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The nature of Eurasia (photo). Description of the peculiarities of Eurasia
Eurasia - the largest continent of our planet, for a long time remained the least explored. It is washed by the waters of four oceans, on its territory there are all climatic zones. The nature of Eurasia is so diverse that it is easy to find completely opposite in terms of conditions. Contrasts of the continent are due to its relief, extent and history of formation.
Features of geographical location
The continent is washed by the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The nearest neighbors of Eurasia are Africa and North America. From the first continent is connected through the Sinai Peninsula. North America and Eurasia shares a relatively small Bering Strait.
The continent is conditionally divided into two parts: Europe and Asia. The border between them runs along the eastern foothills of the Ural Mountains, then along the Emba riverbed , the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, the Kumo-Manych depression, along the line of the Black and Azov Sea waters, and finally along the straits connecting the Black and Mediterranean Seas.
The coastline of the continent is rather rugged. In the west, the Scandinavian Peninsula stands out, in the south - Arabian and Hindustan. In places, the East Coast is also much inferior to the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Here you can find whole chains of islands: Kamchatka, the Great Sunda and so on. The north of the continent is cut less. Sushi, most prominent in the ocean, is the peninsula of Taimyr, Kola and Chukchi.
The nature of the continent Eurasia as a whole is determined by the impact of the waters of the oceans only to a small extent. The reason for this is in the great extent of the continent and the peculiarities of its relief. The vast territories of Eurasia remained poorly studied for a long time. A special contribution to the development of the territories of Asia was made by Petr Petrovich Semenov-Tian-Shansky and Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky.
Relief
The wonders of the nature of Eurasia are, first of all, its contrast. In many respects it is due to the features of the relief of the continent. Eurasia is higher than all other continents. Here there are mountain massifs, exceeding in size similar formations of Africa, Australia and the Americas. The most famous summit of the continent is Everest, or Jomolungma. This is the highest point of the planet - 8848 meters above sea level.
Plains of Eurasia occupy vast areas. They are much larger than on other continents. There is also the lowest point of the planet on land - this is the depression of the Dead Sea. The difference between it and Everest is about 9 kilometers.
Formation
The reason for such a variety of surface relief lies in the history of its formation. At the core of the continent lies the Eurasian lithospheric plate, consisting of sections of different ages. The "oldest" areas are the South China, East European, Siberian and Sino-Korean platforms. They are connected by later mountain formations. As the continent was formed, fragments of the ancient Gondwana, which now lie at the base of Hindustan and the Arabian Peninsula, were added to these platforms.
The southern edge of the Eurasian plate is a zone of increased seismic activity. There are processes of mountain building. In the eastern part of the continent, the edge of the Pacific went to the Eurasian plate, resulting in deep depressions and extensive island arcs. Earthquakes and the accompanying disasters are not uncommon phenomena for this region.
In the so-called fiery ring of the Pacific Ocean, there is a large number of volcanoes. The highest of the active on the territory of Eurasia is Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4750 m above sea level).
A significant contribution to the formation of the continental relief was made by the glaciation, which in ancient times occupied the northern part of the continent.
Plains and mountains, old and young
The nature of Eurasia has undergone many changes. The vast West Siberian Plain, which occupies one of the first places in terms of area in the world, was once the bottom of the sea. Today, only a large number of sedimentary rocks encountered here are reminiscent of the distant past.
The mountains of the continent were not always what they look like today. The most ancient of them are Altai, Ural, Tien Shan, Scandinavian. The process of mountain building here is long over, and time left its imprint on them. The arrays are badly damaged in places. In some areas, however, later uplifts also occurred.
"Young" mountain ranges form two belts in the southern and eastern parts of the continent. One of them, the Alpine-Himalayan, includes the Pamirs, the Caucasus, the Himalayas, the Alps, the Carpathians, the Pyrenees. Some of the ridges of the belt converge, forming highlands. The largest of these is the Pamirs, and the highest is Tibet.
The second belt, the Pacific, stretches from Kamchatka to the Great Sunda Islands. Many of the mountain peaks here are extinct or active volcanoes.
Wealth of the continent
Features of the nature of Eurasia include unique in their variety of minerals. On the territory of the mainland, the necessary for industry, but rarely found tungsten and tin. Their deposit is located in the eastern part of the continent.
On the territory of Eurasia, gold is mined, as well as diamonds, rubies and sapphires. The continent is rich in deposits of iron ore. Here, a large number of oil and gas are extracted. According to the reserves of these minerals, Eurasia is ahead of all other continents. The largest deposits are in Western Siberia, on the Arabian Peninsula. Natural gas and oil are also found on the bottom of the North Sea.
Eurasia is famous for its deposits of coal. On the mainland, bauxite, potassium and potassium salt are also mined.
