Alpine meadow is one of the most spectacular sights on earth. In spring, it is a motley oriental carpet covered with plants with bright colors. It is on this vertical mountain belt that the representatives of the flora end. Next come rocky soil, eternal snow, glaciers that will never melt. There is practically no fertile soil there, so plant life is not observed. Alpine meadows are, as it were, the final touch of nature, the largest number of plants is concentrated on them, as if someone was trying to place all the flora on a small piece of land, which could not be found high in the mountains.
Climatic conditions of the Alpine belt
The climate in the highlands is quite harsh. The meadows are located at an altitude of about 2000 m above sea level, so the temperature difference during the day is more than noticeable here. During the day, the heat is up to +45 ° С, and frosts are possible at night. It is very difficult to survive in such conditions, but in the process of evolution, plants have adapted to such a climate. Alpine meadow blooms in early spring, as soon as the snow melts. By the way, snow cover is very important for this belt, because in winter it protects plants from the sun and strong winds, and in spring it provides moisture.
Main plant species
Representatives of flora in alpine meadows are special. Large plants are not found here, because they simply do not have enough time to grow. Undersized representatives of the flora attract the attention of pollinating insects with bright large flowers and strong fragrance. Alpine meadows in Abkhazia from early spring to the end of summer resemble a beautiful carpet covered with colorful flowers. What only shades are not here - there are both delicate and saturated, light and dark colors. Although the plants in the meadows are stunted, they are incredibly beautiful. In addition, they are strong, because they have adapted to harsh living conditions. Representatives of the flora from other belts simply could not survive in the highlands, with constant temperature fluctuations. Transient summers, windy and cold winters, solar radiation could not but leave their mark on the appearance of the local vegetation.
Plants of the Alpine meadows of the Caucasus
Very high in the mountains, where there is practically no fertile soil, you can meet incredibly beautiful representatives of the flora. For example, edelweiss, gentian - these flowers survive in the most severe conditions. In the highlands you can find the shortest tree in the world - a dwarf willow. Because of her small stature, she is not afraid of even the strongest winds. Plants of alpine meadows grow even between rocks. A prime exampleserves as a juvenile, covering the mountain slopes and surviving in the most extreme conditions. A prominent representative of the flora is the saxifrage. She, like moss, covers vast areas with a solid carpet. In spring, the saxifrage blooms with large red, white and pink flowers.
In the alpine meadows, there are all kinds of stonecrop, blooming with yellow, white, pink and red flowers. Rhododendrons are an exquisite decoration of the highlands. In late spring, they delight the eye with large flowers of various shades, although the plants are accustomed to harsh conditions, they prefer to be located in well-lit areas. Alpine meadows of the Caucasus are covered with lingonberries, blueberries, crowberries, junipers. There are also cereal plants here, fluffy sheep grows on the high mountain slopes, reed reed grass, flat-leaved bent grass, long-leaved bluegrass. Alpine meadows are always painted in some color, grasses replace each other, repainting the mountain slopes in various shades.
A bright representative of small mammals of the highlands
When it comes to the fauna of alpine meadows, the image of a mountain goat, chamois and, of course, an alpine marmot immediately arises in my thoughts. There are not so many representatives of the animal world in the highlands, but some individuals are found in fairly large numbers. Alpine meadow has become a home for the marmot of the same name. This large rodent lives in open areas that reach to the very peaks covered with snow caps. These are diurnal animals, it is very interesting to observe them with the help ofbinoculars. Alpine marmots amusingly chew grass, which they hold with their front paws. They are busy all day long: eating, cleaning their skins, basking in the sun, playing. It is worth one groundhog to make a sharp whistle, which means danger, as his brothers will immediately hide in holes. Rodents are in hibernation for more than six months. All this time they spend in burrows up to three meters deep.
Large mammals
Alpine meadows are represented by chamois, tours, mountain goats and other ungulates. Most often in the highlands you can find chamois. She jumps over huge abysses, climbs to the peaks on sheer cliffs. The chamois seems to be hovering over the peaks, it easily finds even the smallest gap to cling to, and is held on a barely noticeable ledge. In winter, animals descend from the mountains, they are driven by cold and hunger. Chamois winter in coniferous forests, taking the place of roe deer and red deer, which in the cold season descend even lower into river valleys and deciduous forests. Wintering is the most difficult for ungulates, because hunger, inclement weather, avalanches constantly reduce their livestock.
Alpine meadow birds
There are not so many birds in the highlands - only those who managed to adapt to harsh conditions remained here. The higher in the mountains, the more common the lemon finch is, this bird lives in an open area where only lone larches and spruces grow. This representative of the fauna lives only near the Alps. Moresome inhabitants of the alpine meadows are motley and blue stone thrushes. They are very beautiful, mostly live on the ground, settle closer to the mountain slopes. Alpine meadow also sheltered snow finches, alpine jackdaws, choughs, white-bellied swifts. The golden eagle is considered the most representative bird of these places; it soars over the tops of the mountains, describing circles with powerful wings.
Alpine meadow is a piece of paradise on earth that strikes the imagination of a person who first saw it. Despite the harsh climate, a huge number of very beautiful plants grow here, animals and birds live here.
