A story about natural resources. Natural wealth of Russia: definition, features and types
What is the rich nature of Russia?
Lessons No. 3–4.
Lesson topic : What is the rich nature of Russia? How do they influence Natural resources for economic development?
Home educational task and the methodological feature of the lessons is to bring students to an awareness of current issues:
1. To what extent is Russia provided with natural resources?
2. Are rich natural resources a guarantee of a well-developed economy and a high standard of living in the country?
3. Does the wealth of resources contribute to wastefulness in the economy?
4. What is the main problem of using resources and how should it be solved in the interests of the whole society?
It is advisable to organize the lesson in the form of a conversation, discussion of problems in combination with practical work according to maps and statistical data.
The actualization of knowledge is combined with the motivation of learning: schoolchildren remember the types of resources, their use, and the resources of their area.
The main natural resource is a territory that is considered and assessed from different angles, including economically. Territory is a complex resource. Geographical features territories influence all aspects of the material and spiritual life of a person and society.
Let's compare the availability of land resources in Russia and China. What are the Chinese forced to do with such land availability?
It is important to pay attention to how the most valuable species land resources - arable land.
In 1991, arable land amounted to 131 million hectares, in 1995 – 128 million hectares, in 2000 – 120 million hectares. How can one evaluate such dynamics? What explains it? What consequences – economic and social – does it lead to?
The teacher asks you to remember what types of natural resources have been used for a long time, like arable land, what is their role in people’s lives and the economy?
This - forest resources. Wood reserves amount to 82 billion m3. Where are the main forest reserves concentrated? Let's remember when Russia started selling timber to other countries? Give examples.
What causes huge damage to forestry? Is the country using its forest resources efficiently?
Using statistical reference books, find out what forestry products are sold abroad, in what volumes, at what price, etc. Are there forests in your area? How are they used?
Water resources. In Russia, 13% of the territory is occupied by surface waters and swamps.
Water resources are the most important source of life support. Water is irreplaceable. The annual river flow is 4270 m 3 /year - less than 10% of the world's annual flow. Water availability in Russia is high in general, but in Central Russia and the south of the country there is a shortage of water resources, which is a brake on further economic development.
The main part of water resources is concentrated in the rivers of Siberia, in the North, in Lake Baikal. Large reserves groundwater. More than 60% of Russian cities use artesian water. Some groundwater is subject to pollution.
Is it secured water resources Your area? What water does the population use for drinking? Do local businesses have water treatment facilities? What is the condition of the water bodies in your area? What measures need to be taken to maintain the quality and volume of fresh water?
Students, based on existing knowledge, can evaluate the importance of sea resources in the economy and in providing seafood products to the country's population.
1. What biological resources do the seas washing the shores of Russia have?
2. Where is the crab and shrimp fishery conducted?
3. What is the importance of marine fishing for the indigenous peoples of the North and Far East?
4. In what cases is the biological resources of our seas damaged?
5. What is the rational and most efficient use of sea resources in our economy?
6. How far is the sea from your area? What kind of seafood do you consume?
Studying mineral resources organized on the basis of working with maps, statistical data, and additional literature. Basic knowledge - the degree of resource availability, features of their placement, conditions of production and transportation, problems of resource exhaustibility and rational use.
The teacher emphasizes that in modern world About 200 types of mineral raw materials are used, and almost all of them are identified in the depths of our country.
Russia is provided with reserves of oil, gas, coal, and diamonds above the world average; at the world average - reserves of gold, silver, molybdenum. Manganese, chromium, titanium, uranium, and high-quality bauxite are scarce.
From complex minerals we extract only 1–2 components. When extracting minerals, the natural environment, economic losses and environmental damage are high.
Students' tasks: identify the main fuel bases, indicate them on a contour map or drawing.
Russia ranks second in the world in terms of oil reserves (after Saudi Arabia). 1,900 fields have been discovered, more than 1,000 are being developed. 300 oil and gas fields have been discovered in the West Siberian oil and gas province. Here are located largest deposits. They provide 70% of the country's oil. The old oil provinces - the North Caucasus and Volga-Urals - have already been significantly depleted. The northern provinces are promising - Timan-Pechora and the shelves Barents Sea, Pechora Bay, Sea of Okhotsk, etc.
