Among the natural zones there are those confined to a certain belt. For example, the Arctic and Antarctic ice desert zone and the tundra zone are located in the Arctic and Antarctic zones; the forest-tundra zone corresponds to the subarctic and subantarctic belts, and the taiga, mixed and deciduous forests - to the temperate zone. And such natural zones as prairies, forest-steppe and steppes and semi-deserts are widespread both in the temperate and in the tropical and subtropical zones, having, of course, their own characteristics in them.

Natural zones, their climatic characteristics, soils, vegetation and fauna of each continent are described in chapter 10 and in the table "Continents (reference information)". Here we will dwell only on the general features of natural zones as the largest natural-territorial complexes.
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Arctic and Antarctic Desert Zone
Air temperatures are constantly very low, there is little rainfall. On rare ice-free land areas - stony deserts (in Antarctica they are called oases), sparse vegetation is represented by lichens and mosses, flowering plants are rare (only two species have been found in Antarctica), soils are practically absent.

Tundra zone
The tundra zone is widespread in the Arctic and subarctic belts, forms a strip 300-500 km wide, stretching along the northern coasts of Eurasia and North America and the islands of the Arctic Ocean. In the Southern Hemisphere, areas of tundra vegetation are found on some islands near Antarctica.
The climate is harsh with strong winds, the snow cover lasts up to 7-9 months, the long polar night gives way to short and humid summers (summer temperatures do not exceed 10 ° c). There is a little bit of precipitation of 200-400 mm, mostly in solid form, but they do not have time to evaporate, and the tundra is characterized by excessive moisture, an abundance of lakes and swamps, which is also facilitated by the ubiquitous permafrost. The main distinguishing feature of the tundra is the forestlessness, the predominance of a sparse moss-lichen, in places grassy, ​​cover; in the southern parts with shrubs and shrubs of dwarf and creeping forms. The soils are tundra-gley.

Zone of forest-tundra and woodlands
Zone of forest-tundra and woodlands. This transitional zone, which is characterized by alternation of treeless tundra areas and forests (woodlands), combines the features of the bordering zones. Tundra natural complexes are characteristic of watersheds, light forests are taken to the north along river valleys. To the south, the area occupied by forests increases.
In the Southern Hemisphere (subantarctic belt), the place of forest-tundra on islands (for example, South Georgia) is occupied by oceanic meadows.

Forest zone
The forest zone in the Northern Hemisphere includes subzones of taiga, mixed and deciduous forests and a subzone of temperate forests; in the Southern Hemisphere, only the subzone of mixed and deciduous forests is represented. Some scientists consider these subzones to be independent zones.
In the taiga subzone of the Northern Hemisphere, the climate varies from maritime to sharply continental. Summers are warm (10-20 ° c, the severity of winters increases with distance from the ocean (in Eastern Siberia to -50 ° c), and the amount of precipitation decreases (from 600 to 200 mm). The amount of precipitation exceeds evaporation, and watersheds are often swampy, rivers Dark coniferous (from spruce and fir) and light coniferous (from larch in Siberia, where permafrost soils are common) forests with an admixture of small-leaved species (birch, aspen) and pine, in the east of Eurasia - cedar prevail. taiga.
The subzone of mixed and deciduous forests (sometimes two separate subzones are distinguished) is distributed mainly in the oceanic and transitional zones of the continents. It occupies small areas in the Southern Hemisphere, winter is much warmer here and snow cover is not formed everywhere. Coniferous-broad-leaved forests on sod-podzolic soils are replaced in the inner parts of the continents by coniferous-small-leaved and small-leaved forests, and to the south (in North America) or west (in Europe) by broad-leaved forests of oak, maple, linden, ash, beech and hornbeam on gray forest soils.

Forest-steppe
The forest-steppe is a transitional natural zone of the Northern Hemisphere, with an alternation of forest and steppe natural complexes. By the nature of natural vegetation, forest-steppe with deciduous and coniferous-small-leaved forests and prairies are distinguished.

