The northernmost part of the low but picturesque Ural Mountains in northern Eurasia is called the Polar Urals. The natural area belongs to two regions of Russia at once - the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Komi Republic. The harsh climate and northern beauty of the landscapes make this place unique. It is along this line that the conditional border between Asia and Europe passes.
General characteristics of the area
The border between cardinal points, considered unofficial, runs exactly between the two regions of the country indicated above, right along the watershed of the ridge that separates the Pechora basin in the west from the Ob in the east. The peaks of the mountains in the bulk are located at an altitude of 800-1200 m, some are slightly higher, for example, Mount Payer - 1500 m.
In the northern part of the Polar Urals has a characteristic relief feature. Deep dissection of massifs and ridges by transverse, through valleys is adjacent to a small height of passes (200-250 m) through the main watershed. In one of theseplaces the current branch of the Transpolar Highway stretches.
Relief features
The region of the Polar Urals, like all the Ural Mountains, was formed in the era of the Hercynian folding more than 250 million years ago. Since then, the area has been quietly based on the stable basement of the Eurasian Plate and has never experienced significant uplift.
The prolonged action of erosion, including glaciers, has determined what the relief of the Northern Urals, the Polar Urals and, in general, the entire mountain range of the same name is now. It is characterized by wide and deep valleys with typical structures: troughs, kars. There are quite a few basins, mostly of thermokarst origin, some of which filled with water and turned into lakes.
The Polar Urals are characterized by the division of the Sob river valley into two parts, differing in geological structure. In the northern part, the mountainous region reaches a width of up to 125 km, it is strongly dissected by transverse valleys and has a small height of passes - 200-250 m above sea level. But the western slope is steeper. To the south, it narrows to only 25-30 km wide with passes up to 500 m, and in some cases - up to 1500 m.
Climate of the region
As you know, the Polar, Subpolar Urals are distinguished by harsh climatic conditions. The climate in quiet places is sharply continental. The region of the Polar Urals is located on the border of the interaction between the European cyclonic activity and the Siberian anticyclone. Winters here are very cold (down to -55°C), with strong winds andthe amount of precipitation. Due to the fact that wet cyclones come to the mountains from the west, precipitation is 2-3 times less in the eastern part. Autumn, spring and summer are short and the weather is unstable at this time. The heat with a mark of +30°С can abruptly change into cold days with heavy rain, strong gusts of wind and hail.
Rivers of the Polar Urals
As mentioned above, a watershed passes through the territory of the Polar Urals. This term should be understood as a conditional topographic line on the surface of the Earth, which separates the basins of two or more oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. Precipitation is directed along the drains from two opposite slopes. In this case, the watershed passes between the basins of the Ob and Pechora (Usa) rivers. The western slopes, due to the amount of precipitation, which is 2-3 times greater than on the eastern slopes, are densely dotted with river valleys.
From north to south flow Kara, Yelets and Usa. The length of the first is 257 km, and the basin area is 13.4 thousand square kilometers. Food is provided mainly by snow and rain. The Polar Urals includes the largest tributary of the Pechora, the Usa River, which is 565 km long and has a navigable basin area of 93.6 thousand square meters. km. In some sections, the river is fast-flowing, with rapids, which attracts numerous tourists for rafting.
Three rivers pass through the eastern slope of the mountains. Sonya (length 217 m) is the left tributary of the Ob. The river is partly navigable, and there are several small settlements along the banks. The second water artery - Shchuchya hasthe length is more than 500 km and is a spawning ground for whitefish, whitefish, and vendace. The third river - Longotyogan has a length of 200 km.
Lakes in the northern part of the region
The area is rich in clean and cold northern lakes. Most of them are of thermokarst origin and are concentrated in cirque valleys. The first factor determines the small size and their shallow depth. In the northern part, there is a system of reservoirs Khadata-Yugan-Lor, which consists of the Small and Big lakes, interconnected by a kilometer long bridge 20-50 meters wide. The most beautiful places, which are rich in the Polar Urals, have recently been taken under protection, and the territory is included in the biological reserve, where bison are acclimatized and musk ox are re-acclimatized.