In terms of gas reserves - 40% of the world's - Russia ranks 1st in the world. More than 700 deposits have been explored, incl. giant deposits. More than 80% of all gas reserves are concentrated in the northern part Western Siberia. Significant gas reserves in the Timan-Pechora province, the Caspian province, the Orenburg region, etc.
Where are the main consumers of oil and gas located? Where are the bulk of petroleum products consumers concentrated? What direction do oil and gas pipelines go? Which ones go east? Is everyone gasified? settlements Russia? Why? Is it correct? Are residential buildings in your area supplied with gas? Are there any difficulties with gasoline or fuel oil in your area?
In order to understand the problem of overcoming distances, students solve the problem: determine the average distance from the main oil and gas production sites to the majority of consumers.
Students independently determine the main coal bases and their consumers.
Russia has 1/3 of the world's coal reserves. Of these, 50% are located in Western Siberia, 30% in Eastern Siberia. There are giant pools here - the Tunguska and Kansko-Achinsky. In terms of coal quality, the Kuznetsk basin takes the lead. The European part of Russia contains only 7% of the country's coal reserves. Kuznetsk coal is transported to metallurgical plants.
Nuclear fuel - uranium - is mined in Eastern Siberia, Karelia, Kurgan region, etc.
Thus, the bulk of fuel resources are concentrated in Siberia, and the main consumers are located hundreds and thousands of kilometers away. How does delivery affect the price of fuel?
Let us remember where deposits of ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores are located. Let's complete the task: mark on the map the ore bases - KMA, Western Siberia, Karelia, etc. Mark the location of non-ferrous metal ores.
Draw a conclusion : where are non-ferrous metal ores mined and in which areas are non-ferrous metals used most?
Where are precious metals mined and used?
What do we classify as non-metallic minerals?
Non-metallic minerals are varied.
For the production of fertilizers, phosphate ores, apatites (Khibiny, Central Russia, Ural), potassium ores (Western and Eastern Siberia, Ural).
The extraction of diamonds (Yakutia, in the future Arkhangelsk region), mica (Yakutia, Karelia, Irkutsk region), native sulfur (Samara region, Kamchatka), cement raw materials (Western Siberia, Center), asbestos, kaolin, facing stone, etc. is important for the economy. The extraction of a new mineral - zeolite - is expanding - capable of absorbing harmful impurities from water and air (deposits in Western Siberia, Primorye, Chukotka, etc.).
Precious stones are mined in Yakutia (diamonds, garnets, amethysts), in the Urals (jasper, agate, rubies, emeralds, topaz, etc.), in Altai, Transbaikalia, Primorye, etc.
The question is raised for collective discussion: do resource wealth guarantee high level economic development and livelihoods of the population? A significant part of the resources is sold abroad. For example, statistics know that in 2000, mineral products worth $6.8 billion were sold to the CIS countries, and $48.7 billion to other countries; metals, precious stones and products made from them, respectively, by 1.4 billion rubles. and 21 billion rubles.
However, it is also known that the use of fuel resources in one’s own country brings economic benefit 10 times more than sales abroad. By selling oil and gas, we enrich ourselves much more Western countries than yourself.
Our economy is called a resource economy. The wealth of resources does not mean the wealth of the country and a high standard of living. Why?
So, while possessing rich natural resources, Russia remains actually a poor country. How can I solve this problem? In the educational discussion, students try to comprehend the contradiction between existing wealth, the level of economic development and the life of the people.
All educational achievements of students are assessed when summing up the lesson.
How was the territory of Russia developed?
Lesson topic : development of territory and development of the Russian economy, geo-economic space of the country.
home educational task – to form clear ideas about the significant difference in the development of the country’s territory, the unevenness of economic and social development, to show how the differentiation of geo-economic space developed, which must be taken into account when organizing the economy and the life of society.
It is important to continue developing the skills to convert verbal information into cartographic information, i.e. map diagrams.