Climate
The diversity of the nature of Eurasia is largely due to the peculiarities of climatic conditions. The continent is famous for their rather sharp changes both from north to south, and from east to west. The main features of the nature of Eurasia on the peninsulas of Indochina and Hindustan were formed under the influence of monsoons. Part of the year they blow from the ocean and bring a huge amount of precipitation. In the winter, monsoons come from the continent. In summer, over the heated earth, a zone of low pressure forms, and here the equatorial air masses come from the ocean.
Features of the nature of Eurasia in the southern part of the continent are associated with high mountain ranges stretching from west to east. This is the Alps, the Caucasus, the Himalayas. They do not pass cold air from the north and at the same time do not interfere with penetrating deep into the moist masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean.
The wettest places on the continent are those where monsoons from the ocean meet with mountain ranges. Thus, a large amount of precipitation falls on the southern slopes of the Western Caucasus. One of the most humid places in the world is located in India, at the foot of the Southeast Himalayas. Here is the city of Cherrapunji.
Climatic zones
The nature of Eurasia varies as it moves from north to south, and from west to east. Not the least role in this is played by climatic belts. The northern and eastern part of the continent, including the Arctic islands, is an arid and cold region. Here low temperatures prevail, the air warms up somewhat only in the summer. In winter, severe frosts are characteristic of the Arctic climate.
The following belt has less severe conditions. The subarctic climate in Eurasia dominates a small area stretching a narrow strip from west to east. It also includes the island of Iceland.
The most significant territory on the mainland is the northern temperate belt. It is characterized by a gradual change in the type of climate as it moves from west to east. The regions of Eurasia bordering the Atlantic Ocean are characterized by warm and mild winters with frequent rains and fogs (the temperature does not drop below 0º), cool cloudy summers (on average 10-18º) and high humidity (up to 1000mm of precipitation falls here). Such features are characteristic of the marine temperate climate.
With the distance from the west coast, the influence of the Atlantic Ocean is weakening. The temperate continental climate extends to the Ural Mountains. This territory is characterized by warm summers and frosty winters. Behind the Ural mountains, the nature of the continent of Eurasia is determined by the continental temperate climate. In Central and Central Asia it is very hot in summer and cold in winter. The temperature can drop below 50º frost. Due to a small amount of snow, the ground freezes to a sufficiently large depth.
Finally, in the east of the temperate zone, the climate becomes monsoon. Its main difference is a clear change in the season of air masses.
From the Iberian Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean stretches a subtropical climate. It is also divided into zones. The subtropical Mediterranean climate is characterized by warm rainy winters and hot, arid summers. As we move to the east, the humidity of the air decreases. The central regions of the belt are a continental subtropical climate: hot summers, cold winters, low rainfall.
The eastern coast, washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, is highly humid. The air masses that come here in the summer are shed by endless rains that cause a flood of rivers. In winter, the subtropical monsoon climate is characterized by a temperature of up to 0 °.
The diversity of the nature of Eurasia: natural areas
The climatic belts of the continent provide uniqueness in its variability of the animal and plant world. Here are all the natural areas that are found on the planet. Many of them are sufficiently changed by a man. Especially it concerns the zone, suitable for agriculture, and the territories comfortable for living. The wild nature of Eurasia, however, has been partially preserved, and every effort is being made to ensure that even after a long time people know what the surrounding area was originally about.
The wonders of nature on the continent of Eurasia is not uncommon. There are plants and animals that do not occur anywhere else. The diversity of the nature of Eurasia is created by the places of a smooth, and sometimes rather sharp change of climatic zones.
Severe North
A narrow strip across the territory of Eurasia stretches the zone of arctic deserts, tundra and forest-tundra. Because of the severe climate, there is little vegetation. Extensive land all year round remain "bare". Of the animals here you can find polar bears, reindeer, arctic fox. The area is characterized by a large number of birds arriving in the warm season.
The tundra is distinguished by a special aridity and a deep permafrost permafrost. These features lead to a characteristic for the terrain formation of marshes.
Taiga
To the south of the tundra, bogs are also found in large numbers. Taiga, located here, is divided into European and Asian. In the former, such coniferous species as pine and spruce predominate. Birch, mountain ash and aspen are next to them. As you move to the south, you will often see maples and oaks, as well as ash trees. The Asian taiga is the birthplace of cedar and fir. Larch is also found here in large quantities - a coniferous tree that sheds foliage for the winter.
Taiga animals are also very diverse. Here live brown bears, hare-rabbits, squirrels, moose, wolves, foxes and lynx, as well as forest lemming, marten, ferret and weasel. Bird's polyphony is a familiar background for these places. Here you can meet woodpeckers, white partridges, black grouses, wood grouses, owls and hazel grouses.
Forest area
The nature and animals of Eurasia change along with climatic conditions. A large part of the mixed forests of the continent is concentrated on the vast territory of the East European Plain. When moving westward, they gradually come to naught and reappear on the Pacific coast.
