1. Determine distinctive features geographical position of the European part of Russia. Rate it. Show on the map the main geographical features of the East European Plain - natural and economic; Largest cities.
The European part of Russia occupies the East European Plain. In the north, the East European Plain is washed by the cold waters of the Barents and White Seas, in the south - warm waters the Black and Azov Seas, in the southeast - by the waters of the world's largest Caspian lake. The western borders of the East European Plain are bordered by the coast Baltic Sea and go beyond the borders of our country. The Ural Mountains limit the plain from the east, and the Caucasus - partially from the south.
Geographical features - Bolshezemelskaya tundra, Valdai upland, Donetsk ridge, Malozemelskaya tundra, Oka-Don plain, Volga upland, Caspian lowland, Northern Uvaly, Smolensk-Moscow upland, Central Russian upland, Stavropol upland, Timan ridge.
The rivers Akhtuba, Belaya, Volga, Volkhov, Vychegda, Vyatka, Dnieper, Don, Zap. Dvina, Kama, Klyazma, Kuban, Kuma, Mezen, Moscow, Neva, Oka, Pechora, Svir, Sev. Dvina, Sukhona, Terek, YugOzera, Baskunchak, White, Vygozero, Ilmen, Caspian Sea, Ladoga, Manych-Gudilo, Onega, Pskov, Seliger, Chudskoye, Elton.
Large cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Ufa, Perm, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don.
Ancient Russian cities: Veliky Novgorod (859), Smolensk (862), Yaroslavl (1010), Vladimir (1108), Bryansk (1146), Tula (1146), Kostroma (1152), Tver (XII century), Kaluga (1371 ), Sergiev Posad (XIV century), Arkhangelsk (1584), Voronezh (1586).
2. What do you think, what features unite the East European Plain with a huge variety of its landscapes?
The East European Plain is united by a single tectonic foundation (the Russian Platform), the flat nature of the surface, and the distribution of a temperate climate, transitional from maritime to continental, over most of the territory.
3. What is the originality of the Russian Plain as a territory most inhabited by people? How has its appearance changed as a result of the interaction of nature and people?
home salient feature East European Plain - well-defined zoning in the distribution of its landscapes. On the coast of the Barents Sea, occupied by cold, heavily waterlogged plains, a narrow strip is located in the tundra zone, which is replaced by forest-tundra to the south. Harsh natural conditions do not allow farming in these landscapes. This is a zone of developed reindeer breeding and hunting and trade economy. In the areas of mining, where settlements and even small towns arose, industrial landscapes became the predominant landscapes. The northern strip of the plain is the least transformed by human activity.
AT middle lane A thousand years ago, the East European Plain was dominated by its typical forest landscapes - dark coniferous taiga, mixed, and then broad-leaved oak and linden forests. In the vast expanses of the plain, forests have now been cut down and forest landscapes have turned into forest fields - a combination of forests and fields. The floodplains of many northern rivers are home to the best grazing and hayfields in Russia. Forest areas are often represented by secondary forests, in which coniferous and broad-leaved species have been replaced by small-leaved species - birch and aspen.
The south of the plain is a boundless expanse of forest-steppes and steppes that go beyond the horizon with the most fertile chernozem soils and the most favorable climatic conditions for agriculture. Here is the main agricultural zone of the country with the most transformed landscapes and the main fund of arable land in Russia.
4. Do you think it played special role in the economic development and development of the Russian Plain, what is it - the historical center of the Russian state?
The role of the center of the Russian state definitely influenced the development and development of the Russian Plain. It is characterized by dense population, the greatest variety of types of economic activity, and a high degree of landscape transformation.
5. In the works of which Russian artists, composers, poets, the features of nature are especially clearly understood and conveyed Central Russia? Give examples.
In literature - K. Paustovsky "Meshcherskaya side", Rylenkov's poem "Everything is in a melting haze", E. Grieg "Morning", Turgenev I.S. "Notes of a hunter", Aksakov S.T. "Childhood of Bagrov-grandson", Prishvin M.M. - many stories, Sholokhov M.M. - stories, "Quiet Don", Pushkin A.S. many works, Tyutchev F.I. "Evening", "Noon", "Spring Waters".
In music - to G. Ibsen's drama "Peer Gynt", K. Bobescu, "Forest" from the suite "Forest Fairy Tale", "Where the Motherland Begins" (music by V. Basner, lyrics by Matusovsky).
