Resettlement of Jews. The history of the settlement of Jews around the world and their mutagenesis

In forested mountainous areas, snow slides and avalanches destroy trees and also contribute to a change in the composition of plant species. Therefore, geobotanical signs are quite reliable indicators of avalanche danger. Thick coniferous forest on the slopes - a pretty sure sign of the absence of avalanches. For the appearance of a slope in an avalanche-prone area in summer, alternation of bright green stripes of deciduous forest among the dark green of coniferous trees is typical. In winter, instead of the lighter green stripes of deciduous forest, white stripes of avalanche trays and fanning cones are visible among the coniferous forests growing on the slopes of the mountains - avalanche sweep

Avalanches destroy, first of all, conifers with a superficial root system: spruce, fir, pine. In places of avalanche activity - birch, beech, mountain ash and other small-leaved species are preserved in a depressed form. They often have curved trunks, branches and are pinned to the ground.

The contours of mixed forests growing among coniferous forests and at the bottom of the valley are a good indicator of avalanche range, and the position of broken trunks helps to determine the main direction of impact.

Snow and air flows can spread far beyond the zone of the bulk of avalanches - hundreds of meters and even kilometers. In those cases when snow-air flows reach the forest zone, there are three main zones of destruction. In the first zone, which begins immediately after the boundary of the stopped avalanche mass of snow, the air wave knocks down and breaks trees, breaks off large branches of the preserved trees, giving the crown an asymmetric shape, with branches elongated in the direction of the flow.

In the next zone, the wave breaks and scatters tree branches. In the third zone, the air wave only blows snow from the trees.

Dense avalanche snow (fanning cones) persists until June-July, and some snowfields melt only in early August (depending on the region). Where snowflakes lie, completely different microclimatic conditions are created, dramatically affecting the basic composition of vegetation. In such places, plants with a long growing season completely disappear. Excessive moisture along the periphery of the fan causes waterlogging of the valley bottom and, consequently, the appearance of moisture-loving plants. When an avalanche falls, together with the snow, the seeds of alpine plants are transferred to the forest zone, as a result of which an inversion of vegetation occurs.

The avalanche snow, lying at the bottom of the valley until the second half of summer, creates a microclimate characteristic of higher landscape zones. Therefore, a significant delay in individual seasonal phenomena in plant life is a reliable indicator of avalanche danger. Where a snowfield lay recently, the phase of leaf blooming, flowering, etc. begins later.

In addition, high herbage and lush vegetation among low grasses indicate avalanche danger. The fact is that the delay in the development of vegetation after the avalanche snow melts after a while is replaced by its rapid growth. In the summer at high temperature air in such places accumulates a lot of moisture, and around the avalanche-prone circuit by the middle of summer, the moisture has already been largely consumed.

Geobotanical signs of avalanche danger correctly reflect the size (contours) and locations of relatively recent and frequent (annual) avalanches. The avalanche regime of individual avalanches can be observed by analyzing the difference in the age of trees in the zone of avalanche deposition (accumulation). The treeless areas of the slope indicate a regular (frequent) avalanche, which, by their effect, does not make it possible for tree vegetation to recover. Areas of rare occurrence of avalanches will be forested with trees dating the range of avalanches in this place - the age of the trees that have grown.

However, these signs cannot be overestimated: if avalanches fall once or twice a century, then in 90-60 years avalanche others can be overgrown with forest. This forest will be younger than the one that surrounds it woodland, and different ages trees on the slope of the valley should indicate an avalanche hazard

The vegetation of Russia makes up an essential part of the northern extra-tropical vegetation of the world. Russia occupies most of northern Eurasia, and therefore the patterns of vegetation that appear on its territory are essential for understanding the botanical geography of the entire continent.

Among the most important botanical and geographical regularities of the macrostructure of the vegetation cover in Russia are the latitudinal, meridional and altitudinal-zonal differentiation of the vegetation cover.

The vegetation cover is characterized by a systemic organization and multidimensionality. Plain vegetation and mountain vegetation are distinguished as units of the highest rank. This emphasizes the significant difference in the nature, composition and structure of the vegetation of plains and mountains and their macro-ecological variability in quality.

Regional differentiation of vegetation cover is expressed by regional complexes - sectors. The sectors are associated with such ecological parameters as the peculiarities of moisture transfer, the degree of oceanic-continentality.