Small and Big Pike lakes are also located in the northern region. The latter is located in a tectonic basin and, by the standards of the entire Urals, has an outstanding depth of 136 m and the largest water surface area. From a bird's eye view, it looks like a spacious river, a little over a kilometer wide. Peaks up to 1000 m rise along the banks of the lake. The rocky slopes of the ridges descend directly to the lake, sometimes turning into sheer cliffs. Great depth begins just 50 m from the shore.
An incredible sight, picturesque places - this is what it is worth visiting the harsh Polar Urals for. You can organize the hike on your own, but it is best to use the services of an escort. Suitable for relaxation north and southlakes with gentle and even shores, overgrown with grass and shrubs. The water temperature does not rise above 10-14°C even on the hottest days. The lakes themselves and the surrounding area belong to the state reserve.
Mountain Peaks
- Konstantinov stone is a mountain range composed mainly of sandstone and quartzite, 45 km from the Baidaratskaya Bay of the Kara Sea. The highest point at 483 m from the sea.
- Kharnaurdy-Keu is a mountain (1246 m), has no permanent glaciation.
- Ngetenape - mountain peak (1338 m).
- Hanmei - 1333 m above sea level.
- Payer is the highest peak of the Polar Urals (1499 m), consisting of shales, quartzite and igneous rocks, has snowfields.
Fauna and flora
The nature of the Polar Urals is beautiful, but not as rich in species as warmer climatic zones. Vegetation is quite scarce, and taiga forests can be found only in the southern part of the region. In the Cis-Urals, birch and fir are found, in the Trans-Urals - spruce and larch. In the river valleys, you can see deadwood, rare deciduous forests. Shrubs, willows, dwarf birches, grasses and flowers grow along the banks of reservoirs. Northern berries are common: cranberries, cloudberries, blueberries and mushrooms.
The fauna here is depleted. Relatively often, of all large animals in these parts, only reindeer can be found. The wild ones are practically exterminated. Most of the livestock are domesticated animals that are the property of the local population. They overgraze due to overgrazing. Once upon a time, musk oxen, wild horses, bison, and saigas felt at ease in these territories. At the moment, a small number of brown bears have survived, there are hares and partridges.
In general, vegetation and fauna are characteristic of the tundra zone. The altitudinal zonality of the Polar Urals is pronounced, that is, the change of landscapes and natural conditions is associated with a decrease in air temperature and an increase in precipitation.
Industrial development of the region
The entire Ural is the oldest mining region in the country. Its bowels contain an impressive amount of a wide variety of minerals, including iron, copper, platinum, gold, precious stones, potash s alts, asbestos and much more. The reason for this diversity is a special geological history.
The placement of minerals is also subject to the principle of altitudinal zonation. In 2005, the development of the Ural Industrial-Ural Polar project began, which is aimed at achieving economic accessibility and expediency of involving the richest raw material resources of the region in the industrial production of the region. Among the projects is the extraction of polar quartz.
Tourism in the region
The harsh climate and nature contribute to the fact that the Polar Urals, and especially its southern part, is widely popular among tourists, fans of skiing, hiking and water sports. One of the important advantages of the area is its accessibility in terms of transport, as well as the maximum distance of routes from the Severnaya railway stations,"Ural", "Khorota", "Eletskaya" and so on for no more than 60 kilometers. In the tourist environment, the Voikar, Sob, Kara, Synya, Shchuchya, and Tanya rivers are popular. Depending on your capabilities and training, you can choose routes of varying difficulty - from the first to the fourth category.
In addition, the Polyarny Ural has several ski resorts of its own, in particular in the village of Polyarny, at the Sob station and on Mount Chernaya. Especially popular are the hiking and skiing routes in the northern part of the region with a visit to the impressive mountain lakes. However, the specific climate, distinguished by its severity, makes its own adjustments. So, due to the short day and harsh winters, ski trips are carried out in April-May. Hiking routes to the mountains are possible from July and continue until mid-August, as the most comfortable warm weather sets in at this time.