Artists - I. N. Kramskoy, I. E. Repin, V. I. Surikov, V. G. Perov, V. M. Vasnetsov, I. I. Levitan, I. I. Shishkin.
The East European Plain is one of the largest on the planet. Its area exceeds 4 million km2. It is located on the continent of Eurasia (in the eastern part of Europe). On the northwestern side, its borders run along the Scandinavian mountain formations, in the southeast - along the Caucasian, in the southwest - along the Central European massifs (Sudet, etc.) There are more than 10 states on its territory, most of which is occupied by the Russian Federation . It is for this reason that this plain is also called Russian.
East European Plain: climate formation
In any geographic area, the climate is formed due to some factors. First of all, this is the geographical location, relief and neighboring regions with which a certain territory borders.
So, what exactly affects the climate of this plain? To begin with, it is worth highlighting the ocean areas: the Arctic and Atlantic. Due to their air masses, certain temperatures are established and the amount of precipitation is formed. The latter are unevenly distributed, but this is easily explained by the large territory of such an object as the East European Plain.
Mountains have no less impact than the oceans. along its entire length is not the same: in the southern zone it is much larger than in the northern one. Throughout the year, it changes, depending on the change of seasons (more in summer than in winter due to mountain snow peaks). In July, the most high level radiation.
Considering that the plain is located in high and temperate latitudes, it mainly dominates on its territory. It prevails mainly in the eastern part.
Atlantic masses
The air masses of the Atlantic dominate the East European Plain throughout the year. In the winter season, they bring rainfall and warm weather, and in the summer, the air is saturated with coolness. Atlantic winds, moving from west to east, change somewhat. Being over earth's surface, they become warmer in summer with little moisture, and cold in winter with little rainfall. Exactly at cold period The East European Plain, whose climate is directly dependent on the oceans, is influenced by Atlantic cyclones. During this season, their number can reach 12. Moving eastward, they can change dramatically, and this, in turn, brings warming or cooling.
And when Atlantic cyclones come from the southwest, the southern part of the Russian Plain is influenced by subtropical air masses, as a result of which a thaw occurs and in winter the temperature can rise to +5 ... 7 ° С.
Arctic air masses
When the East European Plain is under the influence of the north Atlantic and southwestern Arctic cyclones, the climate here changes significantly, even in the southern part. In its territory comes a sharp cooling. Arctic Air Forces tend to move in a north-west direction. Due to anticyclones, which lead to cooling, the snow lies for a long time, the weather is set to be cloudy with low temperatures. As a rule, they are distributed in the southeastern part of the plain.
winter season
Considering how the East European Plain is located, the climate in the winter season differs in different areas. In this regard, the following temperature statistics are observed:
- Northern regions - winter is not very cold, in January, thermometers show an average of -4 ° C.
- In the western zones of the Russian Federation, the weather conditions are somewhat more severe. The average temperature in January reaches -10 °С.
- The northeastern parts are the coldest. Here on thermometers you can see -20 ° C and more.
- In the southern zones of Russia, there is a temperature deviation in the southeast direction. The average is a revenge of -5 ° C.
Temperature regime of the summer season
AT summer season under the influence of solar radiation is the East European Plain. The climate at this time depends, directly, on this factor. Here, oceanic air masses are no longer of such importance, and the temperature is distributed in accordance with geographic latitude.
So, let's look at the changes by region:
Precipitation
As mentioned above, most of the East European Plain has a temperate continental climate. And it is characterized by a certain amount of precipitation, which is 600-800 mm / year. Their loss depends on several factors. For example, movement air masses from the western parts, the presence of cyclones, the location of the polar and arctic front. The highest humidity index is observed between the Valdai and Smolensk-Moscow Uplands. During the year, about 800 mm of precipitation falls in the west, and a little less in the east - no more than 700 mm.
In addition, the relief of this territory has a great influence. On the hills located in western parts, precipitation falls 200 millimeters more than in the lowlands. The rainy season in the southern zones falls on the first month of summer (June), and in the middle lane, as a rule, it is July.
In winter, snow falls in this region and a stable cover is formed. Altitude level may vary depending on natural areas East European Plain. For example, in the tundra, the snow thickness reaches 600-700 mm. Here he lies for about seven months. And in the forest zone and forest-steppe, the snow cover reaches a height of up to 500 mm and, as a rule, covers the ground for no more than two months.