Motivation for learning is combined with updating existing knowledge.
1. Is the territory of the country evenly developed? Why?
2. What factors influence the development of the territory?
3. What indicators characterize the development of the territory?
4. How is the territory of your area developed?
Using the cards, determine:
a) regions with the highest population density;
b) regions with the highest level of economic development;
c) regions with the lowest population density and low level of economic development.
The most populated regions are the Moscow region (350 people/km 2), St. Petersburg and the region (75 people/km 2), Krasnodar region(66 people/km 2), Samara region (62 people/km 2), Republic of Tatarstan (55 people/km 2), etc.
The most industrial output (share of GDP) is provided by Moscow and the Moscow region - 14%, Tyumen region - 7%, St. Petersburg and the region - 4%, Sverdlovsk region– 5%, Samara region – 4%, Republic of Tatarstan – 3%, etc.
Industry is poorly developed in Dagestan, Kalmykia, Tyva, Khakassia and other regions of the Russian Federation. This is a negative factor and should be overcome.
Let us highlight on the map (drawing) the areas of old development, new development and undeveloped territories. Let us determine areas of focal development.
Summarizing the information received:
a) the territory of the country is developed unevenly in space and time;
b) the areas of old development are the most economically developed;
c) new development is associated with the extraction of natural resources, mainly minerals.
Next, it is advisable to discuss the question: how does the uneven development of space affect economic development? For example, how much does it cost to lay communication routes and communication lines through swamps, mountains, taiga from city to city in Siberia, on Far East? Are the costs of establishing new enterprises and cities in remote areas justified? In what cases should it be limited to rotational camps?
Poor development and economic development of the regions affects social sphere: disadvantage modern schools, hospitals, cultural institutions, consumer service enterprises, etc.
Consideration of all previous questions logically leads students to forming an idea of the geo-economic space of Russia. It is based on knowledge of the difference natural conditions, placement of resource bases, population density, location of cities.
Natural geographical space, as man developed it, became saturated with the fruits of his labors - cities, villages, transport routes, technical structures, communication lines and electricity supply, etc.
In addition, in each part of the geographical space, a certain economic culture, a system of farming, both personal and public, historically developed. The economic system developed under the influence of a complex of natural conditions to which man adapted.
Living on the territory, in certain natural conditions, for centuries people have developed ways of adaptation and survival in these conditions. Northern peoples learned how to farm in harsh natural conditions, making the most of reindeer and dogs. On the Arctic coast people survived by fishing sea beast. In the forest zone, almost everything was provided to man by the use of wood. Farmers skillfully combined the possibilities of using soils of varying quality with animal husbandry and soil fertilization with manure. Livestock was raised in dry steppes and semi-deserts. Each nation developed its own economic system, way of life, work rhythm, characteristic dwellings, buildings, clothing, food, customs, and traditions.
Gradually, in accordance with the methods of development of the territory, a diverse geo-economic space took shape, becoming many times more complex in the era of industrialization and technological progress.
Thousands of industrial enterprises, railways and roads, communication lines, transportation of millions of tons of cargo, passenger flows, migrations, financial flows, powerful information systems every day complicate the geo-economic space and human life in it.
Currently, informatization processes are introducing new elements into the geo-economic space. Electronic communications connect remote settlements and provide residents with opportunities distance learning, medical consultations, etc. The implementation of the “Electronic Russia” program provides a new incentive for the development of the geo-economic space of Russia.
Practical work
On contour maps or drawings indicate millionaire cities and regions with the highest level of economic development. Determine the location of your area in the geo-economic space of the country.
All student work is assessed at the end of the lesson.
Human capital is the main resource of the modern economy
Educational task : to reveal the essence of the new concept of human capital, to show its importance in the economy of the 21st century.
Motivation is carried out by posing a problematic question - what factors and resources are decisive in the modern economy?
Considering the known factors of economic development, we come to the conclusion that none of them is of decisive importance in modern conditions. The teacher's generalization and explanation is aimed at revealing the concept of human capital.
