. In addition to them, lemmings, arctic foxes and musk oxen are found in the polar deserts, but the polar bear is the true ruler of these places. It preys on seals that make their way to the shore or coastal ice. 1 - guillemot 2 - guillemot 3 - musk ox 4 - polar bear 5 - seal

Taiga plants. 1 - spruce 2 - fir 3 - larch 4 - juniper 5 - bilberry 6 - oxalis Due to the fact that little light penetrates under the canopy of coniferous trees, undergrowth is practically not developed in taiga forests. The most important tree species that form the taiga are pine, spruce, fir and larch, and among the shrubs juniper, honeysuckle, currant. Beneath them grow blueberries, lingonberries, and very few herbs such as oxalis and wintergreen.

Common pine. One of the most common conifers in the temperate zone of Eurasia is the pine. Its slender, soaring trunk is crowned with a spreading crown, which is formed by long and soft needles. The indescribable aroma and clean air of the pine forest have healing properties. Pine wood has been preserved for centuries. No wonder the famous wooden churches of Kizhi were built from it.

Larch. Among other coniferous trees, larch stands out in that it sheds its soft needles for the winter, resembling young leaves to the touch. Larch is the most numerous coniferous tree in the northern hemisphere. It occupies vast areas in Siberia and North America.

Tundra animals. 1 - elk 2 - musk deer 3 - brown bear 4 - lynx 5 - sable 6 - chipmunk 7 - capercaillie 8 - crossbill The fauna of the taiga is rich and diverse. Elk, deer, musk deer, brown bear, wolf, lynx, sable, chipmunk, squirrel are found here. Among the taiga birds, capercaillie, nutcracker, crossbill are common.

This large bird feeds in trees but nests on the ground. In spring, capercaillie males gather in special places - currents. Here they arrange competitions in singing, attracting females. During the mating, the capercaillie loses its hearing for a while, for which it got its name. In summer, capercaillie eat green parts of plants, in autumn - berries, and in winter - pine needles.

Brown bear. The largest brown bears live in the Far East and Alaska. Their growth can reach 2.5 meters. Bears are active from early spring to late autumn, and for the winter they lie in a den, fall into a shallow sleep. Unlike other predators, the brown bear is omnivorous. They are excellent swimmers and fish in river banks.

Squirrel. It spends most of its time in trees, although it often forages on the ground. They feed on berries, mushrooms, nuts and acorns, as well as seeds of conifers and buds, but do not pass by insects or bird eggs. Squirrels store part of their food for the winter. Making hiding places both in its nest and outside it.

Plants of the steppes 2 - fescue 3 - bluegrass 4 - sheep 5 - wormwood 6 - onion 7 - tulip Grasses predominate among the steppe plants - feather grass, fescue, bluegrass, oats, forming a dense grass cover. Other plants include wormwood, as well as onions and tulips. An unforgettable impression is made by the steppe blooming in spring, similar to a bright Persian carpet.

Most of the ungulates found in the steppes have sharp eyesight and are capable of fast and long running. These are, first of all, various antelopes - saigas and turfs. Rodents living in the steppes - ground squirrels and marmots - build complex burrows, sometimes resembling miniature cities. Typical birds of the steppes are the bustard and the steppe eagle. Steppe lark. There are also predatory animals in the steppes, such as the steppe fox - corsac and the steppe cat - manul. Animals of the steppe 1 - saiga 2 - ground squirrel 3 - marmot 4 - bustard 5 - steppe eagle 6 - steppe lark 7 - corsac 8 - manul

Dry hot summer months, spring and autumn are short, and winters are cold. t air = C (day), t air = -20°C (night), t sand = C. It rains in spring and autumn. Constant dry winds blow.

Savanna dry, hot winters, humid summers Savannahs are located between the tropical forests and deserts of Africa. They are huge grassy plains, occupied mainly by cereal vegetation, among which there are solitary trees.

Baobab. The tree, which is considered the "eighth wonder of the world." Being not very tall, baobabs amaze with the thickness of their trunk, the diameter of which can reach 9 meters. Their powerful roots go deep into the soil and cover a large area, providing the plant with the necessary moisture in the dry period.

Bottle tree In the savannahs of Central Australia, a close relative of cocoa grows - the bottle tree. It got its name due to the fact that its 15 - meter barrel is surprisingly similar to a bottle. In its lower part, cavities are formed in which water accumulates. In the dry season or during a drought, the plant uses these reserves without fear of drying up.

