Natural zones are certain areas of the Earth’s surface that differ significantly from others by the uniqueness of their natural resources and especially by their external appearance. Such a division has been practiced for a long time and represents an opportunity to carry out natural-geographical zoning.
In simple terms, natural zones are territories whose appearance, flora and fauna are strictly defined and not like any others. The originality characteristic of each of them is clearly traced and allows certain species of plants or animals to be found in accordance with those zones in which they can grow or live.
Natural areas are easily recognized by the change and nature of the dominant type of vegetation. It is from them that one can clearly trace where one ends and the next originates.
The survival conditions of certain species of trees, grasses, and bushes are determined by special climatic characteristics, which are provided for in various natural zones. Each of them is characterized by individual characteristics, due to different amounts of precipitation, humidity and air temperature.
Natural areas are so diverse that in one part of the planet the sun can mercilessly scorch and vegetation can be as sparse as the animal world, and in the other - permafrost and never melting snow. The contrast is more than obvious. Nevertheless, in nature everything is rational and harmonious, these transitions are not sharp.
The natural zones of the world are: the Arctic desert and tundra, taiga and mixed forest, forest-steppe and subtropical forest, Mediterranean belt and monsoon forest, arid desert, semi-desert or arid steppe. The semi-arid desert, grassy savannah, tree savannah, dry and humid tropical forests, alpine tundra and mountain forest are also distinguished.
The characteristic of natural zones provides a description of all climatic features that are inherent in them. For example, the most mysterious and still poorly studied zone of Arctic and Antarctic severe ice deserts, as well as the less severe climate zone - the tundra, are located in the Antarctic and Arctic zones.
In the Arctic, air temperature is low, there is very little rainfall, the whole territory is covered with ice, only lichens and moss from the vegetation.
The Tundra has high humidity, strong winds, numerous lakes and swamps, and the soil is a real permafrost. A feature of the territory is treeless, as well as a moss-lichen coating. The nature in these parts is very scarce and monotonous.
The characteristic of natural zones presupposes not only their description, but also takes into account smooth transitions, for example, forest-tundra and light forest. In such areas, representatives of flora and fauna characteristic of both adjacent areas may exist.
The natural zones of the world are revealed in full glory in the forest zone in the Northern Hemisphere, where the real kingdom of broad-leaved and mixed forests is located. Here, trees such as linden oak, ash, beech, and maple are often found. Summer in these places is quite warm, up to 20 ° С, and winters are severe, up to -50 ° С, humidity is high.
The forest-steppe can also be called a transitional natural zone, which is located in the Northern Hemisphere. In this area, you can observe the alternation of coniferous forests and steppes, an abundance of tall grass, which can be clearly seen in the United States and Canada.
The steppe zone is located in the northern temperate geographical zone, there are no forests, and the territory is covered with herbs, but there is not enough moisture. There are conditions for the growth of trees only along river valleys. Soil - chernozem, which is intensively used by humans.
Deserts and semi-deserts are in the following zones: temperate, tropical and subtropical. Precipitation here is extremely small. These territories are characterized by flat surfaces, scarcity of flora and specificity of fauna. There are very different deserts: sandy, solonchak, rocky, clay.
Currently, scientists have estimated that the desert occupies more than 16.5 million km² (without Antarctica), which is 11% of the land surface. With Antarctica, this area is more than 20%. The grass in the desert is sparse, the soil is underdeveloped, sometimes oases are found.
Perhaps the most exotic are the rainforests. They do not have seasonal differences in the weather, and the trees do not show annual rings. This is a true paradise for plants and an attractive place for wildlife researchers.
