The nature of the mountains at all times amazed mankind with its beauty. It is an amazing and wonderful world in every way. The relief was created for many billions of years and during this time it took on bizarre and bewitching forms. What do mountains hide in themselves? What plants and animals are there? Find answers to these and other questions in the article.
Features of the nature of the mountains
The mountain climate is unique and it affects the weather of the entire planet, both seasonal and daily. On the hills, a special interaction of the earth with air and rivers begins. Water, condensing and arising in the mountains, descends thousands of streams down the slopes. Thanks to this movement, the largest rivers are formed. On the hills, you can often see how clouds and fogs are born. Sometimes these phenomena cannot be distinguished from each other.
The higher, the more rarefied air, and the lower the temperature. And where there is cold, there is permafrost. Even the mountains in Africa at their highest points are covered with snow and glaciers. But on the hills, the air is the cleanest and freshest. Precipitation, wind power and sun radiation increase with height. From ultraviolet radiation in the mountains, you can even get an eye burn.
No less striking is the diversity of vegetation, which replaces each other with increasing height.
Altitude zones of mountains
When rising in the mountains, climatic conditions change: temperature and air pressure decrease, solar radiation increases. This phenomenon is called altitudinal zonality (or zonality). And each such area has its own special landscape.
Desert-steppe belt. This landscape area is located at the foot of the mountains. The climate is dry, therefore only steppes and deserts can be found. Often people use this belt for household purposes.
Mountain forest zone. This is a very humid belt. The nature here is simply amazing: mountains, forest and fresh air attract you to go for a walk.
Mountain meadow belt. It is a light forest, alternating with subalpine meadows. Lightened trees, low shrubs and tall grasses grow in this area.
Alpine belt. This is an area of highlands, which is located above the forests. Here you can find only shrubs that are replaced by stone screes.
Mountain tundra zone. It is characterized by cool short summers and severe lingering winters. But this does not mean that there is sparse vegetation. Various species of shrubs, mosses and lichens grow in this area.
Nival belt. This is the highest point, an area of eternal snows and glaciers. Despite the rather severe climatic conditions, there are some species of lichens, algae, and even some insects, rodents and birds.
The name of the mountains, the most beautiful and amazing on the planet
Huangshan and Denxia are colored mountains in China. They are painted in yellow and pink shades. Often you can observe beautiful lighting effects.
Mount Roraima in South America is always eye-catching. It is interesting in that the channels of numerous rivers are covered with quartz crystals of various colors.
The Grand Canyon is a complex of valleys, ravines, gorges, caves and waterfalls. Due to the multicolor of the rock layers, as well as the play of light and shadow, the mountain changes its colors every time.
In Africa, the Dragon Mountains are beautiful landscapes with canyons, valleys, cliffs and waterfalls. The name of the mountains is of mystical origin. Its tops are always hidden by fog, but before it was believed that this dragon was releasing puffs of smoke.
Altai is a mountain that Russia can be proud of. They are truly beautiful, especially in the autumn-winter period, when the waters become bottomless blue.
Hanging Rock is a mountain in Australia, better known as the Hanging Rock. It rises one hundred meters above the surrounding terrain. This gives the impression that the mountain hung in the air.
Natural hazards
The dangers lurking at every step are features of the nature of the mountains. This is worth remembering when planning to conquer the peaks.
Rockfalls are most common in the mountains. Even the collapse of one boulder can cause an avalanche of blocks.
Mudflows are a mixture of water, loose soil, sand, stones and debris. This phenomenon begins suddenly and blows everything in its path.
Icefalls are a beautiful, but no less dangerous sight. Frozen blocks never stop and almost reach the foot of the mountains.
Dangerous insects in the mountains
The nature of the mountains is dangerous not only for its formidable natural phenomena, but also for insects, which are often found on hills.
Perhaps the most common ixodid ticks. They are dangerous by the disease they carry - encephalitis, as a result of which you can even remain disabled. Ticks are found along trails and are most active in the spring and summer.
Vespa hornet is the largest representative of wasps, the size of which reaches five centimeters. These insects live in hollows and do not attack for no reason. The bite is painful, but a few hornets attack.
Scorpions most often inhabit deserts, but mountains in Africa or Australia can also be chosen. Since they tolerate cold and temperature fluctuations well, they can be found not only at the foot, but also at the peaks. It is known that the bite of some species is poisonous and even fatal to humans. But for no reason, these creatures do not attack. Scorpions prey on insects, which often fly into the light near a fire and tents. During the day they hide under stones, bark of stumps and in the cracks of rocks.
Scolopendra is dangerous only in hot climates, especially in the autumn. At this time, her bite becomes poisonous and can even lead to death. A female karakurt is also a threat. The males of these spiders are not at all poisonous.
Mountains plants
As already mentioned, various climatic conditions are characteristic of the mountains. Therefore, on the hills at a relatively short distance, one can observe the diversity of the plant community.
The nature of the mountains is harsh, but incredibly beautiful. Plants are forced to adapt to local conditions: prickly wind, severe cold and bright light. Therefore, most often at a height you can meet undersized representatives of the flora. They have a well-developed root system, which helps to extract water and stay in the soil. Pillow-shaped vegetation is widespread; there are specimens in the form of rosettes that spread along the surface.
Meadows with alpine grasses are replaced by tundra, which are slightly reminiscent of the north. Forests can be deciduous, coniferous and mixed. Here trees and shrubs also grow in the form of dwarf trees. Most often you can see larch, spruce, pine and fir. And only the highest ranges have no vegetation, but are covered with eternal glaciers and snow caps.
Healing mountain herbs
The medicinal plants of the mountains are very famous for their life-giving properties. At all times, people climbed hills to procure useful herbs for the future. The whole variety of these species cannot be listed, but there are several most popular medicinal plants:
- hawthorn;
- Siberian barberry;
- frangipani;
- Valerian officinalis;
- spring gentian;
- highlander bird;
- Golden root;
- St. John's wort
- fireweed;
- maral root;
- Alpine poppy;
- dandelion;
- rosehip;
- edelweiss.