Savannah animals 1 - wildebeest 2 - zebra 3 - giraffe 4 - buffalo 5 - elephant 6 - lion 7 - cheetah 8 - spotted hyena In the African savannas there are a large number of large herbivores - antelopes, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants. They are hunted by various predators - lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas.

Giraffe This is the tallest animal, whose growth reaches 6 meters. Spotted coloring well masks animals in thickets of bushes and among trees. Giraffes keep in small groups, sometimes forming common herds with antelopes and ostriches. They feed on shoots of umbrella-shaped acacias and other trees and shrubs.

Ceiba. Ceiba grows in Central America. The height of the ceiba reaches 45 meters, and the diameter of the trunk is 4 meters. At the base of the ceiba trunk, numerous disc-shaped roots are formed - props, sometimes stretching along the soil surface for several meters. Ceiba fruits are lined on the inside with many silky hairs that are used instead of cotton wool.

Animals VEL 1 - bakers 2 - tapir 3 - howler monkey 4 - jaguar 5 - anaconda 6 - hummingbird 7 - heliconid butterfly 8 - morpho butterfly A huge number of various animals live in the equatorial forests. Under the forest canopy, various ungulates find food: wild pigs, rapiers, deer, capybaras, which are hunted by wild cats: leopard and jaguar, as well as snakes - anaconda and python. In the crowns of trees, many birds and monkeys echo. And bright butterflies fly between the trunks.

The natural zones of the Earth or natural-residential zones are large areas of land with the same characteristics: topography, soil, climate, and a special flora and fauna. The formation of a natural zone depends on the ratio of the level of heat and moisture, that is, the climate changes - the natural zone also changes.

Types of natural areas of the world

Geographers distinguish the following natural areas:

arctic desert
Tundra
Taiga
mixed forest
broadleaf forest
Steppe
desert
Subtropics
Tropics

Rice. 1. Mixed forest

In addition to the main zones, there are also transitional ones:

forest tundra
forest-steppe
Semi-desert.

They have features of two neighboring main zones. This is the complete official list of zones.

Some experts also distinguish such natural areas as:

Zone placement

What are the patterns of placement of natural and climatic zones? It's simple - there is a strict movement of the belts along the latitudes from the North (North Pole) to the South (South Pole). Their placement corresponds to the uneven redistribution of solar energy on the Earth's surface.

You can observe the change of natural zones from the coast deep into the mainland, that is, the relief and distance from the ocean also affect the location of natural zones and their width.

There is also a correspondence of natural zones to climatic zones. So, within what climatic zones are the above natural zones located:

equatorial belt- moist equatorial forests with areas of humid evergreen forest and rainforest where short dry periods are observed;
subequatorial belt- monsoon forests and savannas with areas of oceanic rain forests and monsoon deciduous forests;
tropical belt- savannas, tropical forests, tropical deserts and semi-deserts;

Rice. 2. Savannas

subtropical belt- zone of evergreen forest, steppe and desert;
Temperate zone- deserts, semi-deserts, a zone of steppes, a zone of mixed, deciduous and coniferous forests;
subtropical belt- forest-tundra and tundra;
arctic belt- tundra and arctic desert.

Based on this ratio, in the same natural area, differences in climate, soil type and landscape can be observed.

Geographical position

Knowing where this or that natural zone is located, one can also indicate its geographical location. For example, the zone of the Arctic desert occupies the territories of Antarctica, Greenland and the entire northern tip of Eurasia. The tundra occupies large areas of countries such as Russia, Canada, Alaska. The desert zone is located on such continents as South America, Africa, Australia and Eurasia.

Characteristics of the main natural zones of the planet

All natural areas differ in:

relief and composition of the soil;
climate;
animal and plant world.

Neighboring zones may have similar characteristics, especially where there is a gradual transition from one to the other. Thus, the answer to the question of how to define a natural area is very simple: note the climate features, as well as the features of flora and fauna.

The largest natural zones: the forest zone and the taiga (trees grow everywhere except Antarctica). These two zones have both similar characteristics and differences that are inherent only in the taiga, mixed forest, broadleaf forest, monsoon and equatorial forests.

Typical characteristic for the forest zone:

warm and hot summer;
a large amount of precipitation (up to 1000 mm per year);
the presence of full-flowing rivers, lakes and swamps;
the predominance of woody vegetation;
diversity of the animal world.

The largest in area are equatorial forests; they occupy 6% of all land. The greatest diversity of flora and fauna is characteristic of these forests. 4/5 of all plant species grow here and 1/2 of all land animal species live, and many species are unique.