On the plains, subzonal categories of vegetation cover and / or their edaphic variants are distinguished. They are subordinate to regional complexes.

The vegetation of each mountain range is a typical altitudinal-belt row as a whole. The main feature of high-altitude belts is determined by the latitudinal position of the pedestal, height and meridional position.

Plains vegetation

On the territory of Russia, the East European and West Siberian plains are located, the vegetation of which demonstrates the classic change of zonal types. In the east, flat areas occupy small areas, giving way to mountain ranges, and the clarity of the zonal division of vegetation is obscured. In the Pacific Ocean part of Russia, the influence of the ocean is felt, which violates the laws of the zonal distribution of the vegetation cover. The structure of zoning is manifested in regional complexes. Each regional complex differs in the set of subzonal vegetation categories. Vegetation categories of the same latitudinal position in different sectors have a different species composition.

Tundra type vegetation forms the cover of the Far North of the country, which stretches in a strip along the coast of the seas of the Arctic Ocean and is found on the islands. The main features of the tundra type of vegetation include the absence of a tree layer, the large role of low-growing small-woody plants (from shrubs and elfin trees to prostrate (creeping) shrubs and dwarf shrubs). Herbaceous perennials are widespread. The importance of mosses and lichens is great. Perforation of the vegetation cover is characteristic - the presence of patches of exposed soil.

There are 5 regional complexes in the tundra. The westernmost, pre-Atlantic, is represented only by the southern tundra with the participation Betula nana, Calluna vulgaris, Empetrum hermaphroditum, Carex bigelowii, in which boreal species such as blueberries are constantly found. The East European, West Siberian and Central Siberian sectors have the most complete zonal spectrum from the high arctic to southern tundras. High-Arctic tundras are found only on some islands of the Arctic Ocean. Glaciers occupy a significant area of ​​the islands, and the vegetation cover is fragmented. Grass-lichen-moss spotted tundras dominate. Lichen-moss and moss-lichen communities (with an insignificant participation of flowering plants) are widespread, which are confined to highly gravelly and stony soils. On the Franz Josef Land archipelago and Novaya Zemlya (East European – West Siberian sector), in tundra communities, Deschampsia alpina, Cerastium arcticum, C. regelii ssp. caespitosum, which are absent in the Central Siberian sector. Presence Ranunculus sabinii, Cerastium bialynickii, C. regelii s.str., Deschampsia brevifolia determine the specificity of the high-arctic tundra of the Central Siberian sector. In the East Siberian and Chukchi regional complexes, there are no high-Arctic tundras.

Arctic tundras are found in all, except for the Atlantic, complexes. Simple shrubs begin to play an important role in them. For the East European - West Siberian sector, the background species is Salix nummularia, the role of Salix polaris, S. reptans, there are 2 types of vegetation Dryas - D. punctata and D. octopetala. In the East Siberian sector, Cassiope tetragona, disappears D. octopetala. In Chukotka, communities of the Arctic tundra are characterized by Salix rotundifolia, S. phlebophylla, Dryas integrifolia, Carex lugens. To the south, the arctic tundras are replaced by hypoarctic ones, which are represented by northern shrub-moss and southern shrub-moss-lichen subzonal categories. Their differences from sector to sector are also marked by geographically differentiating types (NN 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15) 1.

Boreal (taiga) vegetation located in temperate latitudes south of the tundra. Taiga occupies a leading position in the north of Eurasia. It stretches from Scandinavia to the Pacific Ocean. Most of taiga vegetation of Eurasia is concentrated on the territory of Russia. Taiga forests are also characteristic of many mountain systems, forming mountain-taiga belts in them.

The boreal vegetation of the plains includes 5 subzonal categories: from pre-tundra woodlands to subtaiga. It is characterized by the dominance of dark coniferous, light coniferous, small-leaved and mixed forests. Dominant species of coniferous forest species: Picea abies, P. obovata, Abies sibirica, Larix sibirica, L. gmelinii, L. cajanderi respectively replace each other from west to east, forming 7 regional complexes.

The shortest zonal spectrum in the Atlantic sector is represented by pre-tundra birch woodlands (16). They form, in combination with the southern shrub tundra, hilly and aapa bogs, the forest-tundra of the Kola Peninsula.

