Taiga - is the largest natural area.It takes about 27% of the total forest area of the Earth.An aerial view of boreal forest - a vast pine forests.She is beautiful and at the same time frightening.Eurasian boreal forest is considered the largest continuous natural area of the planet.Relief taiga - it's basically a small amount of lowland hills.
General characteristics of natural area
On the mainland Eurasia taiga begins on the Scandinavian Peninsula, continues across the continent and reaches the Pacific Ocean.In North America, this natural area stretches from east to west and passes through the territory of such countries as the United States and Canada.
Besides all this, the taiga - the most northern forest zone.Therefore, it is dominated by coniferous trees - spruce and pine, as deciduous can not tolerate such low temperatures.This natural area is called the "green lungs of the Earth" because coniferous forests produce large amounts of oxygen.
Relief taiga - glacial type, due to the fact that its territory was held glacier.
climate and soil of the taiga
Climate natural area in the west of the sea.Here mild winter with an average temperature of 10 degrees centigrade and relatively warm summer, at this time, the average temperature is 10 degrees.In the eastern part of the taiga sharply continental climate, the temperature in winter can reach -40 degrees.Summers are relatively warm, but very short.
precipitation is from 200 mm to 1000 mm per year.Under these conditions, an amount of precipitation can not evaporate because of the harsh climate, so many in the forest swamps and lakes.
Soil taiga zone - podzolic, sod-podzolic.This is due to the fact that the breakdown products of mineral and organic substances under high humidity conditions are still in the lower soil layer.When moving to the north is dominated by permafrost.
Flora and fauna of the taiga zone
light coniferous taiga
prevail: larch and pine.
Larch can withstand temperatures down to -70 degrees.Therefore, this breed prevails in the northeastern part in a sharply continental climate.
Dark coniferous taiga
prevail spruce, cedar, fir.
Siberian spruce - the prevailing view.The forest of spruce has no undergrowth.Under the trees grow only shade-loving plants.
Fir grows in the western and eastern parts of the taiga in milder climates.
Siberian stone pine, as well as spruce, - the main tree species of dark coniferous forest.It can reach the age of 800 years.
Typical representatives of fauna of the taiga are the brown bear, wolf, hare, elk, squirrel, lynx, grouse, owls, jays and others. Particular attention should be given to such species as the Amur tiger, musk deer, wolverine.
Features relief taiga
Relief taiga almost completely flat, as most of the boreal forest is in the Russian Plain.East European Plain was covered by glaciers, which greatly affected the relief of the boreal forest.Below we consider in more detail the relief of the taiga in Russia.
Kola Peninsula and Karelia
where common metamorphic and massive crystalline rocks.In the North Karelia reach a height of 650 m. Pronounced glacial landforms Peninsula: mutton foreheads, eskers, drumlins, dome-shaped hills.
Scientists suggest that during the retreat of the glacier Gulf, White Sea and Lake Onega were one.
Timan ridge reaches a height of 325 m in the upper Vychegda.The maximum height of the Kola Peninsula - a Khibiny and Lovozero Tundra (1300 m and 1120 m, respectively).Coniferous forests grow up to 350 meters.
West Siberian Lowland
Features relief taiga in Russia lies in the fact that here is dominated by lowlands.In the West Siberian Plain can be found mainly in horizontal deposits of quaternary and tertiary periods, only in the north, in the area of the rivers Ob and Sos'va find Lower Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous deposits.
assumed that in Western Siberia were two glaciation.
From the right bank of the Yenisei River reaches Yenisei Ridge, which folded Lower Paleozoic and Precambrian rocks.Boules reaches a height of 1132 m.
Central Siberian Plateau
plateau extends to Aldana, limited Taimyr tundra in the north.Its altitude ranges from 300 m to 500 m. Within the Central Siberian Plateau are Tunguska mountains Vilyuisk Mountain - erosional origin.The Cambrian and Silurian in this territory is the sea, which is confirmed by marine sediments at the moment.
Relief taiga are not very diverse, but the permeability in this zone is very difficult due to the large number of wetlands, small lakes and thickets.
Commercial use taiga
Besides quality wood and furs, in the taiga are mined minerals.Geologists each year opens new fields.
being developed ore and coal as well as oil, diamonds, gold, and apatite.For improved communication with processing of mining areas to build railways.This is the only way to transport the most economical minerals from their place of production in large processing centers.So it was built Baikal-Amur Mainline, which runs through the south of Eastern Siberia.
Through the taiga zone routed the White Sea-Baltic Canal, which connects the White Sea with the Baltic.Thus, the tankers can carry loads from St. Petersburg to other cities located on the shores of the Barents and White seas.
Opportunities for Livestock and Agriculture
Relief taiga in Russia for the most part low-lying.In the forest there are many floodplain and upland meadows, which are ideal for grazing cattle.Good sod soils make it possible to grow crops: rye, barley and flax, potatoes, fodder crops.
But do not abuse the wealth of this natural area.This can lead to irreparable environmental problems.It is worth remembering that the forests of the taiga - a green lungs of the Earth.
