Eurasia - the largest continent of the world, has long remained the least studied.It is washed by the four oceans, on its territory there are all climatic zones.Nature of Eurasia is so diverse that it is easy to find a completely opposite in terms of area.The contrasts of the continent due to its topography, length and history of the formation.
Features geographic location
continent washed by the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.Nearest neighbors in Eurasia - Africa and North America.From the first mainland is connected via the Sinai Peninsula.North America and Eurasia shares the relatively small Bering Strait.
Continent is divided into two parts: Europe and Asia.The border between them passes along the eastern foot of the Ural Mountains, below the bed of the river Emba, the northern coast of the Caspian Sea, the Kuma-Manych Depression, along the lines of the meeting of the Black Sea and Azov Sea and, finally, the strait connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
coastline of the continent is quite indented.In the west, it highlights the Scandinavian peninsula, in the south - Arabia and the Indian subcontinent.East Coast also places much inferior to the waters of the Pacific Ocean.Here you can find and the whole chain of islands, Kamchatka, Greater Sunda and so on.North of the continent is cut less.Land, other more prominent in the ocean - it is the Taimyr Peninsula, Kola and Chukotka.
Nature of Eurasia as a whole is determined by the influence of the oceans only to a small extent.The reason for this considerable length of the continent and the peculiarities of its relief.The vast territory of Eurasia long remained poorly understood.A special contribution to the development of Asia have Peter Semenov-Tyan-Shan and Nikolay Przhevalsky.
Relief
Natural wonders of Eurasia - is, above all, its contrast.In many ways, it is due to the peculiarities of the relief of the continent.Eurasia above all the other continents.Here are the mountain ranges that exceed in size similar to the formation of Africa, Australia and the Americas.The most famous peak of the continent - Everest, or Chomolungma.It is the highest point in the world - 8848 meters above sea level.
Plains occupy vast areas of Eurasia.They are much more than on other continents.There is also the lowest point on the planet's land - is the Dead Sea basin.Difference between it and Everest is about 9 kilometers.
Formation
reason for this diversity of terrain surface lies in the history of its formation.At the heart of the Eurasian continent is lithospheric plate, consisting of plots of different ages.Most "old" areas - a South China, East European, Siberian and Sino-Korean platform.They are joined by later rock formations.With the formation of this continent to the platforms added fragments of the ancient Gondwana, which lie at the heart of today, the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula.
southern edge of the Eurasian plate - a zone of high seismic activity.There are processes of mountain formation.In the eastern part of the continent under the Eurasian plate left edge of the Pacific, formed as a result of deep depressions and extensive island arcs.Earthquakes and related disasters - not unusual for this area.
The so-called Ring of Fire Pacific Ocean and is located a large number of volcanoes.The highest of operating in the territory of Eurasia - is Kluchevskoy (4750 m above sea level).
considerable contribution to the formation of the continent has brought relief and glaciation in ancient times occupies the northern part of the continent.
plains and mountains, old and young
Nature Eurasia has undergone many changes.An extensive West Siberian Plain, which occupies one of the first places on the square in the world, was once the bottom of the sea.Today the distant past resembles a large number of sediment found here.
mountains of the mainland were not always as they appear today.The oldest of them - the Altai, Urals, Tien Shan, Scandinavian.The process of mountain building is finished for a long time, and time has left its mark on them.Arrays places badly damaged.In some areas, however, it occurred later raising.
«Young" ridges form two zones in the southern and eastern parts of the continent.In one of them, the Alpine-Himalayan include the Pamirs, the Caucasus, the Himalayas, the Alps, the Carpathians, the Pyrenees.Some of the belt ranges converge, forming a plateau.The largest of them - is the Pamirs, and the highest - Tibet.
second zone, the Pacific, stretching from Kamchatka to the Greater Sunda Islands.Many of the peaks located here, are extinct or active volcanoes.
Wealth continent
Features include the nature of Eurasia and unique in its diversity of minerals.On the territory of mainland extract necessary for the industry, but rare tungsten and tin.Their field is located in the eastern part of the continent.
in Eurasia and mined gold and diamonds, rubies and sapphires.The continent is rich in iron ore deposits.Here, a large number of extracted oil and gas.In reserves of these minerals Eurasia ahead of all the other continents.The largest deposits are located in Western Siberia, in the Arabian Peninsula.Natural gas and oil are also found at the bottom of the North Sea.
