Crimea is not only the sea coast, mountains and ancient parks with exotic plants. Few people know that about two-thirds of the peninsula is occupied by the steppe. And this part of Crimea is also beautiful, unique and charming in its own way. This article will focus on the Steppe Crimea. What is this region? Where are its borders? And what is its nature?
Features of the geography of Crimea
From the point of view of geomorphology and landscape zoning, the territory of the Crimean peninsula is divided into several zones:
- Plain or steppe (number I on the map).
- Mountain (figure II).
- South coast or in abbreviated form - South Coast (III).
- Kerch ridge-hilly (IV).
If you look at the physical map of the peninsula, you can see that about 70% of its territory is occupied by the plain (or steppe) Crimea. In the south, it directly adjoins the Outer Ridge of the Crimean Mountains, in the north and east it is bounded by the shallow Sivash Bay, the shores of which are distinguished by a rich avifauna. In more detail about this natural region we will tell further.
Steppe Crimea on the administrative map of the peninsula
The area of this region is about 17 thousand square kilometers. However, only a quarter of the entire population of Crimea lives in this territory - no more than 650 thousand people.
12 districts are fully or partially located within the Steppe Crimea:
- May Day.
- Razdolnensky.
- Krasnoperekopsky.
- Dzhankoysky.
- Krasnogvardeisky.
- Nizhnegorsky.
- Black Sea.
- Saksky.
- Soviet.
- Kirovsky (partially).
- Belogorsky (partially).
- Simferopol (partially).
The secret "capital" of the Crimean steppes can be called the city of Dzhankoy. Other large settlements in the region are Armyansk, Krasnoperekopsk, Yevpatoriya, Saki, Nikolaevka, Nizhnegorsky, Sovetsky, Oktyabrsky. Practically in each of them there are enterprises that process this or that type of local agricultural raw materials. The cities of Armyansk and Krasnoperekopsk are the most important centers of the chemical industry. It produces soda and sulfuric acid.
Geology and Terrain
The region is based on the Epigercin Scythian plate, composed of sediments of the Neogene and Quaternary periods. The relief of the Steppe Crimea is quite diverse. In the northern and northeastern parts, it is represented by several lowlands (Prisivash, North Crimean, Indole and others) with absolute heights not exceeding 30 meters above sea level.
In the west of the peninsula, the Tarkhankut Upland stands out sharply in relief. However, its elevation can only be called a stretch. After all, the maximum point of Tarkankut is only 178 meters. Nevertheless, due to the seaside position, the elevation differences are quite impressive here. Some coastal cliffs rise 40-50 meters above sea waters.
The relief of the region promotes residential construction, the laying of roads and railways, and the active agricultural development of land.
Climate and inland waters
The climate of the region is temperate continental, quite arid. Winters here are mild and with little snow, with frequent thaws. Summer is hot, with minimal rainfall. Average air temperatures in July + 24 … 27 degrees. The weather of the Steppe Crimea is variable, especially in transitional seasons.
As far back as the 19th century, academician G.P. Gelmersen suggested that the climate of the northern part of the Crimean peninsula in the future will become the main cause of poverty in this region. No more than 400 mm of precipitation falls here per year, which approximately corresponds to the moisture level of the semi-desert zone. An important role in supplying the peninsula with fresh water is played by the North Crimean Canal. The only relatively large river of the Steppe Crimea is Salgir. In summer, many of its tributaries dry out in whole or in part.
Flora and fauna
In summer, the steppe regions of Crimea resemble a lifeless desert with grass burned out by the hot sun. But in spring the region comes to life, covered with a multi-colored carpet of flowering plants. The main representatives of the Crimean steppe flora are feather grass, fescue, bluegrass, wormwood, wheatgrass and other cereals. In spring, irises, tulips, poppies and various ephemeroids are actively blooming here.
The fauna of the Steppe Crimea is rather poor. It is dominated by small mammals living in holes - ground squirrels, jerboas, ferrets, hamsters, and field voles. Hares and various birds are quite common - larks, partridges, cranes, quail, eagles and loonies.
Unfortunately, significant areas of the Steppe Crimea are now plowed up. Virgin, untouched areas of natural landscapes can be found today only in nature reserves and on the slopes of beams.