The East European sector (East European Plain) has a full zonal section from birch-spruce woodlands (17) to subtaiga (24, 25). Subzonal vegetation categories are represented by spruce forests (18, 20, 22, 24) and pine forests replacing them on soils of light texture (19, 21, 23, 25). In subtaiga forests, the composition of the stand, in which spruce or pine dominates, or in the form of undergrowth, includes nemoral tree species: oak, linden, maple, hazel. This also includes the coniferous-deciduous forests of the Kaliningrad region, in which there are Central European species - beech and hornbeam.

The forests of the Ural complex are inherent in the features of the European and Siberian taiga. This regional complex is found on both sides of the Urals. There is also a full zonal range (26-32) from spruce and larch-spruce woodlands to broad-leaved-fir-spruce subtaiga forests.

The Ob-Irtysh sector unites the forests of the largest taiga complex (33-42). The role of bogs in the structure of the vegetation cover of the West Siberian Plain is enormous. In terms of area, swamps prevail here over forests. The role of the vegetation of the vast Obskaya floodplain is important. (130).

Larch woodlands prevail in the north of the Ob-Irtysh region (33). A large area is occupied by hilly bogs (124). To the south, light forests give way to northern taiga, dominated by larch (36) and larch-pine (35) forests. The watersheds are occupied by hilly and aapa bogs, huge raised bog systems with an abundance of lichens and large lakes (126 b). Larch-spruce-cedar forests are also characteristic (34). In the middle taiga, spruce-cedar forests prevail, in places with fir, less often larch-pine forests are found. In the middle taiga, the confinement of forests to river valleys is especially noticeable. There are many raised bogs on the watersheds.

In the southern taiga of Western Siberia, dark coniferous cedar-spruce-fir forests prevail. Pine forests dominate in the west. The presence of linden is typical in the southern taiga forests. On the watersheds, sphagnum raised bogs are common, forming systems that include aapa, including the famous Vasyugan bog.

The transition from southern taiga to subtaiga is gradual. Of the coniferous forests in the subtaiga, only pine forests on sands are found (41). Birch and aspen forests dominate (42); they usually grow in small groves (groves), alternating with damp meadows, swamps, and pine forests. Often birch groves are confined to depressions with pronounced solodization of the ground.

The Central Siberian (43-47) and East Siberian (45-51) sectors have a shortened zonal section. In Central Siberia, there is no subtaiga; in Eastern Siberia, the latitudinal section ends with mid-taiga forests. The boreal vegetation of these most continental sectors is formed by light coniferous, mainly larch forests.

The boreal vegetation encompasses a peculiar Far Eastern complex. The features of its vegetation cover are associated with the originality of the floristic composition and difficult physical and geographical conditions - the influence of the Pacific Ocean and monsoons in the southeast, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the seas of the Arctic Ocean in the north, the continental air masses of Siberia and Central Asia, the complexity of the relief and geological structure. North-taiga larch forests (52) are found in small areas along the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk; significant areas are occupied by middle taiga larch forests and sphagnum mari (53). The southern taiga forests are diverse: spruce-fir ( Рicea ajanensis, Abies nephrolepis), larch and pine-larch. In their stand, there are sporadically Betula davurica, B. platyphylla; well developed undergrowth of Rhododendron dauricum, Duschekia manshurica, Lespedeza bicolor, Corylus heterophylla. Especially peculiar are the subtaiga forests of the Far East, represented by broad-leaved-pine and broad-leaved-larch forests with Mongolian oak and Manchurian birch (58.59), birch-pine (60) and spruce-fir-cedar with Pinus koraiensis, Picea ajanensis and Abies nephrolepis(57).

Nemoral vegetation represented by broadleaf forests, which grow in Russia only in the west (Eastern European regional complex) and in the east (Far Eastern complex). In western Europe, nemoral vegetation occupies almost all of its territory, and in eastern Asia it descends much further south than in Europe, which is undoubtedly associated with the influence of the Pacific Ocean. In the continental regions of Siberia, deciduous forests are absent and are territorially replaced by steppes.

Broadleaved forests of the Eastern European sector are represented by linden-oak with the participation of ash (61) and linden with oak (63). On light soils, they are replaced by pine-deciduous forests (62) and steppe pine with oak (64).

The increasing continentality of the climate from west to east leads to a gradual reduction in European nemoral vegetation species, of which only half reach the western slopes of the Urals. The role of the South Siberian light-loving and cold-resistant species is becoming noticeable. An important border is the Volga, towards which many tree species, for example ash, shrub and herbaceous species, gradually fall out from the west.

