The North Caucasus is a huge territory that starts from the Lower Don. It occupies part of the Russian platform and ends with the Greater Caucasus Range. Mineral resources, mineral waters, developed agriculture - the North Caucasus is beautiful and diverse. Nature, thanks to the seas and the expressive landscape, is unique. The abundance of light, heat, the alternation of arid and humid areas provides a variety of flora and fauna.
Landscape of the North Caucasus
On the territory of the North Caucasus are the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, the Rostov Region and Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia and Dagestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia. Majestic mountains, endless steppes, semi-deserts, forests make this region so interesting for tourism.
The whole system of mountain ranges is the North Caucasus. Its nature changes along with the height above sea level. Territory landscapedivided into 3 zones:
- Mountain.
- Piedmont.
- Steppe (plain).
The northern borders of the region stretch between the rivers Kuban and Terek. There is a zone of steppes. To the south, the foothill region begins, which ends with multiple ridges.
The climate is affected by the abundance of mountains and the proximity of the seas - Black, Azov, Caspian. Thermal waters that can be found in the North Caucasus contain bromine, radium, iodine, potassium.
Mountains of the North Caucasus
From the icy northern regions to the hot southern regions, the nature of Russia stretches. The Caucasus is the highest mountains in the country. They were formed during the period of Alpine folding.
The system of the Caucasian mountains is considered a young mountain structure, just like the Apennines, Carpathians, Alps, Pyrenees, Himalayas. Alpine folding is the last epoch of tectogenesis. It led to numerous mountain structures. Named after the Alps, where the process took its most typical form.
The territory of the North Caucasus is represented by the mountains Elbrus, Kazbek, the Rocky and Pasture Range, the Cross Pass. And this is only a small, most famous part of the slopes and hills.
The highest peaks of the North Caucasus are Kazbek, the highest point of which is at around 5033 m. And the extinct volcano Elbrus - 5642 m.
Due to the difficult geological development, the territory and nature of the Caucasus mountains are so rich in gas and oil deposits. There is mining of minerals - mercury, copper, tungsten, polymetallicrud.
Features of the nature of the North Caucasus
The accumulation of mineral springs, different in their chemical composition and temperature, can be found in this area. The extraordinary usefulness of the waters led to the question of creating resort areas. Widely known for their springs and sanatoriums Essentuki, Mineralnye Vody, Zheleznovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk.
Nature of the North Caucasus is divided into humid and arid regions. The main source of precipitation is the Atlantic Ocean. That is why the foothill areas of the western part are sufficiently moistened. While the eastern region is prone to black (dusty) storms, dry winds, drought.
Features of the nature of the North Caucasus are the variety of air masses. In all seasons, the cold dry stream of the Arctic, the wet stream of the Atlantic, and the tropical stream of the Mediterranean can penetrate the territory. Air masses, replacing each other, carry a variety of weather conditions.
In the territory of the North Caucasus, there is also a local wind - foehn. Cold mountain air, descending, gradually heats up. Already a hot stream reaches the earth. This is how the feng wind is formed.
Frequently cold air masses penetrate the Caucasus Range, go around it from the east and west. Then a cyclone reigns in the territory, detrimental to the heat-loving flora.
Climate
The North Caucasus is located on the very border of the temperate and subtropical zones. This gives the climate softness and warmth. A short winter that lasts about two monthslong summer - up to 5, 5 months. The abundance of sunlight in this area is due to the same distance from the equator and the pole. Therefore, the nature of the Caucasus is characterized by riot and brightness of colors.
Mountains receive a lot of precipitation. This is due to the fact that the air masses, lingering on the slopes and rising up, cool, give off moisture. Therefore, the climate of the mountainous regions differs from the foothills and plains. During the winter, a layer of snow accumulates up to 5 cm. On the northern slopes, the boundary of eternal ice begins.
At an altitude of 4000 m, even in the hottest summer, there are practically no positive temperatures. In winter, avalanches are possible from any sharp sound, unsuccessful movement.
Mountain rivers, stormy and cold, originate during the melting of snow and glaciers. That is why floods are so intense in spring and practically dry up in autumn when the temperature is low. The snowmelt stops in winter, and the stormy mountain streams become shallow.
The two largest rivers of the North Caucasus - Terek and Kuban - give the territory numerous tributaries. Thanks to them, fertile black earth soils are rich in crops.