Most of the moisture falls on the northern zone of the plain, and evaporation is less. In the middle band, these indicators are compared. As for the southern part, here moisture is much less than evaporation, for this reason drought is often observed in this area.
types and brief characteristics
The natural zones of the East European Plain are quite different. This is explained extremely simply - by the large size of this area. There are 7 zones on its territory. Let's take a look at them.
East European Plain and West Siberian Plain: Comparison
The Russian and West Siberian Plains have a number of common features. For example, their geographical location. They are both located on the Eurasian continent. They are influenced by the Arctic Ocean. The territory of both plains has such natural zones as forest, steppe and forest-steppe. There are no deserts and semi-deserts in the West Siberian Plain. The prevailing Arctic air masses have almost the same effect on both geographic areas. They also border on mountains, which directly affect the formation of the climate.
East European Plain and West Siberian Plain also have differences. These include the fact that although they are on the same mainland, they are located in different parts: the first is in Europe, the second is in Asia. They also differ in relief - the West Siberian is considered one of the lowest, so some of its sections are swampy. If we take the territory of these plains as a whole, then in the latter the flora is somewhat poorer than that of the East European.
East European (Russian) Plain- one of the largest plains in the world. Among all the plains of our Motherland, only it goes to two oceans. Russia is located in the central and eastern parts of the plain. It extends from the coast of the Baltic Sea to Ural mountains, from the Barents and White Seas - to the Azov and Caspian.
Features of the relief of the Russian Plain
The East European Uplifted Plain consists of uplands with heights of 200-300 m above sea level and lowlands along which large rivers flow. The average height of the plain is 170 m, and the highest - 479 m - on Bugulma-Belebeev Upland in the Ural part. Maximum mark Timan Ridge somewhat smaller (471 m).
According to the features of the orographic pattern within the East European Plain, three bands are clearly distinguished: central, northern and southern. A strip of alternating large uplands and lowlands passes through the central part of the plain: Central Russian, Volga, Bugulma-Belebeevskaya uplands and Common Syrt divided Oka-Don lowland and the Low Trans-Volga region, along which the Don and Volga rivers flow, carrying their waters to the south.
To the north of this strip, low plains predominate. Large rivers flow through this territory - Onega, Northern Dvina, Pechora with numerous high-water tributaries.
The southern part of the East European Plain is occupied by lowlands, of which only the Caspian is located on the territory of Russia.
The climate of the Russian Plain
The climate of the East European Plain is influenced by its position in temperate and high latitudes, as well as neighboring territories (Western Europe and North Asia) and the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The climate is temperate thermal regime and medium humidity with increasing continentality to the south and east. The average monthly temperature in January varies from - 8° in the west to - 11°C in the east, the July temperature ranges from 18° to 20°C from northwest to southeast.
All year round the East European Plain is dominated by western air mass transport. Atlantic air brings coolness and rainfall in summer, and warmth and rainfall in winter.
Differences in the climate of the East European Plain affect the nature of the vegetation and the presence of a fairly clearly expressed soil-vegetation zonality. Soddy-podzolic soils are replaced to the south by more fertile ones - a variety of chernozems. The natural and climatic conditions are favorable for active economic activity and population living.
1. Geographic location.
2. Geological structure and relief.
3. Climate.
4. Internal waters.
5. Soils, flora and fauna.
6. Natural zones and their anthropogenic changes.
Geographical position
The East European Plain is one of the largest plains in the world. The plain goes to the waters of two oceans and extends from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains and from the Barents and White Seas to the Azov, Black and Caspian. The plain lies on the ancient East European platform, its climate is predominantly temperate continental and natural zonality is clearly expressed on the plain.