The 21st century is the century of information economy, post-industrial society. The most valuable resource, more important than natural resources and accumulated wealth, is human capital. The main wealth of any society is people. Man is a living bearer of creative qualities, strengths, and creative abilities. And this is the main element of the modern economy.
The symbol of progress is not industrial production and thousands of performers, but creative, gifted people capable of producing new ideas. This is a person, an individual, capable of discoveries, able to foresee, predict, anticipate and make discoveries.
Human capital is a stock of health, knowledge, skills, and experience that is expediently used by a person in order to obtain high earnings and contributes to the growth of social reproduction. This is the main value of society, main factor economic growth. But the creation of human capital requires effort and expense from the individual and society. This is an education that must meet the needs of a developing post-industrial society and take into account the real conditions of the Russian economy, this is physical and spiritual health.
Human capital is being spent, and a special state policy and the desire of society for its reproduction are required. It is important to invest money in a person - his education, health, which is competitive advantages in the job market.
Human capital is formed over a long period of time. Its formation is influenced by historical factors.
Russia is characterized by large population losses during the years of wars, revolutions, and social upheavals. Those who died on the war fronts, those who emigrated from the country, refugees who died during repressions, who died of hunger, and epidemics make up a huge number - up to 60 million people. If we take into account the number of unborn children, these losses will become even greater. The most active, young creative layers of the population suffered the most - career officers, the best peasants, skilled workers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals. Population losses were not only quantitative, but also qualitative. The “perestroika” years led to a sharp deterioration in the life of the majority of the population, criminalization, and a decrease in life expectancy, especially for men, which is now 57–58 years.
How did “qualitative” population losses affect economic development?
Such qualities as initiative, enterprise, independence, self-confidence, etc. turned out to be lost. In the new market conditions, many people are now behaving passively, unable and even unwilling to somehow master the new economic conditions.
Behind last years The level of training of workers and specialists has also been lost. IN Russian Federation only 5% of production workers are classified as highly skilled workers, 78% - as blue-collar workers intermediate qualification, and more than 16% are low qualified. In the US, a semi-skilled worker has 14 years of training behind him. In our country, only 65% of young people receive secondary education, and not all young specialists are in demand. Half of young people do not work in their specialty.
Russia is characterized by the export of human capital - young, gifted scientists and specialists leave. At the same time, scientists who remained in the country are forced to leave science for business: more than 30% of the heads of new commercial structures are former scientists.
The country's intellectual potential is still high, but it is poorly used in its own country.
The modern economy is becoming more and more intelligent. Modern production requires highly qualified workers. To be competitive in the global market, you need to learn to work in all industries at the level of world achievements. In the 21st century, the main factor of development is human capital.
Let's try to estimate what kind of human capital has been accumulated in our area? What specialists are in demand? Who can't find a job? How do young people feel about education and health?
In market and competition conditions, each person must make maximum efforts to maintain health, as part of their capital.
Can be discussed questions :
1. Is the population of your area characterized by centenarians?
2. Do many young people go in for sports?
3. Do schoolchildren understand the harm of smoking and alcohol?
4. Who can achieve more success in life - a sick person or a healthy one?
The teacher summarizes the discussion and the entire lesson.
The enterprise is the main link of the economy
Lessons No. 7–8.
Lesson topic : study of the enterprise as the main link of the economy (excursion to the enterprise).
The structure of the classes includes an introductory conversation and a tour of the enterprise. The conversation reveals:
How and through what means are the material and spiritual needs of people satisfied?
What is production?
After the conversation, the teacher systematizes, supplements and generalizes knowledge, and forms the concept of production.
Manufacturing is the process of creating wealth by converting resources into products and services needed by people.
Any product or service offered to satisfy a need and intended for purchase and sale is called a product. People who consume goods and services become consumers.
Goods intended for individual use are called consumer goods. What consumer goods does your family buy? In addition to material benefits, there are also intangible ones that play important role in human life and society.
Where are intangible benefits created?
Intangible goods and services are created in the non-productive sphere - culture, education, science, healthcare, management, recreation, physical education and sports. Give examples of intangible goods and services that you use.
