Everyone who at least once in his life was lucky to visit our country, in any part of it, will agree with the statement that the nature of Russia is not only amazing, but in some places even completely unique. Why do we now take as a basis the opinion of the guests of our state, and not the Russians themselves? The answer is much simpler than it might seem at first glance. The thing is that, having been born, say, in Siberia or Kamchatka, we sometimes do not pay attention to local beauties, taking them for granted. But in vain…
In general, I would like to note that since the territory of our homeland is quite extensive, there is nothing surprising in the fact that the flora and fauna of one area sometimes differs significantly from the flora and fauna of the neighboring territory. For example, the nature of Central Russia differs significantly from its northern or, say, southern regions.
This article is aimed at telling in as much detail as possible about the characteristic features of the various territories of our country. The nature of Russia will appear before readers in all its colors, shades and variations.
Arctic Desert State
The Arctic deserts of Russia have such characteristic features as a huge amount of ice and snow, as well as high air humidity, averaging 85%.
The New Siberian Islands, Novaya and Severnaya Zemlya, as well as Franz Josef Land are located in the Arctic desert zone. Surprisingly, the nature of Russia in this area is such that there are almost no swamps, lakes, and the soils are polar-desert and saline with a low content of humus.
Vegetation cover is sparse and very poor. Most often here you can find mosses, lichens and algae. But it will not be difficult to see the saxifrage, polar poppy, cereals, ice ranunculus, chickweed, polar willow, arctic pike and bluegrass.
Fauna is also poor in species. As a rule, among the most popular inhabitants are the snowy owl, lemming, arctic fox, deer, polar bear and ptarmigan.
But on the rocky shores you can see numerous nesting seabirds.
Today, many scientists are working on the question of how to preserve the nature of Russia in this area. Moreover, it should be noted that this must be done as soon as possible, otherwise you can permanently lose entire species of unique animals and plants.
What is the tundra like?
The tundra zone is located mainly along the coast of the seas of the Arctic Ocean. It is a territory of strong winds, cold, polar day and night, and large clouds.
Here is a harsh and long winter (8-9 months), but the summer is short andcold. It happens that the temperature in the Asian tundra reaches even 52 ° C. About 70% of the entire territory of the tundra is swampy. This happened due to the constant perennial freezing of the soil.
On the coast you can find a young flat relief, a little to the south there is a hilly area, ridges of glacial origin and uplands. The terrestrial surface of the tundra is almost completely dotted with shallow lakes.
As for the flora, its basis is formed by lichens, mosses, various undersized plants (herbs, shrubs, shrubs). The following species are especially common: dwarf birch, willow, alder, sedge, lingonberry.
In general, we note that the tundra is divided into three so-called subzones: arctic, lichen-moss, southern shrub.
Characteristic features of the forest-tundra
Forest-tundra is a zone where the tundra gradually begins to turn into a forest. In this place, the nature of Russia, the geography of the region plays an important role, it is quite diverse. Its characteristic features are the so-called sparse island forests located on the interfluves and consisting mainly of Siberian spruce, larch and birch.
Such a sparseness of the forests is explained by the harsh climate conditions, although here the summer is much warmer than in the tundra, and the wind speed is much lower.
Another characteristic feature of the forest-tundra is a large number of sphagnum peat bogs.
This area has been covered with snow for about 9 months. In summer, the slopes of the river valleys herecovered with variegated and colored meadows. Ranunculus, valerian and berries grow everywhere. By the way, the local meadows serve as excellent pastures for deer. In addition, the nature of Russia in this area is considered an excellent habitat for many animals (usually arctic foxes and lemmings) and birds.
Here you can easily meet a wide variety of waterfowl: geese, ducks and swans. But there are very few birds left here for the winter - only a snowy owl and a partridge.
Endless taiga
The taiga zone in Russia occupies the largest area among other natural zones. It extends from the western borders of the Russian Federation up to the coast of the Sea of Japan. Geographically, the taiga is located in the subarctic and temperate climate zone.