Small groves of oak forests are found quite far in the north in the southern taiga subzone (Leningrad, Novgorod, Pskov regions), and lime forests (probably derivatives that arose in the place of linden-spruce forests) are found even further north. In the south, deciduous forests along ravines and ravines, the so-called ravine forests, penetrate far into the steppe region.

In the Far East, deciduous forests are found in the south. In the southwestern part, they are represented by oak ( Quercus mongolica) and black-birch-oak. Some western oak forests have cryophilized grass cover. In the eastern part, oak and mixed oak-broad-leaved forests are widespread with the participation of a mesophilic group of trees: Amur velvet, linden ( Tilia amurensis, T..mandshurica, T. taquetii) and lianas (65).

Steppe vegetation Russia in the form of a strip stretches from the western border of the country to the South Siberian mountains. To the east of the steppe, they are found in isolated areas, mainly in intermontane basins. In European Russia, this strip is very wide and in the south reaches the Caucasus, and in Asian Russia - to the state border and continues in the countries of Central and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China).

Steppe vegetation unites communities of xerophilic microthermal sod herbaceous plants. The dominant biomorph in the steppes is sod grasses from the genera Stipa, Festuca, Agropyron, Koeleria, Poa, Cleistogenes, Helictotrichon and others. Under different ecological conditions, communities of turf sedges, onions, forbs, dwarf shrubs and shrubs are formed. Steppe communities are polydominant; their distribution is associated with chernozems and chestnut soils.

In the steppe type of vegetation, 4 regional complexes are distinguished: East European, Trans-Volga, West Siberian and Transbaikalian. The steppes of the East European and Trans-Volga complexes are most fully represented and have a full zonal spectrum; the West Siberian sector is represented only by the northern part of the zonal spectrum, while its southern part is located in Kazakhstan. The Trans-Baikal complex unites scattered areas of the steppes that occur in intermontane basins and are genetically related to the Central Asian (Mongolian and Chinese) steppes.

There are 4 subzonal latitudinal categories of steppe vegetation: meadow, northern, middle and southern. Latitudinal differentiation of steppes from north to south is associated with an increase in the degree of climate aridity, and its regional differentiation is associated with an increase in continentality.

Meadow steppes are the northernmost type of steppes. They are characterized by the predominance of herb-cereal communities with a predominance of mesoxerophilic and xeromesophilic species, mainly loose shrub and rhizome grasses, rhizome sedges and forbs. Meadow steppes are common in the south of the nemoral region in the European part of Russia and the boreal region in Siberia. Together with forests (oak and oak-linden in the west and birch and aspen in Siberia), they form the forest-steppe subzone. Typologically, meadow steppes are considered within the steppe type of vegetation, but from a botanical and geographical point of view, they do not belong to the steppe zone, but are closely related to forests and without anthropogenic interference (haymaking, grazing), meadow steppes turn into forests.

The northern steppes begin the zonal series of the steppe zone. They are characterized by the dominance of fescue-feather grass steppes, i.e. the dominance of turf grasses, with the participation of abundant xeromesophilic and mesoxerophilic grasses.

The middle steppes are also characterized by the predominance of fescue-feather grass steppes, but the forbs in them are much poorer and are represented by much more xerophilous species.

The southern steppes are distinguished by the participation of semi-shrubs as codominants in fescue-feather grass communities.

Throughout their range, steppe communities, especially within the same subzonal category, have a large number of general types... The selection of mapped categories of steppes within regional complexes is therefore based on a small number of geographically differentiating species.

The East European regional complex includes rich herb-cereal meadow steppes with Bromopsis riparia, Carex humilis, Peucedanum macrophyllum; herb - sod grass northern steppes with Stipa ucrainica; Stipa ucrainica; sagebrush-sod grass southern steppes with Stipa lessingiana, Artemisia taurica, A. lercheana.

The Zavolzhsky regional complex combines rich herb-cereal meadow steppes with Bromopsis riparia, Bromopsis inermis, Carex humilis, C. pediformis, Peucedanum alsaticum; herb-sod bovine-grasses northern steppes with Stipa zalesskii, S. korshinskyi; birch-grass middle steppes with Stipa lessingiana; wormwood-sod grass-grass southern steppes with Stipa sareptana, Artemisia lercheana.