Prairie
Prairies are a subzone of the forest-steppe (sometimes considered as a subzone of the steppe) with abundant moisture, stretching along the eastern coasts of the Rocky Mountains in the USA and Canada with tall grasses on chernozem-like soils. Natural vegetation is practically not preserved here. Similar landscapes are characteristic of the subtropics of the eastern regions of South America and East Asia.

Steppe
This natural zone is widespread in the northern temperate or both subtropical geographical zones and is a treeless area with herbaceous vegetation. The growth of woody vegetation here, in contrast to the tundra, is prevented not by low temperatures, but by a lack of moisture. Trees can grow only along river valleys (the so-called gallery forests), in large erosional forms, for example, gullies that collect water from the surrounding interfluvial spaces. Now most of the zone is plowed up; irrigated agriculture and pasture cattle breeding are developing in the subtropical zone. Soil erosion is highly developed on arable land. Natural vegetation is represented by drought and frost-resistant herbaceous plants dominated by turf grasses (feather grass, fescue, fine-legged). Fertile soils - chernozems, dark chestnut and chestnut in the temperate zone; brown, gray-brown, saline in places in the subtropical).
The subtropical steppe in South America (Argentina, Uruguay) is called the pampa (i.e. plain, steppe in the Quechua language).

Deserts and semi-deserts
These natural zones are distributed in six geographic zones - temperate, subtropical and tropical on both sides of the equator, where precipitation falls so little (10-30 times less evaporation) that the existence of living organisms is extremely difficult. Therefore, the herbaceous cover is sparse, the soils are poorly developed. Under such conditions, the rocks that make up the territory acquire great importance, and depending on them, clay deserts (takyrs in Asia), rocky (hamadas of the Sahara, Central Asia, Australia), sandy (Thar desert in India and Pakistan, North American deserts ). In the temperate zone, deserts are formed in areas with a sharply continental climate, subtropical and tropical deserts owe their existence to constant baric maximums of 20-30 ° latitudes. Rare areas of increased moisture (high groundwater level, outflows of sources, irrigation from nearby rivers, lakes, wells, etc.) - centers of population concentration, growth of woody, shrub and herbaceous vegetation are called oases. Sometimes such oases occupy vast areas (for example, the Nile Valley stretches over tens of thousands of hectares).

Savannah
Savannah is a natural zone, distributed mainly in the subequatorial belts, but also found in tropical and even subtropical ones. The main feature of the savannah climate is a clear change between dry and rainy periods. The duration of the rainy period decreases when moving from the equatorial regions (here it can last 8-9 months) to tropical deserts (here the rainy season is 2-3 months). Savannah is characterized by a dense and high grassy cover, trees standing alone or in small groups (acacia, baobab, eucalyptus) and the so-called gallery forests along the rivers. The soils of typical tropical savannahs are red earths. In the deserted savannas, the grass cover is sparse and the soils are red-brown. Tall grass savannas in South America, on the left bank of the river. Orinoco, called llanos (from the Spanish "plain").

Forest subtropics
Forest subtropics. The monsoon subtropical subzone is characteristic of the eastern margins of the continents, where seasonally changing air circulation forms at the contact between the ocean and the continent, and there is a dry winter and humid summer with abundant monsoon rains, often with typhoons. Evergreen and deciduous (shedding foliage in winter due to lack of moisture) with a wide variety of tree species grow here on red earth and yellow earth soils.
The Mediterranean subzone is typical for the western regions of the continents (Mediterranean, California, Chile, southern Australia and Africa). Precipitation occurs mainly in winter; summer is dry. Evergreen and deciduous forests on brown and brown soils and stiff-leaved shrubs are well adapted to summer drought, the plants of which have adapted to hot and arid conditions: they have a waxy coating or pubescence on the leaves, thick or dense leathery bark, and emit fragrant essential oils.

Planet Earth is a unique source of life, within which everything develops naturally. Each continent is a separate biocomplex, where different species of plants and animals have adapted to live. In geography, individual territories with a similar climate, soil, flora and fauna are usually called natural zones.

Zoning types

Zoning is the division of the territories of continents and oceans into separate parts, which are called zones. It is easiest to distinguish them from each other by the nature of the vegetation, because what animals can live in this region depends on it.

