Everyone who is fortunate at least once in their life to be in our country, in any part of it, will agree with the statement that the nature of Russia is not only amazing, but in some places completely unique. Why are we now taking as a basis the opinion of the guests of our state, and not of 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 local beauties, taking them as something 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 locality sometimes significantly differs from the flora and fauna of the neighboring territory. For example, the nature of Central Russia is significantly different from its northern or, say, southern regions.
This article is aimed at telling as much as possible about the characteristic features of the various territories of our country. The nature of Russia will appear before readers in all its colors, shades and variations.
Arctic Desert State
The Arctic deserts of Russia have such characteristic features as a huge amount of ice and snow, as well as high air humidity, an average of 85%.
In the zone of arctic deserts are the Novosibirsk islands, Novaya and Severnaya Zemlya, as well as Franz Josef Land. Surprisingly, the nature of Russia in this area is such that there are almost no marshes, lakes, and soils are polar-desert and salt marshes with a low humus content.
The vegetation cover is sparse and very poor. Most often here you can find mosses, lichens and algae. But also to see the saxifrage, polar poppy, cereals, ice buttercup, starfish, polar willow, arctic pike and bluegrass will not be difficult.
The fauna is also poor in species. As a rule, the most popular inhabitants include the polar owl, lemmings, arctic fox, deer, polar bear, and partridge.
But on the rocky shores you can see numerous nesting 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 you can permanently lose whole species of unique animals and plants.
What is it, tundra?
The tundra zone is located mainly along the coast of the seas of the Arctic Ocean. It is a territory of strong winds, cold, polar day and night, and great cloud cover.
It has a harsh and long winter (8-9 months), but summer is short and cold. It happens that the temperature in the Asian tundra reaches even 52 ° C. About 70% of the entire tundra is swampy. This was due to the constant long-term freezing of the soil.
On the coast you can find a young flat relief, a hilly area, ridges of glacial origin and hills appear a little south. The earth's surface of the tundra is almost completely dotted with shallow lakes.
As for the flora, it is based on lichens, mosses, various undersized plants (grass, 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 the forest-tundra
Forest tundra is a zone where the tundra gradually begins to move into the forest. In this place, the nature of Russia, the geography of the region plays far from the last role, it is quite diverse. Its characteristic features are the so-called rare-standing island forests located on the interfluve and consisting mainly of Siberian spruce, larch and birch.
Such sparseness of forests is explained by harsh climate conditions, although here the summer is much warmer than in the tundra, and the wind speed is much lower.
Another characteristic feature of the forest-tundra is a large number of sphagnum peatlands.
For about 9 months, this area is covered with snow. In summer, the slopes of the river valleys here are covered with variegated and colored meadows. Everywhere grow buttercup, valerian and berry. By the way, the local meadows act as magnificent pasture for deer. In addition, the nature of Russia in the local 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 there are very few birds left for the winter - only a white owl and partridge.
Boundless taiga
The taiga zone in Russia occupies the largest area among other natural zones. It extends from the western borders of the Russian Federation to the coast of the Sea of Japan. Geographically, taiga is located in the subarctic and temperate climatic zones.
It is here that many rivers of Russia originate, for example, the Volga, Vyatka, Onega, Kama, Lena, Vasyugan, Pur, Taz, Vilyuy, etc.
This zone is characterized by the presence of many swamps, groundwater, lakes, large reservoirs. The main type of vegetation of the taiga are forests, both light coniferous and dark coniferous. Around dominate also larch, a little less pine, spruce, fir and cedar.
Among the forests in sufficient numbers are meadows and various swamps.
Are you really interested in the wildlife of Russia? Siberia is just the place to go. The fauna here is very heterogeneous. Eastern taiga is richer in fauna, where you can easily see grouse, sable, rock grouse, waterfowl, brown bear, wolverine, squirrel, lynx, elk and hare.
Unfortunately, today in this area is active logging. How to preserve the nature of Russia in this situation, remains an almost insoluble mystery.
Mixed and deciduous forests of the country
The zone of mixed and deciduous forests is much warmer, wetter than the taiga. It has long and warm summers, and winters are not very harsh, which, incidentally, favors the emergence of such a huge number of broad-leaved trees.
Note that the rivers here are high in water, which means that the swampiness of the soils is very low. In general, this zone is characterized by sod-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 forests, aspen, and shrubs.
The nature of central Russia is very generous with its inhabitants. Today, such animals as bison, elk, wolf, wild boar, wolf, marten, dormouse, and desman are found in large numbers here. Of the birds you can find the Oriole, oak tree, woodpeckers, etc.
Unfortunately, now many species of plants, animals living in the Far Eastern mixed and deciduous forests are extremely small, or even completely disappear. For example, in the wild it is almost impossible to meet sika deer and Amur tiger, and on the slopes you will most likely not find real ginseng anymore.
Russian forest-steppe
The forest-steppe zone is a kind of transition between the forest and the steppe. Here broad-leaved, small-leaved and pine forests on gray soils alternate with mixed grass steppes formed directly on chernozems.
The nature of Russia in this area is divided into western and eastern forest-steppe. Hills and valleys are divided by numerous ravines, gullies.
Oak dominates here, birch groves, forbs, cereals are sometimes found. It should be noted that a significant part of the population lives in the forest-steppe, here technical and grain crops are cultivated in large quantities.
Steppe zone
The steppe zone is characterized by the presence of arid summers, cold winters and a very modest amount of rainfall. About once every three years for a long time there is no rain at all, which means that severe drought occurs.
A characteristic feature of the steppe zone is treeless. Prior to the plowing of the steppe territories, grassy vegetation everywhere prevailed here with a predominance of feather grass, bluegrass, fescue, and steppe oats. Now the situation has changed somewhat and, unfortunately, not for the better.
Soils in the north of the steppe zone are typical chernozems. Here rodents live everywhere, most often there are gophers, marmots, mole rats, field mice, hamsters. They feed on ferrets, foxes, weasels. From the birds you can see eagles, larks and Demoiselle crane.
Today, it is the steppe that is most mastered by people. It is rightfully considered the most important area of agriculture.