The West Siberian sector, the western border of which runs along the Ishim River, includes only 2 northern latitudinal categories: rich herb-grass meadow steppes with Bromopsis inermis, Stipa zalesskii, Carex pediformis, C. supina, Peucedanum morisonii and forb-sod-bunch-grasses northern steppes with Stipa capillata, S. zalesskii, Helictotrichon desertorum. The soils of the steppes of this sector are distinguished by salinity.

The Trans-Baikal regional complex is characterized by a great distinctiveness of the species composition of steppe communities, since it is florogenetically connected with the Central Asian steppes, and it is separated from the European-West Siberian steppes, which are part of the Black Sea-Kazakhstani steppes, not only botanically-geographically, but also territorially by South Siberian mountain ranges ... It includes 3 latitudinal categories: rich herb-cereal meadow steppes with Filifolium sibiricum, Peucedanum baicalense; forb-sod-bore-grasses northern steppes with Stipa baicalensis, Leymus chinensis and soddy-grass middle steppes with Stipa krylovii.

Steppe communities and their fragments penetrate far to the north of Eastern Siberia, which is associated with a sharp continental climate, but primarily with historical paleogeographic events that took place in this territory in the Pleistocene.

Desert vegetation completes the zonal range of plain vegetation types. The desert type includes communities dominated by xerophilic, hyperxerophilic micro- and mesothermic plants of various life forms, mainly semi-shrubs, semi-shrubs and shrubs, semi-trees. In desert communities, ephemeroids and hemiephemeroids, perennial short-growing plants, are often abundant; annual herbaceous plants of summer-autumn vegetation and ephemera - annual herbaceous plants of spring, autumn-spring or autumn-winter vegetation. In Russia, there is only a small section of a vast area of ​​deserts. It is represented by the Caspian sector of temperate deserts, which belong to the northern latitudinal category: wormwood (79) and sand wormwood (80) northern deserts. Their distribution is associated with brown soils. In the Caspian region, soils of light texture, sandy and sandy loam are widespread, therefore, along with wormwood, cereals are often found here. Poa bulbosa.

Mountain vegetation

Altitudinal-zonal differentiation of mountain vegetation is primarily due to their latitudinal position. In addition, it depends on the length of the mountain system, its height, barrier role, steepness and exposure of slopes, etc. The presence of altitudinal-belt differentiation of vegetation is the main regularity of the structure of mountain vegetation, which has no analogues on the plain. Individual altitudinal belts of mountains are often formed by communities belonging to the same typological category (type of vegetation, formation, etc.) as the vegetation of the plains; their typological difference is manifested at a rather low syntaxonomic level. These include tundra, taiga and deciduous forests, steppes, deserts. However, there is also specific vegetation in the mountains, usually in the highlands, which has no analogue on the plains: nival, alpine, etc.

In the north of the European part of Russia, these are the East Scandinavian group (81) with mountain lichen tundras, birch redwoods and mountain taiga forests (Khibiny, Lovozero, etc.) and the East European low mountains (82) nival-high Arctic-arctotundra 2. In the south of Russia, this is the northern macroslope of the Caucasus with a well-defined alpine belt system in its Caucasian version (84). The middle mountainous part of the Caucasus in the Novorossiysk - Gelendzhik area is characterized by two belts - shiblyakovoy and broad-leaved (83).

The Ural is not only an important geographic boundary, dividing Europe and Asia, but also a phytogeographic one, connecting the East European and West Siberian regional complexes. The Urals, like all large mountain ranges, have a significant impact on the vegetation of the adjacent plains. As a result, among the boreal vegetation, a kind of regional Ural complex, bearing the features of European and Siberian taiga forests, stands out. The Urals itself, with its huge meridional length, is divided on the map into 7 latitudinal segments (85-91).

In the east of Russia, the vegetation of the mountains dominates.

The Central Siberian system of low mountains and high plateaus forms, as it were, one continuous chain of vegetation types from mountain tundra in Taimyr (Byrranga (92) to mountainous middle taiga on the Yenisei Ridge (95). The South Siberian mountain system includes the Sayany, Kuznetsk Alatau and Altai (96-98) The vegetation of the South Siberian mountains is extremely diverse - from mountain tundra and alpine formations on the tops to forest-steppe and steppe on the slopes of the southern exposures.But the largest areas are occupied by mountain taiga forests, among which cedar and fir-cedar forests prevail. In the East Siberian and Chukotka mountain systems, from north to south, there is a kind of increase in the number of altitudinal belts from mountain tundra to mountain-northern taiga.Note that in the south of the Verkhoyansk ridge (East Siberian group) the role of dwarf pine becomes noticeable for the first time (102).