Rice. 1. Nature on Earth

There are three types of zoning in the pattern of distribution of natural zones:

  • Change of natural zones by latitude... Moving from the equator to the poles, one can notice how the complexes are replaced one after another in a horizontal position. This pattern is especially clearly seen on the Eurasian continent.
  • Zoning along the meridians... Natural areas also change in longitude. The closer to the ocean, the greater its impact on land. And the further inland to the continent, the more moderate the climate. Such zoning can be traced in North and South America, Australia.
  • Vertical waist... As you know, the change of natural zones occurs in the mountains. The farther from the surface of the earth, the colder it becomes and the nature of the vegetation changes.

Reasons for zoning

The regularity of the location of natural zones is due to different amounts of heat and moisture in different territories. Where there is a lot of precipitation and a high level of evaporation, humid equatorial forests appear, where there is a lot of evaporation, and there is little precipitation - savannas. Where there is no precipitation at all and it is dry all year round - deserts and so on.

The main reason for zoning is the difference in the amount of heat and moisture in different regions, moving from the equator to the poles.

Rice. 2. Dawn in the steppe

What causes the different ratio of heat and moisture?

The distribution of heat and moisture on Earth depends on the shape of our planet. As you know, it is spherical. The axis of rotation does not run straight, but has some inclination. This leads to the fact that the sun heats up different parts of the planet in different ways. To better understand this process, consider the figure.

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Rice. 3. Distribution of solar energy on the planet

The figure shows that where there is a lot of sun, the surface heats up more, which means more evaporation near the oceans, respectively, there will be enough rain. Deeper into the continent - evaporation is high, humidity is low, etc.

So, let's highlight the main reasons for zoning:

  • spherical shape of the Earth;
  • rotation of the planet around its axis at an angle.

The reason for the zoning in the mountains is the distance from the surface of the earth.

What have we learned?

Natural zones replace each other not only in latitude, but also in longitude. This is due to the remoteness or proximity to the ocean. In the mountains, a change in natural zones can be traced because the higher - the colder the climate. There are two main reasons that affect the regularity of the change in natural zones: the spherical shape of the Earth and the rotation of the planet along an inclined axis.

Assessment of the report

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Question 1. List the main natural areas of the Earth.

Natural zones are natural complexes that occupy large areas and are characterized by the dominance of one zonal type of landscape. They are formed mainly under the influence of climate - the characteristics of the distribution of heat and moisture, their ratio. Each natural zone has its own type of soil, flora and fauna.

The main natural areas include: taiga, tundra, mixed and deciduous forests, steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, savannas, humid equatorial forests.

Question 2. What determines the distribution of natural zones on Earth?

The distribution of natural zones on the planet depends on the climate, mainly on the distribution of heat and moisture.

Question 3. Give a brief description of the tundra.

A treeless natural area with vegetation of mosses, lichens and creeping shrubs. Tundra is widespread in the subarctic climatic zone only in North America and Eurasia, characterized by severe climatic conditions (little solar heat, low temperatures, short cold summers, low rainfall).

Lichen lichen was called "reindeer moss" because it is the main food for reindeer. Arctic foxes also live in the tundra, and lemmings are small rodents. Among the sparse vegetation, there are berry bushes: blueberries, lingonberries, blueberries, as well as dwarf trees: birch, willow.

Permafrost in the soil is a phenomenon characteristic of the tundra and Siberian taiga. It is worth starting to dig a hole, as at a depth of about 1 m, a frozen layer of earth with a thickness of several tens of meters is encountered. This phenomenon must be taken into account in construction, industrial and agricultural development of the territory.

Everything grows very slowly in the tundra. It is with this that the need for an attentive attitude to its nature is connected. For example, pastures poisoned by deer are restored only after 15-20 years.

Question 4. What trees form the basis of taiga, mixed and deciduous forests?

To the south of the tundra, where the winters are still very cold, the taiga is spread. The basis of the natural community of the taiga is coniferous trees, undemanding to heat. Larch, cedar pine, spruce, fir form taiga forests, which occupy vast areas. Wood grouse, nutcracker, flying squirrel, sable live in the taiga.