In mixed forests, coniferous, small-leaved and broad-leaved species grow together. There are much fewer swamps, soddy-podzolic soils, well-defined grass cover. Beech and oak are characteristic of deciduous forests of the Atlantic areas. With a deepening to the east, the latter begins to predominate. Also there are hornbeam, maple and linden. On the coast of the Pacific Ocean due to the monsoon climate, the composition of forests is also very diverse.
The fauna is represented here by wild boars, roe deer, deer, and almost all the "inhabitants" of the taiga. There are brown bears in the Alps and Carpathians.
Changed zone
To the south lie the forest-steppe and steppe. Both zones are quite heavily changed by man. Forest-steppe is an alternating forest and grassy vegetation. The steppe zone is mainly represented by cereals. Here in large numbers there are rodents, ground squirrels, voles, marmots. The natural vegetation of the area has survived today only in the territory of the reserves.
The eastern part of the Gobi plateau is a zone of dry steppes. Here, low grass grows, there are areas completely devoid of vegetation or saline.
Deprived of vegetation
Zones of semi-desert and desert occupy a considerable part of the continent. They extend from the Caspian lowland along the plains of Central and Central Asia. The main features of the nature of Eurasia here - almost complete lack of vegetation and poor animal life. Extremely small amounts of precipitation, dry air, clay and stony soils do not contribute to the appearance of even grasses in this area. Rather sparse vegetation is found in sand deserts. Here "live" wormwood, astragalus, saxaul, saltwort.
The animal world of deserts is also meager. However, here you can meet a fairly rare species of fauna, such as wild kulans, Przewalski's horse. Rodents, as well as camels, are distributed in this zone.
Subtropics
A warm winter with a lot of precipitation and a hot dry summer are good conditions for hardwood forests and shrubs that stretch along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Here there are cork and stone oak, cypress, pine, wild olive. The nature of Eurasia here has undergone many changes due to human activities. Forests in the modern Mediterranean are almost completely cut down. Their place was occupied by low trees, as well as shrubs.
The subtropics in the south of China and the Japanese islands look somewhat different. Here grow monsoon forests, there are magnolias, palm trees, camellias, ficus, camphor laurel and bamboo.
On the inner part of the continent are located subtropical and tropical deserts and semi-deserts. This zone is characterized by dry, hot weather, low rainfall. The plant world is represented in the same way as in the deserts of the temperate zone. In addition, there are acacias, in the oases date palms grow. The animal world is not numerous: Przhevalsky's horse, kulans, jerboas, antelopes, jackals, hyenas, wild donkeys of onagry, gerbils.
Near the equator
Savannah of Eurasia is a place where a large number of cereals grow, as well as teak and salted trees, acacia, palm trees. Vast territories cover variable-moist subequatorial forests. They are located on the coast of Hindustan and Indochina, in the lower reaches of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers , as well as in the northern part of the Philippine Islands. Only some trees, growing here, drop foliage in a dry period.
In the subequatorial forests, the animal world is very diverse. Here there are a variety of ungulates, monkeys, lions and tigers, as well as wild elephants.
Equatorial forests amaze with a variety of palm trees. There are over three hundred species of them, coconut is found among them. There is also a lot of bamboo in this area.
Climatic zones of mountainous areas
Features of the nature of the continent Eurasia - this is clearly a noticeable change in the flora and fauna in the Alps and the Himalayas. These mountain systems are the highest in Europe and Asia respectively. The Alps reach a maximum of 4807 meters (Mount Mont Blanc).
Located at the foot of the Eastern Himalayas are therays and wetlands. Here grow palm trees, bamboo, sal. The fauna of this region is quite diverse. Here you can meet snakes, elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses, monkeys, leopards and so on. The territory of 1500 to 2000 m above sea level is occupied by evergreen subtropical forests. The number of deciduous and coniferous species increases higher. The belt of bushes and meadow vegetation begins at a mark of 3500 m.
Due to the peculiarities of geography, diversity of nature, Eurasia is a unique place of our planet. Contrasts of the continent contribute to the vigilant interest to it from researchers and travelers. However, the description of the nature of Eurasia without mentioning the traces of human activity seems somewhat ideal. As on any other continent, the territory here has undergone a lot of changes. A huge number of people living on the mainland, needs a developed agriculture, constant extraction of minerals. Therefore, the areas suitable for this are very different from the state in which they were at the dawn of humanity. Today Eurasia is vast fields, large cities and abandoned settlements, huge production complexes. To save the wild nature often does not work. For the rescue of rare species of animals and plants, reserves have been created, but they do not quite cope with the task. Nevertheless, the opinion about the need for careful treatment of the surrounding world is increasingly being supported by government organizations. I want to believe that thanks to this amazing nature of Eurasia, the photo of which is found on the pages of all thematic magazines, in the future will not only be preserved in the pictures.
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