All goods are created by labor. From natural objects, man creates everything he needs for life. Therefore, a person, a society, is both a producer and a consumer. Over 10 thousand years of development, society has created many industries producing goods and services.
Human activity aimed at creating wealth to satisfy material and spiritual needs is called economic. But human work also has a moral side. A person - a hard worker, a craftsman, a master of his craft, a professional - is always valued in any society.
The main link in production and the entire economy is the enterprise, since goods and services are created here.
The conversation is focused on clarifying questions:
1. Which enterprises produce material goods, goods, and which ones produce services?
2. What do enterprises in your area produce?
3. Where do your parents and relatives work?
4. What local products do you purchase?
5. How has production changed during the years of perestroika in your area:
a) which enterprises have closed and which continue to operate;
b) what new enterprises have opened, what they produce - goods or services;
c) how do state-owned enterprises differ from joint-stock and private enterprises;
d) at which enterprises there is a labor shortage, at which there are no vacancies.
Preparing for excursions includes familiarizing students with types of enterprises, their structure, and organization of work. If the industrial enterprise is large, with several workshops, then students are divided into groups, each of which will describe in more detail the individual stages of production.
It should be noted that the excursion can be carried out not only to industrial enterprises, but also to service sectors, for example, a bus depot, post office, etc. It is important to pay attention to social aspects.
In preparation for the excursion, students write down the main questions to study:
1. Where is the enterprise located? What explains its placement?
2. What does the enterprise produce?
3. Who is its owner?
4. What is the structure of the enterprise. What divisions does it have?
5. Describe the main stages of the production process.
6. How is the supply of the enterprise organized? Who are his associates?
7. Draw up a diagram of the energy and water supply of the enterprise. Does the company have treatment facilities?
8. How many jobs does the company have?
9. What is the profitability of the enterprise?
10. Study what social guarantees the company provides to its workers and specialists: vacation, days off, medical care, kindergarten and etc.
It's all possibilities alive and well inanimate nature on Earth, which can be used for human life in the development and improvement of favorable conditions in society.
Since the earliest historical times, man has used natural resources. Then, for the most part, it was hunting and fishing, and to a lesser extent the use of mineral resources. Subsequently, the growth processes of agriculture and livestock farming relied heavily on soil resources and water. Then, with the development of architecture and culture, the resources of metals and alloys, ceramics, and natural stone began to be used.
With the beginning of the century of industrialization, active production and use began. different types minerals for their use in energy, technical and economic development, which, unfortunately, began to have a negative impact on the environment. Nowadays, more and more humanity is striving to use the resources of the sun and wind, which do not cause a destructive impact on the environment.
Main types of natural resources of the world
Mineral resources
The variety of minerals found in earth's crust makes it possible to extract and develop them in the form of raw materials for various types industry. Consumption of mineral raw materials ensures the growth of the economy and welfare of the country that produces them, but the availability and reserves of mineral raw materials do not become a factor in the socio-economic development of a particular country in the world...
Nature is a kind of absolute for man; without it, human life is simply impossible; this truth is not obvious to everyone, judging by the way people care about nature. A person receives everything necessary for life from environment, nature provides the conditions for all life forms on earth to thrive. The role of nature in human life is fundamental. It is worth mentioning categorical facts and looking at specific examples of what nature gives to man. In nature, everything is interconnected; if one element disappears, the whole chain will fail.
What does nature give to man?
Air, earth, water, fire - the four elements, eternal manifestations of nature. There is no need to explain that without air, human life is simply impossible. Why don’t people, when clearing forests, worry about new plantings so that the trees can continue to work for the benefit of purifying the air? The earth gives people so many benefits that it is difficult to count: these are minerals, the opportunity to grow with Agriculture diverse cultures, live on earth. We get food from nature, be it plant foods (vegetables, fruits, grains) or food of animal origin (meat, dairy products). Material goods are sourced from the benefits of nature. Clothes are made from base fabrics, which are natural materials. Furniture in houses is made from wood, paper is made from wood. Cosmetics and household chemicals are based on herbal ingredients. Water is embodied in oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and glaciers. Drinking water meets the needs of people around the world, people are made of water, which is why a person cannot live without water even a day. Without water, it is impossible to imagine life in everyday life: with the help of water, people wash, wash, wash anything, water is indispensable in production. Nature gives man heat in the form of fire; wood, coal, oil and gas are also sources of energy.