The dwarf cedar belt is especially prominent in the mountains of the Okhotsk-Beringian group (107-108).

The role of elfin wood continues to be significant in the mountains of the Baikal-Dzhugdzhur system, especially on the Dzhugdzhur ridge itself and the Stanovoye Upland. The southernmost in this group is the Borshchevochny Ridge, where the forest-steppe complex is well expressed, bringing it closer to the mountains of Mongolia.

The vegetation of the mountains of the Far East (116-121) and Kamchatka is under strong influence The Pacific Ocean. Common to all is the structure of the upper altitudinal zones of vegetation: mountain tundra, subalpine with thickets of dwarf cedar, alder in places, and the participation of stone birch. Taiga and broad-leaved belts are specific.

Vegetation of swamps and floodplains

Swamp vegetation plays a huge role in the structure of the tundra and taiga, often determining this structure, for example, in Western Siberia, in the northeast of European Russia, in Eastern Fennoscandia. Bogs are specific ecosystems, the vegetation of which is controlled primarily by the amount and trophicity of water and is characterized by a poor floristic composition, heterogeneity and complexity of constitution. To the north of the tundra region there are polygonal bogs, to the south there are hilly bogs. The distribution of ridge-hollow grass-sphagnum-hypnum bogs (aapa) is associated with the south of the tundra region and the taiga. In the taiga area, sphagnum bogs achieve optimal development. It should be noted the asymmetry in the distribution of bog vegetation in the East European and West Siberian plains. So the northern border of the vegetation of hilly bogs in Europe almost coincides with the northern border of the northern taiga, and in Western Siberia they are still widespread in the northern taiga, that is, the boundaries of the raised bogs in Siberia are shifted to the south. Polygonal swamps, widespread in the north of the Asian part of Russia. In the Eastern European (Malozemelskaya) tundra, the western border of their distribution is the Neruta River.

The importance of river floodplain vegetation is also great and varied. Many large rivers are large botanical and geographical boundaries, for example, the Volga, Don, Onega, Yenisei, river floodplains are a kind of corridors connecting vegetation of different latitudinal categories. The floodplains are characterized by natural heterogeneity and dynamism of the vegetation cover, due to the erosion-accumulative activity of rivers. A distinctive feature of the vegetation of the floodplains of the tundra region is the absence of a forest. For boreal floodplains, the development of dark coniferous forests at high levels is characteristic, and in the floodplains of the subtaiga, broad-leaved and steppe regions, the development of broad-leaved (in the European part of Russia) and other deciduous species, in places pine forests. In the floodplains of the southern part of the steppe and desert regions, forests grow only in the riverbed part. In the estuarine parts of the southern rivers, meadows and reed thickets develop, and in the northern rivers, meadows, swamps, and grass marshes.

It is necessary to preserve and restore the unique diversity of the country's vegetation - the source of life on Earth.

Our country is primarily a land of plains. But the mountain ranges - the Caucasus, the Carpathians, the Ural Mountains, the Siberian and Central Asian mountain ranges - frame it from the south, not the east. The Caucasus, the Carpathians and the Urals are so popular that everyone is familiar, if not from personal impressions, then at least from literary works... An indelible impression is made by the forests covering the slopes of the mountain ranges of Siberia: Altai, Sayan, Yablonovy ridge and the mountains surrounding Lake Baikal. In Siberia, the name “taiga” was stuck behind the forest, which in the language of some Siberian peoples means “mountains covered with forest”.

Powerful conifers - spruce, pine, fir, cedar and larch often predominate in the taiga, while deciduous trees occupy an insignificant place; usually it is birch or aspen. Depending on the predominance of a particular tree species, the appearance of Taiga also changes. The forests, dominated by spruce and fir, are shady, densely converging branches almost do not let the sun's rays through, even on a hot day they are cool, darkness and silence reign. The complete opposite of the gloomy spruce taiga is the larch forest. Huge trees stand there at a considerable distance from each other, resembling an artificial planting in a park. A large number of flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants grow under their shade.

