Alpine Dagestan: nature, relief, environmental problems

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

One of the most picturesque republics of the Russian Federation - Dagestan. This name appeared in the seventeenth century and means "country of mountains." This is the land of reserves, a corner of amazing nature.

Diverse Dagestan

Geographical position of Highland Dagestan - the northeastern slope of the Caucasus and the southwest of the Caspian lowland. This is the most southern European part of Russia. The length in length is 400 km from north to south. Latitude - about 200 km. The coast lines of the Caspian stretch for 530 km. The border of the republic is two rivers: Kuma (in the north) and Samur (in the south). The population is heterogeneous and consists of many nationalities.

The territory itself is divided into three parts, the natural characteristics of which are very different from each other. 51% of the entire republic is lowland. The northwestern and southeastern ridges, which are separated by depressions and valleys, occupy 12% and are called the foothills. Alpine Dagestan is 37% of the republic. The mountainous area is a transition from large plateaus to narrow peaks that reach 2500 meters.

Dagestan arc

Almost half of the republic is mountainous. It is worth noting that most of the highlandsmeadow type. There are more than 30 peaks that have crossed the 4,000-meter mark. And dozens of mountains, the footage of which almost reaches this mark. The total area of mountains is 25.5 thousand km². Therefore, the average height of the republic is 960 meters above sea level. The highest mountain is Bazarduzu, its height is 4466 m.

Rocks, the basis of the mountains, are clearly divided into regions. The most common are black and argillaceous shales, dolomitic and alkaline limestones, and sandstones. Snow Ridge, Bogos and Shalib are shale.

The foothills, 225 km long, cut into a transverse ridge, thus forming a stone wall that wraps around the inner highlands of Dagestan. It is there that the largest influx of travellers.

Tourist routes of Dagestan pass through the mountains, which are the decoration of the region. Colorful peaks, picturesque ridges, a grid of mountain streams and passes of all difficulty levels are the main places of pilgrimage for adventure seekers.

Mountain weather zone

The climate of the republic depends on the soil zone. The territory where the altitude is more than 1000 meters is mountainous. This area occupies about 40% of the entire territory of the republic. Despite the difference in the surface, the climate can be classified as temperate continental.

The high-mountain Dagestan is characterized by striking temperature differences in indicators compared to the lowlands. At an altitude of 3000 meters, the temperature does not rise above 0 ° C throughout the year. The coldest month is January, its indicatorfluctuates from -4 °С to -7 °С. There is little snow, but it can cover the ground throughout the year. The warm month is August. Summers are cold on the peaks but warm in the valleys.

Precipitation is uneven. Most of the rain falls from May to July. Thunderclouds often pass by. Downpours can drag on for several weeks. Precipitation fills rivers, destroying bridges and eroding paths.

River system

The relief of high-mountainous Dagestan contributed to the emergence of a dense network of rivers. About 6255 rivers flow on an area of 50,270 km². But here it is worth noting that most of them have a length of over 10 km. High-mountainous Dagestan gave rise to the two largest rivers of the republic. Sulak breaks out of the mountains in the north, and Samur in the south.

Different peoples used to call Sulak "sheep's water" or "rapid stream". Its length is 169 km. This is the owner of the largest canyon in Russia. Its length is about 50 km. The maximum depth is 1920 meters. The Samur was formerly known as the "Chveher River". This is the second river of Dagestan. Its length is 213 km.

In general, 92% of all rivers are mountainous, the remaining 8% flow in the lowlands and in the foothills. The average current speed is 1-2 m/s. In floods, the speed increases. Rivers are replenished mainly with melt water. The exception is the river Gyulgerychay.

Each of the rivers belongs to the Caspian basin, but only 20 of them flow into the sea. Deltas are formed in front of the Caspian Sea, which change their directions every year.

We alth of the mountainedges

Dagestan is divided into three geographical zones, each of which has its own characteristics.

The foothills are a place of chestnut and mountain-forest soils. On wide plateaus and slopes, mountain chernozem is found. There are steppe, forest and meadow mountain lands.

The lowlands are used for agricultural purposes. The mountainous area is replete with forest plantations (there are more than 10% of them in total). The forest is made up of oaks. In the southern regions, a purely beech-hornbeam forest. Birch and pine trees are found in the interior. The plateau is a pasture for flocks. The poorest part of the mountains are the peaks. Only cold-resistant mosses and lichens survive there.

Wildlife of high-mountainous Dagestan is unique. This territory is inhabited by the Dagestan tur, dark brown bear, noble Caucasian deer, roe deer, bezoar goat, there are leopards. Many researchers are amazed at the world of birds. Ulars, kekliks, alpine jackdaws and eagles consider the highlands the best place to live.

Ecology and conservation

The pride of the region is reserves and natural parks. Every year more and more territories are under state protection. The we alth of the earth needs protection and care. Preserving the uniqueness of flora and fauna is the main task of the current government.

But today there are serious environmental problems in the highlands of Dagestan. The biggest one is dirty sources of drinking water. Harm is caused by human activity. Once clean rivers are drowning in a mountain of household waste. NotMineral theft and deforestation do less harm. The air is polluted by factories and plants. Waste disposal system is poor.

The biggest danger for these magnificent places is the negligent attitude of local residents to nature. Do not forget that the whole of Dagestan is located on a mountainous territory. Indiscriminate deforestation leads to the fact that the slopes are destroyed. Every year the process of erosion only intensifies. Therefore, the country may soon completely change its appearance or disappear altogether.