Nature charges a person with energy, inspires him to new achievements, and fills him with strength. What are sunsets and sunrises worth, moments filled with great meaning, the end of the day and the beginning of a new one, when everything becomes possible, despite the day that has passed. The sun is a source of joy, happiness, remember in sunny weather, somehow everything around is especially beautiful. The sun allows all living things on earth to live and develop. There are people who have given up their usual food and feed on solar energy.
Nature is capable of restoring human strength after exhausting mental or physical work; it is not without reason that many people go on vacation to the mountains, forests, ocean, sea, river or lake. The harmony of nature brings balance to the frantic rhythm of human existence.
Staying in nature in one of the above-mentioned areas has a beneficial effect on human health, headaches go away, and health improves. general state, human well-being. It’s not for nothing that many people strive to spend time in nature. These forms of leisure include: camping, a picnic, or just a trip out of town for a couple of hours. In places far from the bustle of the city, you can renew yourself, sort out your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and look inside yourself. Many unique herbs and tree flowers surround a person, giving fragrance and benefits, take time to enjoy and admire them.
People are inextricably linked with nature, it takes care of it throughout a person’s existence, why does a person only take and give nothing in return. People pollute the environment every day and carelessly use the gifts of nature. Perhaps it’s worth stopping and thinking, since nature gives so much to man, isn’t it worth reciprocating and taking care of her as reverently as she takes care of us.
1. What natural resources did primitive man use?
Primitive man used only what was close to him on the surface of the earth or in shallow depths of reservoirs. They did not yet know how to explore the subsoil or great depths, or develop minerals.
They collected vegetation for food, used trees for fires and building houses, and made tools and the same building materials from stones.
It is impossible to live without water, especially fresh water. Also, aquatic inhabitants and land animals were used for food, clothing and household utensils.
2. What natural resources do people use to support life?
For life and development, humanity uses many natural resources: the resources of the world ocean; gifts of forests, fields; soil fertility; minerals from the bowels
All natural resources need careful use and protection. It is necessary to prevent the complete disappearance, as well as the inclusion in the Red Book as endangered, of many species of plants and animals. The next generations of people should not only see all the possible gifts of nature, but also increase them.
3. What are the differences between natural conditions and natural resources?
There are significant differences between these two concepts, here are some of them:
1. Involvement in economic activity. Natural resources, in contrast to natural conditions, are almost always involved in the economic activities of mankind.
2. Central characteristic in the concept. For natural conditions main characteristic is that they are a set of factors, but natural resources, the understanding of the term is built through the fact that it is a set of non-anthropogenic factors of production.
That is, natural resources are the result of activities in natural conditions.
4. What natural resource is most needed by humanity?
The answer to this question is clear – water. This is one of those resources without which human existence is simply impossible, but in its absence it will be irreplaceable, unlike other vital resources.
5. Based on Fig. 218 of the textbook, determine what types of natural resources are in our area. Give examples.
Resources can be exhaustible (forests, rivers, etc.) and inexhaustible (sun, air, etc.); renewable and non-renewable.
The Chelyabinsk region has rich and varied natural resources.
Mineral resources are concentrated in more than 300 mineral deposits, highest value among which there are deposits of iron and copper-zinc ores, gold, refractory raw materials, talc, graphite and quartz.
The Chelyabinsk region is a monopolist in Russia in the extraction and processing of graphite (95%), magnesite (95%), talc (70%), and metallurgical dolomite (71%).
The region has unlimited reserves of facing stones with a wide range of colors and varied patterns.
6. List the continents rich in: oil and gas, non-ferrous metals, water resources, biological resources.
The richest continents in terms of oil and gas deposits include: North America and Eurasia.
Most non-ferrous metals are found in Eurasia, and also, despite its small size, in Australia.
Of course, South America is the richest in water resources; Eurasia comes in second place after this continent.