To the south of the taiga, where there is more heat and there is no permafrost at all, thermophilic deciduous trees grow - oak, maple, linden. Together with other trees, various shrubs, grasses, mushrooms and, of course, animals, they form mixed and deciduous forests.

Question 5. What do all the grassy plains of our planet have in common?

In areas where there is a lot of heat, but there is not enough moisture for the existence of forests, there are grassy plains - steppes and savannas. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. The steppes are especially extensive in Eurasia, and the savannahs are in Africa. The basis of the community of grassy plains is, of course, grasses, although in savannas there are also separate growing trees. Various insects and large animals feed on grasses: in the African savannah, for example, antelopes, zebras. These animals are hunted by predators. The most famous predator of the African savannah is the lion.

Question 6. Give a rolling description of the desert.

Desert is a natural area characterized by a virtual absence of flora and fauna. There are sandy, rocky, clayey, saline deserts. The largest sandy desert of the Earth - the Sahara (from the ancient Arabic as-sahra - "desert, desert steppe") - covers an area of ​​more than 8 million square meters. km. Deserts are located in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, subtropical and tropical zones of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. During the year in the desert less than 200 mm falls, and in some areas - less than 50 mm. Desert soils are poorly developed, the content of water-soluble salts in them exceeds the content of organic matter. Vegetation cover usually occupies less than 50% of the soil surface, and it may be completely absent for several kilometers.

Because of the infertility of soils and lack of moisture, the animal and plant worlds of the deserts are rather poor. In such conditions, only the most persistent representatives of flora and fauna survive. Of plants, mostly leafless thorny shrubs are widespread, and of animals, reptiles (snakes, lizards) and small rodents. The vegetation cover of the subtropical deserts of North America and Australia is more diverse, and there are almost no areas without vegetation. Low-growing acacia and eucalyptus trees are not uncommon here.

Life in deserts is concentrated mainly around oases - places with dense vegetation and water bodies, as well as in river valleys. Deciduous trees are widespread in the oases: turang poplars, dzhida, willows, elm, and in the river valleys, palms and oleanders.

Question 7. Why are there few trees in the steppes, savannas and deserts?

There are few trees in savannas and deserts because there is very little rainfall there. And the trees just don't have enough water.

Question 8. Why is the tropical rainforest the most species-rich natural community?

It is very warm here all year round, with heavy rains. These conditions are especially favorable for plants and animals. Therefore, the tropical rainforest is the most species-rich natural community on Earth.

Question 9. Using examples, prove that the distribution of natural zones on Earth depends on the distribution of heat and moisture.

The appearance of the natural zone is determined by the type of vegetation cover. But the nature of the vegetation depends on climatic conditions - thermal regime, moisture, illumination, soil, etc.

As a rule, natural zones stretch in the form of wide stripes from west to east. There are no clear boundaries between them, they gradually merge into one another. The latitudinal location of natural zones is disturbed by the uneven distribution of land and ocean, relief, remoteness from the ocean.

Typically, savannahs extend where moisture is no longer sufficient even for the growth of variably moist forests. They develop in the interior of the mainland, as well as far from the equator, where for most of the year, not equatorial, but tropical air mass already dominates, and the rainy season lasts less than 6 months. Precipitation here falls on average from 500 to 1000 mm per year. Summer temperatures are 20-25 ° C and higher, and winter temperatures are 16-24 ° C.

Steppes are found on all continents of the Earth, except for Antarctica (in the temperate and subtropical belts of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres). They are distinguished by an abundance of solar heat, a small amount of precipitation (up to 400 mm per year), as well as warm or hot summers. The main vegetation of the steppes is grasses. The steppes are called differently. In South America, tropical steppes are called pampas, which in the language of the Indians means "a large space without a forest." Animals characteristic of the pampa are a llama, an armadillo, a viscaca - a rodent that looks like a rabbit.

Question 10. Analyze the pictures on pages 129-131 of the textbook. Is there a connection between the color of animals and the habitat (natural area)? What is the reason for this?

In the course of evolution, organisms acquire various properties that allow them to more successfully adapt to living conditions. For example, the fur of animals of the north (polar foxes, bears) is white, making them almost invisible against the background of snow. Insects that feed on flower nectar have the structure and length of the proboscis ideal for this. Seal flippers, transformed from the paws of their land ancestors, are perfectly adapted to locomotion in the water. Giraffes live in the savannah and eat the leaves of trees at high altitudes, with the help of a long neck.