Rice. 3. Equatorial forests

The role of natural areas

Each natural zone plays its own special role in the life of the planet. If we consider natural areas in order, we can give the following examples:

arctic desert, despite the fact that it is almost completely an icy desert, it is a kind of “pantry” where multi-ton fresh water reserves are stored, and also, being the polar region of the planet, it plays a key role in shaping the climate;
climate tundra keeps the soils of the natural zone in a frozen state for most of the year and this plays an important role in the carbon cycle of the planet;
taiga, as well as equatorial forests are a kind of "lungs" of the Earth; they produce the oxygen necessary for the life of all living things and absorb carbon dioxide.

What is the main role of all natural zones? They store a large amount of natural resources that are necessary for human life and activities.

The global geographic community has long come up with both color conventions for natural areas and emblems that define them. So the arctic deserts are indicated by blue waves, and just deserts and semi-deserts are indicated by red. The taiga zone has a symbol in the form of a coniferous tree, and the zone of mixed forests in the form of coniferous and deciduous trees.

What have we learned?

We learned what a natural area is, defined this term and identified the main features of the concept. We learned what the main zones of the Earth are called, and what are the intermediate zones. We also found out the reasons for such a zonality of the geographic envelope of the Earth. All this information will help prepare for a geography lesson in grade 5: write a report on the topic “Natural zones of the Earth”, prepare a message.

Topic quiz

Report Evaluation

Average rating: 4.3. Total ratings received: 166.

1) Remember what a natural zone is.

A natural complex is a part of the earth's surface with relatively homogeneous natural conditions.

2) What are the patterns in the placement of natural zones of the Earth?

The location of natural zones is closely related to climatic zones. Like climatic zones, they naturally replace each other from the equator to the poles due to a decrease in solar heat entering the Earth's surface and uneven moistening. Such a change in natural zones - large natural complexes is called latitudinal zonality. The change of natural zones, as you know, occurs not only on the plains, but also in the mountains - from the foot to their peaks. With altitude, temperature and pressure decrease, up to a certain height, the amount of precipitation increases, and lighting conditions change. In connection with the change in climatic conditions, there is also a change in natural zones.

3) What natural zones are located in Eurasia?

Arctic deserts, tundra and forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppe and steppe, semi-desert and desert.

4) What sources of geographic information can be used to characterize a natural area?

Observations, geographical maps, meteorological data.

*From the figure, determine how natural areas are located in our country. Why do not all zones extend from the western to the eastern outskirts of the country? What zones are located only in the European part of the country? How can this be explained?

The location of natural zones is closely related to climatic zones. Like climatic zones, they replace each other from the equator to the poles due to a decrease in solar heat entering the Earth's surface and uneven moistening. In Russia, from north to south, the following natural zones replace each other - arctic deserts and semi-deserts, tundra and forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppes and steppes, variable-humid forests, deserts and semi-deserts. Not all natural zones extend from the western to the eastern borders of the country. This is due to the fact that Russia has a large latitudinal elongation and climatic conditions change with advancement inland. Only in the European part is there a natural zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests. This can be explained by the fact that in inland areas there is not enough moisture to form forests.

Questions in a paragraph

*There are evergreens in the tundra. How do you explain this fact? Name the representatives of the flora and fauna of the tundra known to you. Consider how they adapt to harsh climates.

There are many evergreens in the tundra. Such plants can use sunlight as soon as they are free from under the snow, without wasting time and energy on the formation of new foliage. Flora - mosses, lichens, shrubs - crowberry, bearberry, wild rosemary, dwarf birch, willow. Tundra plants have peculiar forms that help them make the best use of the sun's heat and protect themselves from the wind. Pillows form, for example, stemless resin, saxifrage. They are so dense that from a distance they resemble moss-covered stones. The fauna of the tundra is not rich in species, but quantitatively large enough. What animals live in the tundra permanently? The indigenous inhabitants of the tundra include reindeer, lemmings, arctic foxes, wolves, and birds - a snowy owl and a white partridge. Very rare animals - musk oxen.

* Determine on the map which of the largest mineral deposits of our country are located in the tundra zone.

Large industrial hubs have been created in the area of the cities of Nikel, Vorkuta and Norilsk. Non-ferrous metals are being mined in Norilsk, and oil and gas are actively produced in the north of the Tomsk and Tyumen regions. The Arctic tundra zone contains a large supply of important natural resources such as uranium and oil.

Questions at the end of the paragraph

1. What components of nature form a natural zone?

Communities of plants, communities of animals, soils, characteristic features of surface and ground runoff, water regime of rivers, exogenous processes of relief formation.

