Moscow Region is located in the center of the East European Valley. And in its very middle is Moscow, the nature of which is primarily due to its location and is not much different from the nature of the Moscow region and the entire region.
Geography of the region
To the north of the capital of the Russian Federation is the swampy Upper Volga Lowland, and to the south are the hills of the Smolensk-Moscow Upland.
There are many lakes and rivers in the region, originating mainly on the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge (North-western part of the Smolensk-Moscow Upland), which is a kind of watershed, and flowing either into the Volga or the Oka. The Moskvoretsko-Oka Plain with the Teplostan Upland included in it occupies the north-west of the Moscow Region. On this hill is the highest point (253 meters), which Moscow itself can boast of. The nature surrounding the capital is also determined by the swampy Meshcherskaya lowland, which enters the region from the east by a wedge formed by the Klyazma and the Moscow River. Zaokskaya Plain closes the region from the south.
Land of rivers, lakes, forests…
Plains, lowlands, uplands, rivers, of which there are up to 2000 in the region, all this determines the presence of a certain climate, flora and fauna that characterize the Moscow region and Moscow itself.
The nature of the capital and the surrounding region is extraordinarily beautiful, even despite the active anthropogenic impact (absolutely any kind of human activity in relation to nature). Relic oak forests and coniferous forests cover 40% of the territory of the entire region, while in the Moscow region 42% (2168 ha) of the area is covered with forests. Water meadows, fields, calmly flowing rivers, raised bogs (feeding is carried out only by precipitation) and protected ravines - this is how the nature of Moscow and the region looks like.
Forests
In order to preserve all the splendor of nature, man, who is, in fact, the main enemy, is trying to do everything possible. Protected areas are being created, such as Zavidovo, or national parks such as Losiny Ostrov, which includes the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve. In the Moscow region, many forests are secondary, grown on the site of clearings and fields.
Their difference from indigenous forests lies in a simplified structure and a significant admixture of birch and aspen. In Moscow itself, too, 40% of the city's territory is covered with forest, among which 21% is occupied by pine forests (Serebryany Bor, on the territory of which there are pines up to 170 years old). Very few spruce forests, which are very sensitive to pollution, have survived - only 2%. Everyone meets on Elk Islandspecimens up to 130 years old. The deciduous forests of Moscow are distributed by species as follows - oaks 10% (Izmailovsky Park), linden -18%, birch occupies 39% of the area, aspen - 4%.
Types of forest plantations in Moscow and the region
Features of Moscow's nature are due to the fact that it, like the entire region, lies at the confluence of the forest-steppe and forest zones. That is, this region is very green. The north and west of the region are occupied by spruce forests and middle taiga coniferous forests. The Meshchera lowland, which captures the east of the region, is covered with a taiga pine forest, and alder groves are located in the swampy lowlands.
The center of the region and Moscow, located in it, whose nature is rich in southern taiga coniferous-broad-leaved forests, abounds in spruces and pines, birches and aspens, and hazel reigns in the undergrowth. Closer to the south - the kingdom of broad-leaved oak, in addition to which there are also sharp-leaved maple, and elm, and linden. And in the region of the transition zone (from the forest-steppe to the steppe) on the Moscow-Oka Upland, spruce plantations are still found, as, for example, in the upper reaches of the Lopasnya River. But closer to the south, more and more steppe forests come across, resembling green islands in the middle of the plain, oak forests, ash and maple groves. The extreme south of the region is covered with forest-steppe, which is almost completely plowed up and has not been preserved in its original form, even fragmentarily.
Bug fixes
It is important to note the fact that in our time there is an active planting of forests. And this testifies to the turn of man to nature, the rejection of only a consumer attitude.
On the Shatursky and Lukhovitsky swamps, located in the east of the region, newcomers began to be found among the native plants more and more often.
You can't kill beauty
The above-mentioned anthropogenic activities include the urbanization of the territory, the accumulation of a large number of people, the presence and ongoing construction of roads and railways, changes in the hydrography of the region (changing the course of rivers, the emergence of new reservoirs, etc.), a myriad of economic buildings, all that should accompany the largest metropolis, the capital of a huge state. And yet, the nature of Moscow and the Moscow region, which once seduced Yuri Dolgoruky, is still extraordinarily good and diverse today.
Abundance of fauna
Despite the destructive action of man, many representatives of the animal world have survived or appeared here. There are 60-70 species of mammals living within the region and its environs of Moscow. In addition to them, reptiles (6), amphibians (7), fish (40) live here. And how many birds are here! Of the 120 species living in the Moscow region, 29 penetrate into the central areas of the city. In total, there are over 200 species of birds living here permanently or migrating here. There are a huge number of insects here - 135 species of butterflies, 300 (of which a tenth of bumblebees) species of bees. In addition, grasshoppers (8), locusts (23), ground beetles, beetles, dragonflies, ants and flies live here, together represented by 50 species. And 9 of them are included in the Red Book - 4 species of pigeons and 5 species of ants. OThe purity of the waters in the Moscow region is evidenced by the presence of several populations of turtles in different parts of the region. Twelve species of animals living within the Moscow region are listed in the Red Book.
Diversity of wildlife in Moscow
Taiga animal species, which are very common in the region, are white hares and flying squirrels. The most common birds are hazel grouse, capercaillie, bullfinch, as well as brown-headed tit, crossbilly spruce, redwing and rowan thrush. The diversity of Moscow's nature is represented by such species of large animals living in broad-leaved forests as roe deer and wild boar, spotted deer and pine marten, mink and black polecat. Dormouse and the Tawny Owl live in close proximity to the huge city. Why are these species mentioned in relation not only to the region, but also to Moscow itself? Because one of the first national parks in Russia - “Elk Island”, where almost all of the above animals live, is located on the territory of Moscow, within the city limits.
Native nature
The temperate continental climate of Moscow is, in fact, transitional from mild European to sharply continental Asian. In a word, the climate of Moscow is very comfortable - relatively mild winters and relatively humid summers. Sung by more than one generation of Russian classics, the native nature of Moscow is close and dear to every Russian, not only because love for it comes to a person with mother's milk, but also because it is really surprisingly good.
Enoughview a publicly available retrospective of paintings by Russian artists to make sure that these are not empty words. Polenov's "Moscow Yard" and "Grandmother's Garden" also seem to be native, Pimenov's "New Moscow" admires, and the heart aches from hundreds of paintings by domestic masters, which depict the nature of their native land. Moscow is a primordially Russian city located in the very heart of the European part of Russia, and therefore the nature of Moscow personifies Russia, although it is difficult to depict the nature of a huge country in one part.
Natural attractions of Moscow
There are quite a lot of natural attractions in Moscow and the Moscow region. These include, first of all, Serebryany Bor and Elk Island. From an impressive list, one can also name Black Lake and Vilar Botanical Garden. Interesting objects are the "Rozhdestvensky Stream Valley in Mitino" and the "Krylatsky Hills Nature Reserve". As well as the Biryulevsky Arboretum and the Big Vostryukovsky Pond and a dozen more natural attractions, visiting which you can get a certain idea of the nature of Moscow and the Moscow Region.