Geological structure and relief
The East European Plain has a typical platform relief, which is predetermined by platform tectonics. At its base lie the Russian plate with a Precambrian basement and in the south the northern margin of the Scythian plate with a Paleozoic basement. At the same time, the boundary between the plates in the relief is not expressed. On the uneven surface Precambrian basement are strata of the Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks. Their power is not the same and is due to the unevenness of the foundation. These include syneclises (areas of deep basement) - Moscow, Pechersk, Caspian Sea and anticlises (protrusions of the foundation) - Voronezh, Volga-Ural, as well as aulacogenes (deep tectonic ditches, on the site of which syneclises arose) and the Baikal ledge - Timan. In general, the plain consists of uplands with heights of 200-300m and lowlands. The average height of the Russian Plain is 170 m, and the highest, almost 480 m, is on the Bugulma-Belebeev Upland in the Ural part. In the north of the plain there are the Northern Ridges, the Valdai and Smolensk-Moscow stratal uplands, the Timan Ridge (Baikal folding). In the center are the uplands: Central Russian, Volga (layered, stepped), Bugulma-Belebeevskaya, General Syrt and lowlands: Oka-Don and Zavolzhskaya (stratified). In the south lies the accumulative Caspian lowland. Glaciation also influenced the formation of the relief of the plain. There are three glaciations: Okskoe, Dnieper with the Moscow stage, Valdai. Glaciers and fluvioglacial waters have created moraine landforms and outwash plains. In the periglacial (preglacial) zone, cryogenic forms were formed (due to permafrost processes). The southern boundary of the maximum Dnieper glaciation crossed the Central Russian Upland in the Tula region, then descended along the Don valley to the mouth of the Khopra and Medveditsa rivers, crossed the Volga Upland, the Volga near the mouth of the Sura, then the upper reaches of the Vyatka and Kama and the Urals in the region of 60˚N. Iron ore deposits (IMA) are concentrated in the foundation of the platform. The sedimentary cover is associated with reserves of coal (eastern part of the Donbass, Pechersk and Moscow basins), oil and gas (Ural-Volga and Timan-Pechersk basins), oil shale (north-western and Middle Volga), building materials(wide distribution), bauxites (Kola Peninsula), phosphorites (in a number of areas), salts (Caspian region).
Climate
The climate of the plain is influenced by the geographical position, the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Solar radiation changes dramatically with the seasons. In winter, more than 60% of the radiation is reflected by the snow cover. Throughout the year, the western transport dominates over the Russian Plain. The Atlantic air transforms as it moves east. During the cold period, many cyclones come to the plain from the Atlantic. In winter, they bring not only precipitation, but also warming. Mediterranean cyclones are especially warm when the temperature rises to +5˚ +7˚C. After cyclones from the North Atlantic, cold Arctic air penetrates into their rear, causing sharp cooling to the very south. Anticyclones in winter provide frosty clear weather. During the warm period, cyclones mix to the north; the northwest of the plain is especially susceptible to their influence. Cyclones bring rain and coolness in summer. Hot and dry air is formed in the cores of the spur of the Azores High, which often leads to droughts in the southeast of the plain. January isotherms in the northern half of the Russian Plain run submeridian from -4˚C in the Kaliningrad region to -20˚C in the northeast of the plain. In the southern part, the isotherms deviate to the southeast, amounting to -5˚C in the lower reaches of the Volga. In summer, the isotherms run sublatitudinally: +8˚C in the north, +20˚C along the Voronezh-Cheboksary line, and +24˚C in the south of the Caspian Sea. The distribution of precipitation depends on western transport and cyclonic activity. Especially a lot of them move in the 55˚-60˚N band, this is the most humid part of the Russian Plain (Valdai and Smolensk-Moscow Uplands): the annual precipitation here is from 800 mm in the west to 600 mm in the east. Moreover, on the western slopes of the uplands, precipitation is 100-200 mm more than on the lowlands lying behind them. The maximum precipitation occurs in July (in the south in June). In winter, a snow cover forms. In the northeast of the plain, its height reaches 60-70 cm and it occurs up to 220 days a year (more than 7 months). In the south, the height of the snow cover is 10-20 cm, and the duration of occurrence is up to 2 months. The moisture coefficient varies from 0.3 in the Caspian lowland to 1.4 in the Pechersk lowland. In the north, moisture is excessive, in the strip of the upper reaches of the Dniester, Don and the mouth of the Kama - sufficient and k≈1, in the south, moisture is insufficient. In the north of the plain, the climate is subarctic (the coast of the Northern Arctic Ocean), in the rest of the territory the climate is temperate with varying degrees of continentality. At the same time, continentality increases towards the southeast.