Due to the vertical zonation, the vegetation of the mountains is very diverse. But medicinal plants are collected in the mountains relatively little, partly due to insufficient knowledge of the mountain flora, partly due to the difficulty of organizing industrial procurement in mountainous conditions. Therefore, especially important mountain medicinal plants are introduced into cultivation. Of the mountainous countries, the largest number of medicinal plants is in the Caucasus.

Here, in the valley forests, the trees are entwined with vines, among which the pine tree, which gives the cardiac glycoside, is valued. In the foothills of the Black Sea coast, there are thickets of a new medicinal plant - Voronov's snowdrop. Higher in the mountains, in the forest zone, poisonous medicinal plants grow: Caucasian hellebore, foxglove species, male fern, in beech forests - belladonna and scopolia. In the shady mountain gorges, rhomboid and flat-leaved rosewoods are widespread, which reach the upper border of the forest; in the subalpine meadows, there are thickets of the splendid colchicum and Lobel's hellebore.

The Carpathians are rich in belladonna, scopolia, some species close to the Caucasian ones: white hellebore, colchicum, red hellebore; sometimes there is a large-flowered foxglove (foxgloves are discussed in the section on cultivated plants). Some mountain plants, on the other hand, have a limited distribution; so, yellow gentian is found within Russian Federation only in the alpine meadows of the Carpathians and therefore introduced into culture. There also grows arnica mountain, which is only occasionally found in the neighboring plains. Badan grows only in the mountain taiga of Altai, Sayan and Transbaikalia. There, in the subalpine zone, the maral root grows, which has an even narrower range. Only in Central Asia on the rocky slopes of high mountains is horsetail ephedra found. In the mountains, you can find many more promising unexplored plants.

The nature of the mountains at all times amazed humanity with its beauty. It is an amazing and wonderful world in every way. The relief has been created for many billions of years and during this time it has acquired bizarre and mesmerizing forms. What do the mountains conceal in themselves? What kind of plants and animals are there? You will find answers to these and other questions in the article.

Features of the nature of mountains

The mountain climate is unique and it is he who influences the weather of the entire planet, both seasonal and daily. On the heights, a special interaction of the earth with air and rivers begins. Water, condensing and originating in the mountains, descends in thousands of streams down the slopes. Thanks to this movement, the largest rivers are formed. Clouds and fogs can often be observed at higher elevations. Sometimes these phenomena cannot be distinguished from each other.

The higher, the more rarefied the air, and the lower the temperature. And where there is cold, there is permafrost. Even the mountains in Africa are covered with snow and glaciers at their highest points. But on the higher elevations the air is the cleanest and freshest. The amount of precipitation, the strength of the wind and the radiation of the sun increase with height. You can even burn your eyes from ultraviolet radiation in the mountains.

The variety of vegetation, which replaces each other as the height increases, is no less striking.

Altitude belts of mountains

When climbing in the mountains, climatic conditions change: the temperature and air pressure decrease, and solar radiation increases. This phenomenon is called high-altitude zoning (or zoning). And each such area has its own special landscape.

Desert-steppe belt. This landscape area is located at the foot of the mountains. A dry climate prevails here, so you can only find steppes and deserts. People often use this belt for economic purposes.

Mountain-forest zone. This is a belt with a very humid climate. The nature here is simply amazing: and the fresh air beckons to go for a walk.

Mountain meadow belt. It is a sparse forest alternating with subalpine meadows. This area is home to lightened trees, low shrubs and tall grasses.

Alpine belt. It is an area of ​​high altitude that sits above the forests. Here you can find only shrubs, which are replaced by stone talus.

Mountain tundra zone. It is characterized by cool, short summers and severe, long winters. But this does not mean that vegetation is scarce here. This area is home to various types of shrubs, mosses and lichens.

Nival belt. This is the highest point, an area of ​​eternal snow and glaciers. Despite the rather harsh climatic conditions, there are certain types of lichens, algae and even some insects, rodents and birds.

Name and Amazing on the Planet

Huangshan and Denxia are colored mountains in China. They are colored yellow and pink. Beautiful lighting effects can often be observed.

Mount Roraima in South America is always eye-catching. It is interesting in that the beds of numerous rivers are covered with quartz crystals of all kinds of colors.

Grand Canyon is a whole complex of valleys, ravines, gorges, caves and waterfalls. Due to the multicolor nature of the rock layers, as well as the play of light and shadow, the mountain changes its shades every time.