There are many such examples, since each living creature has a large number of characteristics acquired in the process of adapting to specific living conditions.

Question 11. Name these organisms. What natural areas do they live in?

Dwarf birch is common in the tundra zone. The sloth lives in a humid tropical forest. Nutcracker is common in the taiga. Zebra lives in the savannah. Oak is typical for deciduous forest. Jeyran is found in deserts. The white owl lives in the tundra.

Question 12. Using the map on page 132-133 of the textbook, name the natural areas found on the territory of our country. Which of them occupy the largest territory?

On the territory of Russia, the zonality of many natural processes and phenomena is clearly expressed. This is due to the large extent of the country from north to south and the dominance of flat relief. The following natural zones are successively represented on the vast plains: arctic deserts, tundra, forest-tundra, forests, forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert, deserts, subtropics. Altitudinal zonation is expressed in mountainous regions.

"Lesson Natural Zones of Russia" - What natural zones of Russia do you know? I think you can do everything, After all, I've been teaching you for the fourth year. To answer, you need to know a lot, be able to think, reason logically. The hottest natural area? Teasing our sense of smell The spirit of potatoes by the fire. What kind of animal, what kind of bird? Black Sea coast. The largest natural area in terms of territory?

"Desert Natural Zone" - Lesson Objectives: Lesson Topic: Excessive irrigation. Hot blue sky, and a hot sun in the sky. Botanists General features of plants. Saiga is a kind of sheep-like animal with long thin legs. The roundhead is common in sandy deserts. Test of knowledge: Excessive irrigation leads to trouble: a lot of salt accumulates in the soil.

"Natural Areas of South America" ​​- Natural Areas. You probably guessed it. The diversity of flora and fauna of the South American evergreen forests is amazing. Relief. Climate. The flora and fauna of the Andes is unique. Crocodile native to South America. 11, Wood-rubber plant. 12. Why do we say so. The lightest tree. 15. True, the unique nature of South America On the verge of gradual destruction.

"Natural zones in Russia" - Steppe - like the sea! Fauna and flora of the tundra. Birch. What grows in the forest? Deserts. Boar. Moderately cold winters and warm summers. Long cold winters and short cold summers. Raccoon. Desert. Polar bear. Summer is long. Natural areas: The natural area is rich in deciduous and coniferous trees.

"Natural zones of Russia, grade 4" - Summing up. I did not understand my homework, I was not ready for an answer in the lesson. Tasks. Express your opinion on today's lesson using computer emoticons. To foster a respect for nature, respect and love, a culture of behavior. : -)! - I am satisfied with the lesson, the lesson was useful for me.

"Natural zones of Russia" - Reindeer husbandry. Ways to solve environmental problems. Adaptations for life: dense plumage and protective white coloration. Rare beasts. Musk ox. reserves, such as Taimyr, have been created. What natural area did we study in the last lesson? Deer. Untimely driving of reindeer herds. White Owl. Beasts. Inhabitants of the Arctic.

1) Remember what a natural area is.

A natural complex is a part of the earth's surface with relatively homogeneous natural conditions.

2) What are the patterns in the distribution of the natural zones of the Earth?

The location of natural zones is closely related to climatic zones. Like climatic zones, they naturally replace each other from the equator to the poles due to a decrease in solar heat entering the Earth's surface and uneven moisture. Such a change in natural zones - large natural complexes is called latitudinal zoning. The change of natural zones, as you know, occurs not only on the plains, but also in the mountains - from the foot to their peaks. Temperature and pressure decrease with altitude, precipitation increases to a certain height, lighting conditions change. Due to the change in climatic conditions, there is also a change in natural zones.

3) What natural zones are located in Eurasia?

Arctic deserts, tundra and forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and deciduous forests, forest-steppe and steppe, semi-desert and desert.

4) What sources of geographic information can be used to characterize the natural zone?

Observations, geographical maps, meteorological data.