Eurasia famous and coal deposits.On the mainland are also mined bauxite, table and potassium salt.
Climate
Variety nature of Eurasia is largely due to the peculiarities of the climatic conditions.The continent is known for its rather abrupt change from north to south and from east to west.The main features of the nature of Eurasia on the Indochina Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent have developed under the influence of monsoon.Part of the year they blow from the ocean and generate a huge amount of rainfall.In winter monsoons come from the continent.In the summer of heated ground a zone of low pressure, and come here to the ocean equatorial air masses.Features
nature of Eurasia in the southern part of the continent are associated with high mountain ranges, stretching from west to east.It Alps, the Caucasus, the Himalayas.They do not let the cold air from the north and at the same time do not interfere penetrate deep into the humid masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean.
most humid place of the continent are those where the monsoon from the ocean to meet with ridges.Thus, a large amount of precipitation on the southern slopes of the Western Caucasus.One of the wettest places on the planet are located in India, at the foot of the South-Eastern Himalayas.Here is located the city of Cherrapunji.
Climatic zones
Nature Eurasia changes as we move from north to south and from west to east.Not the least role in this played by climatic zones.The northern and eastern part of the continent, including the Arctic islands - is dry and cool area.Here is dominated by low temperatures, the air is heated only a few in the summer.In winter, the Arctic Climate characterized by severe frosts.Next
different times less severe conditions.Eurasian subarctic climate prevails in a small area, a narrow strip stretching from west to east.It also includes the island of Iceland.
The most significant size on the mainland territory occupies the northern temperate zone.It is characterized by the gradual change of climate types as we move from west to east.Areas of Eurasia, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, known for its warm and mild winters with frequent rain and fog (the temperature does not drop below 0º), overcast cool summer (average 10-18º) and high humidity (here falls to 1000 mm of rainfall).These features are characteristic for the maritime temperate climate.
Away from the influence of the west coast of the Atlantic Ocean is weakening.It extends to the Ural Mountains temperate continental climate.This area is characterized by warm summers and cold winter.For the nature of the Ural Mountains of Eurasia is caused by continental temperate climate.In the Middle and Central Asia it is very hot in summer and cold in winter.The temperature can drop below 50º below zero.Due to the small amount of snow on the ground is frozen enough great depth.
Finally, in the east temperate zone monsoon climate becomes.Its main difference - a clear change of seasonal air mass.
from the Iberian Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean stretches subtropical climate.It is also divided into zones.For the subtropical Mediterranean climate is characterized by warm, rainy winters and hot dry summers.As we move to the east humidity decreases.The central areas of the belt - a continental subtropical climate: hot summers, cold winters, low rainfall.
East coast, bordering the Pacific Ocean, has high humidity.Air masses coming here in the summer, spilled endless rain, causing rivers spill.In winter, a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by temperatures up to 0º.
Variety nature Eurasia natural areas
Climatic zones of the continent provide the uniqueness of its variation of flora and fauna.Here are all natural areas, which are found on the planet.Many of them are strong enough to change a man.This is especially true area suitable for agriculture, and areas for a comfortable stay.Wildlife Eurasia, however, partially preserved, and today applied every effort so that after a long time, people knew what was originally the surrounding countryside.
wonders of nature on the continent of Eurasia are not uncommon.There are plants and animals not found anywhere else.The variety of nature to create a place of Eurasia smooth, and sometimes quite abrupt change of climatic zones.
harsh north
narrow strip of Eurasia stretching zone arctic desert, tundra and forest tundra.Because of the harsh climate there is little vegetation.Vast tracts of land all year round are "naked."From here you can meet the animals polar bears, reindeer, arctic foxes.For the terrain is characterized by a large number of birds arriving in the warm season.
Tundra is particularly dry and impressive depth of permafrost.These features lead to a characteristic of the area forming swamps.
Taiga
south tundra swamps are also found in large quantities.Taiga, located here, is divided into European and Asian.The first is dominated by conifers, such as pine and spruce.With them side by side birch, rowan and aspen.As we move to the south are more common maples and oaks and ash trees.Asian taiga - the birthplace of cedar and fir.It is found in large quantities and larch - pine tree shed their leaves in the winter.
taiga animals are also very diverse.It is home to brown bears, hare, squirrel, moose, wolves, foxes and lynx, as well as wood lemming, marten, polecat and weasel.Bird polyphony - the usual pattern for these places.Here you can find woodpeckers, ptarmigan, grouse, grouse, owls and grouse.