Orchards, vineyards, tea plantations, berry fields smoothly move into the arid zone. These are the features of the nature of the Caucasus. The cold of the mountains gives way to the warmth of the plains and foothills, the black earth turns into chestnut soils.
Mineral waters
You should know that the peculiarities of the North Caucasus are a whole complex of factors. These include the distance from the seas, oceans. The nature of the relief, landscape. Distance from equator and pole. Direction of air masses, abundance of precipitation.
It so happened that the nature of the Caucasus is diverse. There are fertile lands and arid regions. Mountain meadows and pine forests. Dry steppes and full-flowing rivers. The we alth of natural resources, the presence of mineral waters make this area attractive for industry and tourism.
Description of the nature of the Caucasus is remarkable in that more than 70 healing springs can be found on its territory. These are cold, warm, hot mineral waters. They are different in composition, which helps in the prevention and treatment of diseases:
- gastrointestinal tract;
- skin;
- circulatory systems;
- nervous system.
The most famous hydrogen sulfide waters are located in the city of Sochi. Iron springs - in Zheleznovodsk. Hydrogen sulfide, radon - in Pyatigorsk. Carbon dioxide - in Kislovodsk, Essentuki.
Flora
Vegetation cover of the territory is as diverse as the wild nature of Russia. The Caucasus is divided into mountainous, foothill, plain zones. Depending on this, the vegetation cover of the region also changes. It is due to climatic conditions, soil, precipitation.
Mountain meadows - lush alpine, hayfields. Thickets of rhododendron add color to the herbs. There you can find juniper, a creeping shrub that is adapted to a snowy lifestyle. They are being replaced by broad-leaved forests, where oak, beech, chestnut, and hornbeam grow.
Meadow-marsh vegetation alternates with arid semi-desert areas. They are filled with artificial plantations - poppies, irises, tulips, groves of white acacia and oak.
Chokery lands are represented by extensive berry and vineyards. The nature of the Caucasus is favorable for fruit trees, shrubs - pear, cherry plum, hawthorn, blackthorn, dogwood.
Fauna
The steppes are inhabited by such animals as the ground squirrel, jerboa, hare, steppe polecat, fox, wolf. The wild nature of Russia is also rich in them. The Caucasus, its semi-desert regions, are favorable for the eared hedgehog, comb and midday gerbil, earth hare and corsac fox. There are saigas (steppe antelopes). Roe deer, brown bear, bison live in the forests.
The nature of the Caucasus is distinguished by a large number of reptiles. Humid and warm climate is an excellent condition for their survival and reproduction. This is a steppe viper and a boa constrictor, snake and lizards.
In the reed beds you can find a wild boar, jungle cat, jackals. There are waterfowl, as well as an eagle, a kite, a kestrel, a lark, a bustard, a harrier, a crane.
Mineral resources
The nature of the Caucasus is rich in large deposits of oil and gas. Deposits of coal and brown coal, copper and manganese ores, asbestos, rock s alt are of industrial importance.
Soil studies have shown that all metals necessary for the national economy can be found in the North Caucasus. These are deposits:
- zinc;
- copper;
- chrome;
- aluminum;
- arsenic;
- lead;
- iron.
Recently, the development of building stone has gained wide popularity. Strong tuff lava and roofing slate are especially valued. For the construction of buildings, local Neogene limestone is used. The North Caucasus is famous for its deposits of granite, marble, bas alt. Deposits of gold and silver have been discovered.
Conclusion
The main features of the nature of the North Caucasus lie in its diversity. A combination of glacial mountains with chokeberry lowlands, alpine meadows with semi-deserts. Abundant precipitation of the western territory turns into dry winds of the eastern regions.
Cyclones, warm and cold air fronts form a feature of the North Caucasus. Streams from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea carry moisture. Dry air masses from Central Asia and Iran are blown by hot winds.
Clean, transparent air, saturated with ultraviolet light, gives longevity to its multinational inhabitants. Warm, short winters, the high level of the agricultural sector attracts travelers. Healing springs, deposits of natural resources make this area tempting for the he althcare system and industry.
Multi-level landscape, numerous rivers - the natural beauty of the region is striking in its magnificence. Historical and cultural attractions give this fertile area an energy boost.