* Using the picture, determine how the natural areas are located in our country. Why do not all zones stretch from the western to the eastern outskirts of the country? Which zones are located only in the European part of the country? How can this be explained?

The location of natural zones is closely related to climatic zones. Like climatic zones, they replace each other from the equator to the poles due to a decrease in solar heat entering the Earth's surface and uneven moisture. In Russia, from north to south, the following natural zones replace each other - arctic deserts and semi-deserts, tundra and forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and deciduous forests, forest-steppe and steppes, variable-wet forests, deserts and semi-deserts. Not all natural areas stretch from the western to the eastern borders of the country. This is due to the fact that Russia has a large latitudinal elongation and climatic conditions change as it moves inland. Only in the European part there is a natural zone of mixed and deciduous forests. This can be explained by the fact that in the interior regions there is not enough moisture for the formation of forests.

Questions in paragraph

* There are evergreens in the tundra. How do you explain this fact? Name the representatives of the flora and fauna of the tundra known to you. Consider how they adapt to harsh climates.

There are many evergreens in the tundra. Such plants can use sunlight as soon as they free themselves from under the snow, without wasting time and energy for the formation of new foliage. The flora - mosses, lichens, shrubs - crow, bearberry, wild rosemary, dwarf birch, willow. Tundra plants have distinctive shapes that help them make the best use of the sun's heat and protect themselves from the wind. Pillows form, for example, stemless resin, saxifrage. They are so dense that from a distance they resemble moss-covered stones. The fauna of the tundra is not rich in species, but it is large enough in quantitative terms. What animals live in the tundra all the time? The indigenous inhabitants of the tundra include reindeer, lemmings, arctic foxes, wolves, and from birds - snowy owl and ptarmigan. Very rare animals are musk oxen.

* Determine on the map which largest deposits of minerals of our country are located in the tundra zone.

Large industrial centers have been created in the vicinity of the cities of Nikel, Vorkuta and Norilsk. Non-ferrous metals are being mined in Norilsk, and oil and gas are being actively extracted in the north of the Tomsk and Tyumen regions. The Arctic tundra area contains a large supply of important natural resources such as uranium and oil.

Questions at the end of a paragraph

1. What components of nature form a natural zone?

Communities of plants, communities of animals, soils, characteristic features of surface and groundwater runoff, water regime of rivers, exogenous processes of relief formation.

2. What does the change of natural zones depend on?

The change in natural zones occurs as a result of a natural change in the ratio of heat and moisture.

3. Using the example of our country, justify the regularity of the change in natural zones.

On the territory of Russia, there is a change from north to south of the following natural zones: arctic deserts, tundra, forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and deciduous forests, forest-steppes, steppes, semi-deserts.

4. Think about how the flora and fauna of the Arctic deserts are adapted to their habitat.

Plants do not form a closed vegetation cover, are small in size, flowering plants have a very short growing season. Animals of the Arctic deserts have adapted to get food from the sea, many have thick white hair, birds inhabit the coast.

5. Indicate the features of the tundra zone of our country and explain them.

A feature of the tundra zone of Russia is its wide distribution and the allocation of several subzones in it from north to south. Three subzones are distinguished from north to south: the arctic tundra is replaced by typical (moss-lichen), and then by dwarf birch and polar willows.

6. Think about what is the reason for the strong vulnerability of the nature of the tundra zone.

Pollutants do not remain in place; air currents carry them over long distances. And the inhabitants of the tundra, especially lichens, are unusually sensitive to their effects. In the tundra, pollutants accumulate and are not washed out by melt water. Low temperatures inhibit the destruction of harmful compounds. Dozens of rivers and lakes perish. Streams of fuel oil and diesel fuel from drilling rigs flow into the soil and water bodies all year round. The coast of the Arctic seas and the entire tundra are littered with abandoned barrels and rusty iron. Many settlements are in an unsanitary condition. There are practically no environmentally friendly enterprises. Thermal power plants smoke the sky. Smog settles on white snow, dividing it into black, and patches of bare ground appear in places where pollution is especially high. For many years not a single plant will grow here. Another problem of the tundra is uncontrolled hunting and poaching. Many species of plants and animals have become rare.