According to the criterion of the amount of biological resources, the leaders are also Eurasia and South America, just in a different order.
7. List the resources of the World Ocean that people are able to use today and in the future.
In the future, humanity will be able to use only inexhaustible and renewable resources of the ocean, since exhaustible ones can be completely used up. Reserves of oil and gas and minerals mined on the shelf will run out. Biological resources can be used in the future only if rational use today, i.e. It is necessary to prevent the complete extermination of many species of ocean inhabitants. Without restrictions, it will be possible to use the energy of tides, waves and currents, temperature differences, as well as sea water and the substances it contains.
9. Establish a correspondence between the type of use of natural resources and sectors of the economy.
Directly use natural resources – 1,2,3,4,5,8
Processing and processing of natural resources – 4,5,6,12,13
Do not use natural resources – 7,9,10,11,14
School of Regional Geographers
Make a forecast of changes in the nature of the Earth, subject to the disappearance of the cover glaciers of Greenland and Antarctica.
Most of the continents of our planet will be flooded, only a small part of Eurasia will remain on the surface.
Anyone who has been lucky enough to visit our country at least once in their life, in any part of it, will agree with the statement that the nature of Russia is not only amazing, but in some places it is completely unique. Why do we now take as a basis the opinion of guests of our state, and not the Russians themselves? The answer is much simpler than it might seem at first glance. The thing is that, having been born, say, in Siberia or Kamchatka, we sometimes do not pay attention to the local beauties, taking them for granted. But in vain...
In general, I would like to note that since the territory of our homeland is quite vast, it is not surprising that the flora and fauna of one area sometimes differs significantly from the flora and fauna of the neighboring territory. For example, the nature of Central Russia differs significantly from its northern or, say, southern regions.
This article is aimed at telling in as much detail as possible about the characteristic features of various territories of our country. The nature of Russia will appear before readers in all its colors, shades and variations.
Arctic desert states
The Arctic deserts of Russia have such characteristic features, as a huge amount of ice and snow, as well as high air humidity, averaging 85%.
But on rocky shores You can see numerous nesting sites of seabirds.
Today, many scientists are working on the question of how to preserve the nature of Russia in this area. Moreover, it should be noted that this must be done as soon as possible, otherwise entire species of unique animals and plants may be lost forever.
What is it like, tundra?
The tundra zone is located mainly along the coast of the seas of the Arctic Ocean. It is an area of strong winds, cold, polar day and night and heavy clouds.
Here the winter is harsh and long (8-9 months), but the summer is short and cold. It happens that the temperature in the Asian tundra even reaches 52 °C. About 70% of the entire tundra territory is swampy. This happened due to constant long-term freezing of the soil.
On the coast you can find a young flat topography, a little to the south there are hilly terrain, ridges of glacial origin and hills. Earth's surface The tundra is almost completely dotted with shallow lakes.
As for the flora, its basis is formed by lichens, mosses, and various low-growing plants (herbs, shrubs, shrubs). The following species are especially common: dwarf birch, willow, alder, sedge, lingonberry.
In general, we note that the tundra is divided into three so-called subzones: arctic, lichen-moss, and southern shrub.
Characteristic features of forest-tundra
Forest-tundra is a zone where the tundra gradually begins to transform into forest. In this place, the nature of Russia, the geography of the region plays an important role, is quite diverse. Its characteristic features are the so-called sparse island forests, located in the interfluves and consisting mainly of Siberian spruce, larch and birch.
This sparseness of the forests is explained by the harsh climate conditions, although here the summers are much warmer than in the tundra, and the wind speed is much lower.
One more characteristic feature forest-tundra is considered a large number of sphagnum peat bogs.
For approximately 9 months this area is covered with snow. In summer, the slopes of river valleys here are covered with motley and colorful meadows. Ranunculus, valerian and berryweed grow everywhere. By the way, the local meadows serve as magnificent pastures for deer. In addition, the Russian nature in this area is considered an excellent habitat for many animals (usually arctic foxes and lemmings) and birds.
Here you can easily find a wide variety of waterfowl: geese, ducks and swans. But for the winter there are very few birds left here - only the snowy owl and partridge.
