Each natural area of Ukraine has both similarities with others, and obvious differences.In one country, there are mixed forests and forest-steppe, and mountains, and steppe.Consider each zone individually.
zone of mixed forests
occupies the northern part of the country.Mostly flat surface.This zone is called the Ukrainian Polissia.This is a land of rivers, marshes and lakes.There are artificial reservoirs, the largest of them - the Kiev reservoir.Spring is here quite cool and wet summers, warm (high rising sun warms the earth is good), autumn rainy, winter is not too cold, snow, thaws.Due to the significant amount of rainfall the river is full (polovodnye) and possible flooding in spring, and long.This natural area of Ukraine is quite wet.Defrost and rain water slowly seeping into the soil, forming swamps.There are many lakes and rivers.They feed numerous streams resulting from release of groundwater to the surface.
vegetation located in tiers: the top - the trees, the middle - bushes (undergrowth), bottom - grass and mushrooms.
The northern part is occupied mainly pines and oaks.To the south, in addition to the trees, there are birch, hornbeam, aspen, linden, alder, maple.Underwood make barberry, blackberry, wild rose, raspberry, hazel.In marshy areas are often found blueberries and cranberries.
early spring "open" snowdrop, Anemone, Corydalis, Proleski.Behind them there are sleep-grass, violets, lilies of the valley, tussock.By the summer the forests are only shade-tolerant, and moisture-loving plants (mosses, ferns, wild ginger).Among the plants growing on the edges and clearings meet willow-herb, valerian, chamomile, St. John's wort, yarrow, tansy.Deciduous fall leaves and dying plants form the so-called forest floor, retains moisture.Over time, it rot, becoming fertile ground.Fauna up as the herbivorous animals (rabbits, mice, deer, roe deer, elk, bison) and prey (hedgehogs, squirrels, badgers, wild pigs).In ponds with pleasure settle muskrats, beavers, otters.Lakes rivers are rich in fish.Related to water newts, snakes and frogs.At the edges and in the forests of live lizards and snakes.Many insects hiding in the bark, leaf litter and plants are a delicacy for birds, most of which is returned in the spring from warm (orioles, nightingales, flycatchers, cuckoos, starlings).On the bolts and forest lakes appear swans, white storks, gray cranes, sandpipers.Among the permanent residents - large woodpeckers, gray owl, grouse, hazel grouse, black grouse.For the conservation and enhancement of nature reserves established (Rivne, Poleski and others.).It is somewhat different from that described another natural area of Ukraine.
forest-steppe
Away from the mixed forests to the south there are treeless areas - steppe.This natural area is called the forest-steppe of Ukraine.It is moderately cold winters and warm summers.Rainfall less.Ground - Black.Natural conditions are favorable enough for the majority of cultivated and wild plants.Mostly deciduous forests, partly mixed.Animals are the same as in the mixed forest zone.Significantly different from that considered here is another natural area of Ukraine - steppe.It takes most of the country.
Steppe
south of the two seas (Black, Azov) and the forest-steppe zone stretches from the steppe area.Its surface is mainly flat, with exposed beams, ravines, hills.The sun rises higher here, so this natural zone of Ukraine (steppe) has a more hot climates.Summers are longer and much warmer.Rainfall less.Autumn is warm, the first half of it dry, the second - rainy.The winter with little snow, short, cold.Due to the sharp rise in temperature moisture that soaks the ground, it evaporates quickly.Frequent droughts preceded by drought.Cold winter winds are blowing snow and cause storms.They destroy the fertile soil.
across the steppe flowing major rivers.The Danube Delta is rich in fresh water lakes and the Black Sea coast - salty estuaries.On the Dnieper built several reservoirs (stages).
plants are mostly herbaceous.Shrubs trees are found in ravines and near the shores of water bodies - only there it enough moisture.
early spring steppe bright and colorful.The soil during this time is still enough moisture, and many plants feel very comfortable.Here and hyacinths and irises and Adonis, and crocuses and poppies and tulips and peonies.Plants produce seeds before the onset of the peak heat.Some of the "reset" of the ground (it dies).Roots continue to accumulate moisture and nutrients: next year they re-sprout and bloom.
soon appear more hardy, undemanding plants: fescue, wormwood, feather grass.In some hairy narrow leaves, others - long roots, allows you to transfer the heat and lack of water.By mid-summer plants begin to dry up.Wind, catching them and rolling over the steppe, shakes out the seeds.This natural area in Ukraine in late summer seems dull and uninviting.The animal world is poorer than in the forest.Many animals have a characteristic light yellow color, so that they are less visible among a faded, yellowed grass.Most of them live in burrows.It is mostly rodents: mice, jerboa, gophers, marmots, hamsters.Nora dig badgers, foxes, ferrets.These homes are also the birthplace of offspring, and a refuge, and a place for hibernation.The holes dug small animals settle the sand lizard, viper, steppe turtle.
Thanks to its ability to move quickly escape from numerous enemies steppe rare birds and little bustards bustards.
Early spring is heard singing lark.Of the votes cast, and quail.You can see rare steppe cranes.Hovering in the sky falcon, eagle, kestrel, harrier.They prey on smaller birds and mice.
In steppes home to many insects: grasshoppers, butterflies, grasshoppers, beetles.They eat various parts of plants, as well as being food for amphibians, reptiles, birds.
the sake of conservation of this zone set up such reserves as the Ukrainian steppe, Askania Nova, Lugansk.
Carpathian Mountains
considered average height.Formed by mountain ranges.Between them lies a very picturesque valley.It drops a lot of rain: snow - winter rains - in warm weather.That is why often floods.Take in the mountains originated many streams and rivers.Among them - the Dniester and Prut with major tributaries.Found in the small Carpathian Mountains and at the same time quite deep crystal clear lakes.
have slopes spread deciduous forests of oak, hornbeam, linden, maple, beech.Above - cooler, there are conifers (European spruce, fir) forest is already mixed.Underwood form wild rose, hazel, blackberry, raspberry.Edges and clearings covered herbaceous plants, many - drugs.There are a lot of mushrooms (honey agaric, white, aspen, butter, brown cap boletus, etc.).
Animals in the Carpathians are the same as in the plains.This deer, hares, foxes, wolves, martens, otters, wild boars, badgers, squirrels.The birds - grouse, grouse, spotted woodpecker, black and crested tit, a lot of migratory birds singing.
There are animals that occur mainly in the Carpathian Mountains: brown bears, wild cats, lynx.Among the birds - black stork, golden eagles, eagles, black woodpeckers, serpent eagle.Only in these mountains live squirrel Carpathian, snow vole, wood grouse Carpathian.
To preserve this natural area have set up reserves (Gorgany, Carpathian).