2. What determines the change of natural zones?

The change of natural zones occurs as a result of a regular change in the ratio of heat and moisture.

3. On the example of our country, justify the pattern of changing natural zones.

On the territory of Russia, there is a change from north to south of the following natural zones: arctic deserts, tundra, forest tundra, taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppes, steppes, semi-deserts.

4. Think about how the flora and fauna of the Arctic deserts are adapted to their habitat.

Plants do not form a dense vegetation cover, are small, flowering plants have a very short growing season. Animals of the Arctic deserts have adapted to get food from the sea, many have thick white wool, birds inhabit the coast.

5. Indicate the features of the tundra zone of our country and explain them.

A feature of the tundra zone of Russia is its wide distribution and the separation of several subzones in it from north to south. From north to south, three subzones are distinguished: arctic tundras are replaced by typical (moss-lichen), and then by shrubs from dwarf birch and polar willows.

6. Think about the reason for the strong vulnerability of the nature of the tundra zone.

Pollutants do not remain in place, air currents carry them over long distances. And the inhabitants of the tundra, especially lichens, are extremely sensitive to their effects. In the tundra, pollutants accumulate rather than being washed away by meltwater. Low temperatures inhibit the destruction of harmful compounds. Dozens of rivers and lakes perish. Streams of fuel oil and diesel fuel from drilling rigs flow into the soil and water bodies all year round. The coast of the Arctic seas and the entire tundra are littered with ownerless barrels and rusty iron. Many settlements are in an unsanitary state. There are practically no environmentally friendly enterprises. Thermal power stations smoke the sky. Smog settles on white snow, dividing it with black, and patches of bare ground appear in places where pollution is especially high. Not a single plant will grow here for many years. Another problem of the tundra is uncontrolled hunting and poaching. Many plant and animal species have become rare.

The earth's surface and moistening conditions in different parts of the continents natural zones do not form continuous bands parallel to the equator. Only in and on some large plains do they extend in a latitudinal direction, replacing each other from north to south. More often they change in the direction from the coasts of the oceans to the depths of the continents, and sometimes they stretch almost along the meridians.

Natural zones are also formed in: from the equator to the poles, the properties of surface waters, the composition of vegetation and wildlife change. There is also . However, oceanic natural complexes do not have pronounced external differences.

There is great diversity on earth. However, against the background of this diversity, large parts stand out - natural zones and. This is due to the different ratio of heat and moisture that the earth's surface receives.

Formation of natural zones

The uneven distribution of solar heat over the Earth's surface is the main reason for the heterogeneity of the geographic envelope. In almost every land area, the oceanic parts are better moistened than the inland, continental regions. Humidification depends not only on the amount of precipitation, but also on the ratio of heat and moisture. The warmer it is, the more moisture that has fallen with precipitation evaporates. The same amount of precipitation can lead to excessive moisture in one zone and insufficient moisture in another. Thus, the annual precipitation of 200 mm in the cold subarctic zone is excessive (bogs are formed), while in the hot tropical zones it is sharply insufficient (there are deserts).

Due to differences in the amount of solar heat and moisture within geographic zones, natural zones are formed - large areas with uniform temperature and moisture conditions, similar surface and groundwater features, and wildlife.

Features of the natural zones of the continents

In the same natural areas on different continents, vegetation and fauna have similar features.

At the same time, other factors, in addition to climate, also influence the distribution of plants and animals: the geological history of the continents, the relief and features of rocks, and people. The unification and separation of the continents, the change in their relief and climate in the geological past have caused different types of plants and animals to live in similar natural conditions, but on different continents. The African savannahs, for example, are characterized by antelopes, buffaloes, zebras, African ostriches, and in the South American savannas, several species of deer, armadillos and an ostrich-like flightless nandu bird are common. On each continent there are endemic species (endemics) that are characteristic only of this continent.

Under the influence of human activity, the geographic envelope is undergoing significant changes. To preserve representatives of the organic world and typical natural complexes in all natural zones of the world, specially protected areas are created - nature reserves, etc. In national parks, unlike, nature protection is combined with tourism and people's recreation.

The warmth of the sun, clean air and water 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 of the geographic belt of the Earth), which have similar, uniform 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 zones 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 areas of the 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 the broad-leaved 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 is the almost complete absence of vegetation and sparse wildlife. 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 soils of 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 the growth of variable-humid 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 natural areas of the world are very interesting, whether it is a desert that seems completely lifeless at first glance, boundless Arctic ice or thousand-year-old rain forests with boiling life inside.

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