Endless taiga
The taiga zone in Russia occupies the largest area among the rest. It extends from the western borders of the Russian Federation right up to the coast Sea of Japan. Geographically, the taiga is located in the subarctic and temperate climate zone.
It is here that many rivers of Russia originate, for example, the Volga, Vyatka, Onega, Kama, Lena, Vasyugan, Pur, Taz, Vilyui, etc.
This zone is characterized by the presence of many swamps, groundwater, lakes, and large reservoirs. The main type of vegetation in the taiga is forests, both light-coniferous and dark-coniferous. The surrounding area is also dominated by larches, with slightly smaller quantities of pine, spruce, fir and cedar.
Among the forests there are sufficient meadows and various swamps.
Are you really interested in Russian wildlife? Siberia is just the place to go. Animal world It's very heterogeneous here. The eastern taiga is richer in fauna, where you can easily see hazel grouse, sable, capercaillie, waterfowl, brown bear, wolverine, squirrel, lynx, elk and hare.
Unfortunately, today there is active logging in this area. How to preserve the nature of Russia in this situation still remains a practically unsolvable mystery.
Mixed and broad-leaved forests of the country
The zone is much warmer and more humid compared to the taiga. It's long here and warm summer, and the winter is not particularly harsh, which, by the way, favors the appearance of such a huge number of broad-leaved trees.
Note that the rivers here are full of water, which means that the soil swampiness is very low. In general, this zone is characterized by soddy-podzolic and brown forest soils, rich in minerals.
In most cases, forests are represented by oak, spruce, maple, linden, pine, ash, hazel, Korean cedar, birch, aspen and shrubs.
The nature of central Russia is very generous with its inhabitants. Today, animals such as bison, elk, wolf, wild boar, wolf, marten, dormouse and muskrat are found here in large numbers. Among the birds you can find orioles, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, etc.
Unfortunately, now many species of plants and animals living in the Far Eastern mixed and deciduous forests are extremely scarce, or even disappear altogether. For example, in wildlife It is already almost impossible to find sika deer and Amur tiger, and on the slopes you most likely will not find real ginseng anymore.
Russian forest-steppe
The forest-steppe zone is a kind of transition between forest and steppe. Here, broad-leaved, small-leaved and pine forests on gray soils alternate with mixed-grass meadow steppes formed directly on chernozems.
The nature of Russia in this area is divided into western and eastern forest-steppe. The hills and valleys are separated by numerous ravines and ravines.
Oak dominates everywhere here, sometimes there are birch groves, forbs, grasses. Note that a significant part of the population lives in the forest-steppe; industrial and grain crops are cultivated here in huge quantities.
Steppe zone
The steppe zone is characterized by dry summers, cold winter and a very modest amount of precipitation. About once every three years there is no rain at all for a long time, which means severe drought sets in.
Characteristic feature steppe zone is treelessness. Before the plowing of the steppe territories, herbaceous vegetation with a predominance of feather grass, bluegrass, fescue, and steppe oats was found everywhere here. Now the situation has changed somewhat and, unfortunately, not for the better.
The soils in the north of the steppe zone are typical chernozems. Rodents live everywhere here; the most common are gophers, marmots, mole rats, and hamsters. Ferrets, foxes, and weasels feed on them. Among the birds you can see are eagles, larks and demoiselle cranes.
Today, it is the steppe that is most developed by people. It is rightfully considered the most important agricultural zone.
Desert and semi-desert zones
Semi-deserts and deserts occupy a very small territory in Russia, which is located strictly within the Caspian lowland.
It should be noted that it is here that the highest level of the so-called annual solar radiation(120 kcal/cm2).
Summers are hot, but winters are cold and with little snow. This zone is characterized by zonal grass-wormwood vegetation, solonetzes and areas of semi-fixed sand.
Wheatgrass, fescue, thin-legged algae, blue-green algae, feather grass, etc. grow in huge quantities here.
Among the animals there are many rodents, and the most common are jerboas, gerbils, gophers and brown hare. In addition, wolves, foxes, ferrets and badgers live in the desert and semi-desert zone.