This is where many Russian rivers originate, for example, the Volga, Vyatka, Onega, Kama, Lena, Vasyugan, Pur, Taz, Vilyui and others.
This zone is characterized by the presence of many swamps, underground waters, lakes, large reservoirs. The main type of vegetation in the taiga are forests, both light coniferous and dark coniferous. Larch trees also dominate around, a little less pine, spruce, fir and cedar.
Meadows and various swamps are located among the forests in sufficient numbers.
Are you really interested in Russian wildlife? Siberia is just the place to go. The fauna here is very heterogeneous. The eastern taiga is richer in fauna, where you can easily see hazel grouse, sable, stone capercaillie, waterfowl, brown bear,wolverine, squirrel, lynx, elk and hare.
Unfortunately, today there is active logging in this area. How to save the nature of Russia in this situation remains an almost unsolvable mystery.
Mixed and broadleaf forests of the country
The zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests is much warmer and wetter compared to the taiga. Summers are long and warm here, and winters are not particularly severe, which, by the way, favors the emergence of such a huge number of broad-leaved trees.
Note that the rivers here are full of water, which means that the waterlogging of the soil is very low. In general, this zone is characterized by soddy-podzolic and brown forest soils rich in minerals.
In most cases, forests are represented by oak, spruce, maple, linden, pine, ash, hazel, Korean cedar, birch, aspen and shrubs.
The nature of central Russia is very generous to its inhabitants. To date, such animals as bison, elk, wolf, wild boar, wolf, marten, dormouse and muskrat are massively found here. Of the birds, you can meet the oriole, grosbeak, woodpeckers, and others.
Unfortunately, now many species of plants and animals living in the Far Eastern mixed and broad-leaved forests are extremely rare, or even disappear altogether. For example, in the wild it is already almost impossible to meet spotted deer and the Amur tiger, and on the slopes you most likely will not find real ginseng anymore.
Russian forest-steppe
The forest-steppe zone is a kind of transition between forest and steppe. Here, broad-leaved, small-leaved and pine forests on gray soils alternate with forb meadow steppes formed directly on chernozems.
The nature of Russia in this area is divided into western and eastern forest-steppe. Hills and valleys are separated by numerous ravines, gullies.
Oak dominates everywhere here, sometimes there are birch groves, herbs, cereals. It should be noted that a significant part of the population lives in the forest-steppe, industrial and grain crops are cultivated here in large quantities.
Steppe zone
The steppe zone is characterized by dry summers, cold winters and very modest rainfall. About once every three years there is no rain at all for a long time, which means that a severe drought sets in.
A characteristic feature of the steppe zone is treelessness. Before the plowing of the steppe territories, herbaceous vegetation was found everywhere here, with a predominance of feather grass, bluegrass, fescue, and steppe oats. Now the situation has changed somewhat and, unfortunately, not for the better.
Soils in the north of the steppe zone are typical chernozems. Rodents live here everywhere, most often there are ground squirrels, marmots, mole rats, field mice, hamsters. Ferrets, foxes, weasels feed on them. Of the birds you can see eagles, larks and demoiselle crane.
Today, it is the steppe that is most mastered by people. It is considered to be the main areaagriculture.
Zones of deserts and semi-deserts
Semi-deserts and deserts occupy a very small area in Russia, which is located purely within the Caspian lowland.
It should be noted that it is here that the highest level of the so-called annual solar radiation is observed (120 kcal/cm2).
Summer is hot, but winter is cold and with little snow. This zone is characterized by zonal light chestnut soils, grass-wormwood vegetation, solonetzes and areas of semi-fixed sands.
Wheatgrass, fescue, thin-legged, blue-green algae, hairy feather grass, etc. grow here in huge quantities.
There are many rodents among animals, and the most common are jerboas, gerbils, ground squirrels and a hare. In addition, wolves, foxes, ferrets and badgers live in the desert and semi-desert zone.
