Alpine meadow - is one of the most spectacular sights on earth.In the spring, it is a colorful oriental rug covered the plants with bright colors.It is this vertical mountain belt end of the flora.Next come the rocky soil, eternal snows and glaciers that never melt.Fertile soil where there is little, so the plant life is not observed.Alpine meadows are like the final touch of nature, they are the largest number of plants as if someone tried to put on a small plot of land all the flora, which had no place in the mountains.
Climatic conditions Alpine belt
climate in the highlands is quite severe.Meadows are located at an altitude of about 2000 m above sea level, so the drop in temperature during the day is more than noticeable.In the afternoon heat to +45 ° C and night frosts are possible.In such circumstances it is very difficult to survive, but in the evolution of plants have adapted to this climate.Alpine meadow blooms in early spring, as soon as the snow melts.By the way, the snow cover in this zone is very important because in the winter it protects the plants from the sun and strong winds, and in the spring provides moisture.
main species of flora
alpine meadows special.It does not meet the plants of large size, because they simply do not have time to grow.Undersized flora attract the attention of pollinators bright large flowers and strong fragrance.Alpine meadows in Abkhazia from early spring to late summer resemble beautiful carpet, lined with colorful flowers.There just was not there shades - there are both delicate and rich, bright and dark colors.Though the plants in the meadows and stunted, but they are incredibly beautiful.Moreover, they are strong, as adapted to the harsh environmental conditions.The representatives of flora from other zones simply could not survive in the highlands, at constant temperature fluctuations.Galloping summer, windy and cold winter, exposure to the sun could not leave their mark on the appearance of the local vegetation.
Plants alpine meadows of the Caucasus
very high in the mountains, where there are practically no fertile soil, you can find incredibly beautiful flora.For example, edelweiss, gentian - these flowers survive in the harshest conditions.In the highlands you can find very small tree in the world - a dwarf willow.Because of small stature she is not afraid of even the strongest wind.Plants grow even alpine meadows between the rocks.A striking example is the young, covering mountain slopes and survive in the most extreme conditions.A vivid flora is the saxifrage.It is like a moss carpet covers the whole huge area.Saxifrage In the spring blooms in red, white and pink large flowers.
alpine meadows there are all kinds of stonecrop, blossoming yellow, white, pink and red flowers.Rhododendrons - an exquisite ornament highlands.In late spring they delight the eye with large flowers of various colors, plants, though accustomed to the harsh conditions, but prefer to be located on a well-lit areas.Alpine meadows Caucasus covered cranberries, blueberry, crowberry, juniper.There is also a cereal plant growing in the high slopes ovsets fluffy, reed fescue, bentgrass ploskolistnaya, bluegrass dlinnolisty.Alpine meadows always painted in any color of grass alternate, repainting the hillsides in a variety of shades.
Bright representative of small mammals highlands
When it comes to fauna of the alpine meadows, the mind immediately raises the image of a mountain goat, chamois and of course, the alpine marmot.In the highlands is not much wildlife, but some individuals are found in fairly large quantities.Alpine meadow is home to the eponymous marmot.This large rodent lives in open places which reach the very top, covered with snow caps.This day animals, for them it is very interesting to watch with the help of binoculars.Alpine marmots fun to chew the grass, which adheres to the front paws.They are all day busy with something: eat, clean skin, bask in the sun, play.Should one marmot publish shrill whistle, which means the danger of his colleagues immediately will hide in their burrows.Rodents are more than six months in hibernation.All the time they spend in burrows up to three meters deep.
Large mammals
Animals alpine meadows presented gazelles, tours, mountain goats and other ungulates.Most often in the highlands you can meet chamois.She jumps over a huge chasm, climbs to the top of the steep cliffs.Serna like floating over the tops, it is easy to find even the smallest gap for her to cling to, and held in a barely noticeable ledge.In winter, the animals down from the mountains down to them being driven from cold and hunger.Serna winter in coniferous forests, ranking roe deer and red deer, which in the cold season come down even lower in the river valleys and deciduous forests.The hardest thing is given wintering ungulates, because hunger, inclement weather, avalanche permanently reduce their numbers.
Birds alpine meadows
In the highlands lives are not many birds - there were only those who managed to adapt to the harsh conditions.The higher the mountain, the more common lemon reel, this bird lives in open areas, where there are only lonely larch and spruce.It inhabits the only representative of fauna near the Alps.Even among the inhabitants of the Alpine meadows are colorful and blue rock thrushes.They are very beautiful, mostly inhabit the land, settle closer to the mountain slopes.Alpine meadow and sheltered snow finch, Alpine jackdaws, chough, Alpine Swift.The most representative of these places is considered feathered eagle he soars above the tops of the mountains, describing powerful wings circles.
Alpine meadow - a paradise on earth, striking the imagination of the person who saw it for the first time.Despite the harsh climate, there grows a huge amount of very beautiful plants, live animals and birds.