Inland waters
Surface waters are closely related to climate, topography, and geology. The direction of rivers (river flow) is predetermined by orography and geostructures. The runoff from the Russian Plain occurs in the basins of the Arctic, Atlantic Oceans and in the Caspian basin. The main watershed runs along the Northern Ridges, Valdai, Central Russian and Volga Uplands. The largest is the Volga River (it is the largest in Europe), its length is more than 3530 km, and the basin area is 1360 thousand sq. km. The source lies on the Valdai Upland. After the confluence of the Selizharovka River (from Lake Seliger), the valley expands noticeably. From the mouth of the Oka to Volgograd, the Volga flows with sharply asymmetric slopes. On the Caspian lowland, branches of the Akhtuba separate from the Volga and a wide strip of floodplain is formed. The Volga Delta begins 170 km from the Caspian coast. The main food of the Volga is snow, so the flood is observed from the beginning of April to the end of May. The height of the water rise is 5-10 m. 9 reserves have been created on the territory of the Volga basin. The Don has a length of 1870 km, the basin area is 422 thousand sq. km. Source from a ravine on the Central Russian Upland. It flows into the Taganrog Bay of the Sea of Azov. Food is mixed: 60% snow, more than 30% groundwater and almost 10% rain. Pechora has a length of 1810 km, begins in the Northern Urals and flows into the Barents Sea. The area of the basin is 322 thousand km2. The nature of the current in the upper reaches is mountainous, the channel is rapids. In the middle and low reaches, the river flows through the moraine lowland and forms a wide floodplain, and a sandy delta at the mouth. Food is mixed: up to 55% falls on melted snow water, 25% on rainwater and 20% on groundwater. The Northern Dvina is about 750 km long and is formed from the confluence of the Sukhona, Yuga and Vychegda rivers. It flows into the Dvina Bay. The area of the basin is almost 360 thousand sq. km. The floodplain is wide. At the confluence of the river forms a delta. The food is mixed. Lakes on the Russian Plain differ primarily in the origin of lake basins: 1) moraine lakes are distributed in the north of the plain in areas of glacial accumulation; 2) karst - in the basins of the rivers of the Northern Dvina and the upper Volga; 3) thermokarst - in the extreme northeast, in the permafrost zone; 4) floodplain (oxbow lakes) - in the floodplains of large and medium-sized rivers; 5) estuary lakes - in the Caspian lowland. Groundwater is distributed throughout the Russian Plain. There are three artesian basins of the first order: Central Russian, East Russian and Caspian. Within their limits there are artesian basins of the second order: Moscow, Volga-Kama, Cis-Ural, etc. With depth chemical composition water and water temperature changes. fresh water occur at depths of no more than 250 m. Mineralization and temperature increase with depth. At a depth of 2-3 km, the water temperature can reach 70˚C.
Soils, flora and fauna
Soils, like vegetation on the Russian Plain, have a zonal distribution pattern. In the north of the plain there are tundra coarse-humus gley soils, there are peat-gley soils, etc. To the south, podzolic soils lie under the forests. In the northern taiga, they are gley-podzolic, in the middle taiga they are typical podzolic, and in the southern taiga they are soddy-podzolic soils, which are also characteristic of mixed forests. Under deciduous forests and forest-steppe, gray forest soils are formed. In the steppes, the soils are chernozem (podzolized, typical, etc.). On the Caspian lowland, the soils are chestnut and brown desert, there are solonetzes and solonchaks.
The vegetation of the Russian Plain differs from the vegetation of the cover of other major regions our country. Common on the Russian Plain broadleaf forests and only here are semi-deserts. In general, the set of vegetation is very diverse from tundra to desert. In the tundra, mosses and lichens predominate; to the south, the number of dwarf birch and willows. Spruce with an admixture of birch dominates in the forest-tundra. In the taiga, spruce dominates, to the east with an admixture of fir, and on the poorest soils - pine. Mixed forests include coniferous-broad-leaved species, in broad-leaved forests, where they have been preserved, oak and linden dominate. These same rocks are also characteristic of the forest-steppe. The steppe occupies here largest area in Russia, where cereals predominate. The semi-desert is represented by grass-wormwood and wormwood-saltwort communities.