In Africa Dragon mountains are beautiful landscapes with canyons, valleys, cliffs and waterfalls. The name of the mountains has a mystical origin. Its tops are always hidden by fog, but earlier it was believed that this dragon was releasing clouds of smoke.

Altai are mountains that Russia can be proud of. They are truly beautiful, especially in the autumn-winter period, when the waters become deeply blue.

Hanging Rock is a mountain in Australia, better known as the Hanging Rock. It rises one hundred meters above the surrounding relief. This gives the impression that the mountain is hanging in the air.

Dangerous natural phenomena

The dangers lurking at every step are the peculiarities of the nature of the mountains. This is worth remembering when planning to conquer the peaks.

Rockfalls are most common in the mountains. Even the collapse of one boulder can cause an avalanche of boulders.

Mudflows are a mixture of water, loose soil, sand, stones and tree debris. This phenomenon begins suddenly and destroys everything in its path.

Icefalls are a beautiful, but no less dangerous sight. The frozen boulders never stop and almost reach the foot of the mountains.

Dangerous insects in the mountains

The nature of the mountains is dangerous not only for its formidable natural phenomena, but also for insects, which are often found on the heights.

Perhaps the most common is ixodid ticks. They are dangerous with the disease they carry - encephalitis, as a result of which one can even remain disabled. Ticks are found along trails and are most active during spring and summer.

The Vespa hornet is the largest wasp, reaching five centimeters in size. These insects live in hollows and do not attack for no reason. The bite is painful, but poses a threat to attack by several hornets.

Scorpions most often inhabit the deserts, but they can also take a fancy to the mountains in Africa or Australia. Since they tolerate cold and temperature fluctuations well, they can be found not only at the foot, but also at the tops. It is known that the bite of some species is poisonous and even fatal to humans. But without a reason, these creatures do not attack. Scorpions hunt insects, which often come to light near campfires and tents. During the day they hide under stones, bark of stumps and in cracks in rocks.

Scolopendra is dangerous only in hot climates, especially in autumn. At this time, her bite becomes poisonous and can even lead to death. The female karakurt is also a threat. The males of these spiders are not at all poisonous.

Plants of the mountains

As already mentioned, the mountains are characterized by different climatic conditions. Therefore, at higher elevations, at a relatively short distance, you can observe the diversity of the plant community.

The nature of the mountains is harsh, but incredibly beautiful. Plants are forced to adapt to local conditions: thorny winds, brutal cold and bright light. Therefore, most often at a height you can find stunted representatives of the flora. They have a well-developed root system that helps to extract water and stay in the soil. Cushion-shaped vegetation is widespread; there are specimens in the form of rosettes that spread over the surface.

Meadows with alpine grasses give way to tundras, which are a bit reminiscent of the northern ones. Forests can be deciduous, coniferous and mixed. Here trees and shrubs also grow in the form of elfin trees. Most often, you can see larch, spruce, pine and fir. And only the highest ridges have no vegetation, but are covered with eternal glaciers and snow caps.

Healing mountain herbs

Medicinal plants of the mountains are very famous for their life-giving properties. People at all times climbed the hills to prepare useful herbs for future use. The whole variety of these species cannot be enumerated, but there are several of the most popular medicinal plants:

• hawthorn;
• Siberian barberry;
• thick-leaved berry;
• Valerian officinalis;
• spring gentian;
• bird highlander;
• Golden root;
• St. John's wort;
• fireweed;
• maral root;
• alpine poppy;
• dandelion;
• rose hip;
• edelweiss.

Mountain animals

A lot of animals live in the forest zone. With the onset of cold weather, they descend into the warmer lower zone. These are deer, wild boars and roe deer. But representatives of the fauna with a warm cover and long hair only sometimes descend from a height in search of food and warmth. These include ibex, rams, argali, tundra partridge, horned lark, snowcock and white hare.

The animals living in the mountains have adapted very well to the harsh conditions. They perfectly tolerate cold weather and move dexterously on rocks and steep slopes. These are not only but also snow leopards, foxes, wolves, hares, gophers and marmots.

Most of the birds come here in the summer, and only large predators live here permanently: golden eagles and eagles. Mountain reptiles also like to bask in the sun: lizards, snakes, salamanders and chameleons.

The nature of the mountains is so amazing and diverse that it certainly deserves attention from a person.