Forest Region
Nature and animals Eurasia vary with climatic conditions.On the vast territory of the East European Plain, the essential part of the continent of mixed forests.In moving to the west, they gradually come to naught and emerging on the Pacific coast.
in mixed forests conifers grow together, small-leaved and broad-leaved species.There is much less of wetlands, soil, sod-podzolic, well marked grassy cover.For broadleaf forests Atlantic Coastal zones are characterized by beech and oak.At the last hole on the east begins to dominate.Also here there are hornbeam, maple and linden.On the Pacific coast due to the monsoon climate and forest composition is very diverse.
fauna is represented here by wild boars, roe deer, deer, as well as virtually all the "residents" of the taiga.In the Alps and Carpathian brown bears are found.
modified zone
lie south steppe and steppe.Both zones is strong enough to change a man.The forest-steppe - is punctuated by patches of forest and grass vegetation.The steppe zone is mainly represented by cereals.Here, there are a large number of rodents, squirrels, voles, marmots.The natural vegetation of the area is preserved today only in the territory of nature reserves.
eastern part of the Gobi plateau - dry steppe zone.Here grow grass low, there are areas completely devoid of vegetation or saline.
devoid of vegetation
desert and semi-desert areas occupy a large part of the continent.They stretch from the Caspian lowland plains of Middle and Central Asia.The main features of the nature of Eurasia here - the almost complete absence of vegetation and the poor animals.Extremely low rainfall, dry air, clay and rocky soils do not contribute to the emergence in the field, even herbs.Pretty sparse vegetation is found in sandy deserts.Here, the "live" Artemisia, Astragalus, Haloxylon, Salsola.
Fauna deserts and meager.However, here you can find quite rare fauna such as wild Asiatic wild ass, Przewalski's horse.Distributed in this zone rodents, and camels.
subtropics
Warm winter with lots of rainfall and hot dry summer - good conditions for the sclerophyllous forests and scrub that stretched along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.Here there are the cork and holm oak, cypress, stone pine, wild olive.Nature of Eurasia and then has undergone many changes due to human activities.Forests in the Mediterranean today is almost completely cut down.They were replaced by small trees and shrubs.
somewhat different look subtropical southern China and the Japanese islands.Here grow monsoon forests, there are magnolias, palms, camellias, fig-trees, camphor laurel and bamboo.
on the inner part of the continent are located subtropical and tropical deserts and semi-deserts.This zone is characterized by an arid hot weather, low rainfall.The flora is represented in the same way as in the deserts of the temperate zone.In addition, there are acacia, oases grow date palms.Fauna few: Przewalski horse, Asiatic wild ass, jerboa, antelopes, jackals, hyenas, wild asses onager, gerbils.
close to the equator
Savannah Eurasia - a place where a large number of growing crops, as well as teak and sal trees, acacia trees.Large areas covered with variable-humid subequatorial forests.They are located on the coast of the Indian subcontinent and Indochina, in the downstream of the Brahmaputra and Ganges, and in the northern part of the Philippine Islands.Only a few trees growing here, shed their leaves in the dry season.
subequatorial forests in very diverse fauna.Here there are a variety of hoofed animals, monkeys, lions and tigers and wild elephants.
equatorial forests affect a variety of palms.Here they more than three hundred species common among them, and coconut.In this zone also many bamboo.
Climatic zones mountain
Features nature of Eurasia - and this is clearly noticeable change in the flora and fauna in the Alps and the Himalayas.These mountain ranges are the highest in Europe and Asia, respectively.Alpes maximum reaches 4807 meters (Mont Blanc).On the southern slopes of the lower zone is located high-rise waist.It stretches up to 800 meters and has the features of the Mediterranean climate.In the western part of the Alps located mostly mixed and beech forests.In the east, in the lower zone the climate is dry.Here grow pine and beech forests, interspersed with steppe meadows.The second zone extends to the level of 1800 meters. Here are located oak and beech forests, there are conifers.Next, sub-alpine belt (2300 m) is characterized by shrubs and meadow vegetation.Above there are basically only crustose lichens.
At the foot of the Eastern Himalayas are placed Terai, swampy areas.Where palm trees, bamboo, sal.