In the animal world of the Russian Plain, western and eastern species are found. Forest animals are most widely represented and, to a lesser extent, steppe animals. Western species gravitate towards mixed and broad-leaved forests (marten, black polecat, dormouse, mole, and some others). Oriental Views gravitate towards the taiga and forest-tundra (chipmunk, wolverine, Ob lemming, etc.). Rodents (ground squirrels, marmots, voles, etc.) dominate in the steppes and semi-deserts; saiga penetrates from the Asian steppes.
natural areas
Natural zones on the East European Plain are especially pronounced. From north to south, they replace each other: tundra, forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppe, steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. Tundra occupies the coast of the Barents Sea, covers the entire Kanin Peninsula and further to the east, to the Polar Urals. The European tundra is warmer and wetter than the Asian one, the climate is subarctic with maritime features. The average temperature in January varies from -10˚C near the Kanin Peninsula to -20˚C near the Yugorsky Peninsula. In summer around +5˚C. Precipitation 600-500 mm. The permafrost is thin, there are many swamps. On the coast, typical tundras are common on tundra-gley soils, with a predominance of mosses and lichens, in addition, arctic bluegrass, pike, alpine cornflower, and sedges grow here; from shrubs - wild rosemary, dryad (partridge grass), blueberries, cranberries. To the south, shrubs of dwarf birches and willows appear. The forest tundra extends south of the tundra in a narrow strip of 30-40 km. The forests here are sparse, the height is not more than 5-8 m, spruce dominates with an admixture of birch, sometimes larch. Low places are occupied by swamps, thickets of small willows or birch dwarf birch. There are many crowberries, blueberries, cranberries, blueberries, mosses and various taiga herbs. High-stemmed forests of spruce with an admixture of mountain ash (here it blooms on July 5) and bird cherry (blooms by June 30) penetrate along the river valleys. Of the animals of these zones, reindeer, arctic fox, polar wolf, lemming, hare, ermine, wolverine are typical. There are many birds in summer: eiders, geese, ducks, swans, snow bunting, white-tailed eagle, gyrfalcon, peregrine falcon; many blood-sucking insects. Rivers and lakes are rich in fish: salmon, whitefish, pike, burbot, perch, char, etc.
The taiga extends to the south of the forest-tundra, its southern border runs along the line St. Petersburg - Yaroslavl - Nizhny Novgorod - Kazan. In the west and in the center, the taiga merges with mixed forests, and in the east with forest-steppe. The climate of the European taiga is temperate continental. Precipitation on the plains is about 600 mm, on the hills up to 800 mm. Humidification is excessive. The growing season lasts from 2 months in the north to almost 4 months in the south of the zone. The depth of soil freezing is from 120 cm in the north to 30-60 cm in the south. The soils are podzolic, in the north there are peat-gley zones. There are many rivers, lakes, swamps in the taiga. The European taiga is characterized by dark coniferous taiga of European and Siberian spruce. To the east, fir is added, closer to the Urals, cedar and larch. Pine forests form on swamps and sands. On clearings and burnt areas - birch and aspen, along the river valleys alder, willow. Of the animals, elk, reindeer, brown bear, wolverine, wolf, lynx, fox, white hare, squirrel, mink, otter, chipmunk are characteristic. There are many birds: capercaillie, hazel grouse, owls, ptarmigan, snipes, woodcocks, lapwings, geese, ducks, etc. in swamps and reservoirs. Woodpeckers are widespread, especially three-toed and black, bullfinch, waxwing, smur, kuksha, tits, crossbills, kinglets and others. From reptiles and amphibians - vipers, lizards, newts, toads. In summer there are many blood-sucking insects. Mixed, and to the south broad-leaved forests are located in the western part of the plain between the taiga and the forest-steppe. The climate is temperate continental, but, unlike the taiga, it is milder and warmer. Winters are noticeably shorter and summers are longer. The soils are soddy-podzolic and gray forest. Many rivers begin here: the Volga, the Dnieper, the Western Dvina, and others. There are many lakes, there are swamps and meadows. The boundary between the forests is weakly expressed. With advancement to the east and north, the role of spruce and even fir in mixed forests increases, while the role of broad-leaved species decreases. There is linden and oak. To the southwest, maple, elm, ash appear, and conifers disappear. Pine forests are found only on poor soils. In these forests, undergrowth is well developed (hazel, honeysuckle, euonymus, etc.) and grass cover of goutweed, hoof, chickweed, some grasses, and where conifers grow, there are oxalis, maynik, ferns, mosses, etc. In connection with the economic development of these forests, the animal world has sharply decreased. There are elk, wild boar, red deer and roe deer have become very rare, bison only in reserves. The bear and lynx have practically disappeared. The fox, squirrel, dormice, forest polecat, beaver, badger, hedgehog, moles are still common; preserved marten, mink, forest cat, muskrat; muskrat, raccoon dog, American mink are acclimatized. From reptiles and amphibians - snake, viper, lizards, frogs, toads. Many birds, both sedentary and migratory. Woodpeckers, tits, nuthatch, blackbirds, jays, owls are characteristic, finches, warblers, flycatchers, warblers, buntings, waterfowl arrive in the summer. Black grouse, partridges, golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, etc. have become rare. Compared to the taiga, the number of invertebrates in the soil increases significantly. The forest-steppe zone extends south from the forests and reaches the line Voronezh - Saratov - Samara. The climate is temperate continental with an increase in the degree of continentality to the east, which affects the more depleted floristic composition in the east of the zone. Winter temperatures range from -5˚C in the west to -15˚C in the east. In the same direction, the annual amount of precipitation decreases. Summer is very warm everywhere +20˚+22˚C. Moisture coefficient in the forest-steppe is about 1. Sometimes, especially in last years, occur in the summer drought. The relief of the zone is characterized by erosional dissection, which creates a certain diversity of the soil cover. Most typical gray forest soils on loess-like loams. Leached chernozems are developed along the river terraces. The further south, the more leached and podzolized chernozems, and gray forest soils disappear. Little natural vegetation has been preserved. Forests here are found only in small islands, mainly oak forests, where you can find maple, elm, ash. Pine forests have been preserved on poor soils. Meadow forbs have been preserved only on lands that are not convenient for plowing. Animal world consists of forest and steppe fauna, but in recent times in connection with human economic activity, the steppe fauna began to predominate. The steppe zone extends from the southern border of the forest-steppe to the Kumo-Manych depression and the Caspian lowland in the south. The climate is temperate continental, but with a significant degree of continentality. Summer is hot, average temperatures are +22˚+23˚C. Winter temperatures vary from -4˚C in the Azov steppes to -15˚C in the Trans-Volga steppes. Annual rainfall decreases from 500 mm in the west to 400 mm in the east. The moisture coefficient is less than 1, droughts and hot winds are frequent in summer. The northern steppes are less warm, but more humid than the southern ones. Therefore, the northern steppes are forb-feather grass on chernozem soils. The southern steppes are dry on chestnut soils. They are characterized by salinity. In the floodplains of large rivers (Don and others), floodplain forests of poplar, willow, alder, oak, elm, etc. grow. Among animals, rodents predominate: ground squirrels, shrews, hamsters, field mice etc. Of the predators - ferrets, foxes, weasels. Birds include larks, steppe eagles, harriers, corncrakes, falcons, bustards, etc. There are snakes and lizards. Most of the northern steppes are now plowed up. The semi-desert and desert zone within Russia is located in the southwestern part of the Caspian lowland. This zone adjoins the coast of the Caspian Sea and merges with the deserts of Kazakhstan. The climate is continental temperate. Rainfall is about 300 mm. Winter temperatures are negative -5˚-10˚C. The snow cover is thin, but lies up to 60 days. Soils freeze up to 80 cm. Summer is hot and long, average temperatures are +23˚+25˚C. The Volga flows through the territory of the zone, forming a vast delta. There are many lakes, but almost all of them are salty. The soils are light chestnut, sometimes brown desert. The humus content does not exceed 1%. Solonchaks and salt licks are widespread. The vegetation cover is dominated by white and black wormwood, fescue, thin-legged, xerophytic feather grasses; to the south, the number of saltworts increases, a tamarisk shrub appears; tulips, buttercups, rhubarb bloom in spring. In the floodplain of the Volga, there are willow, white poplar, sedge, oak, aspen, etc. The animal world is represented mainly by rodents: jerboas, ground squirrels, gerbils, many reptiles - snakes and lizards. Of the predators, the steppe polecat, the corsac fox, and the weasel are typical. There are many birds in the Volga Delta, especially during the migration seasons. All natural zones of the Russian Plain have experienced anthropogenic impacts. Particularly heavily modified by man are the zones of forest-steppes and steppes, as well as mixed and broad-leaved forests.