What is a natural area? Types and features. Natural zones of the temperate climate zone

Every schoolchild knows what a natural zone is, and those who have forgotten this concept can familiarize themselves with it by reading this article.

Natural areas: definition and types

The globe consists of various natural complexes localized in different climatic zones. Despite the diversity of landscapes, plants and animals, the individual territories of the Earth are similar to each other. They are combined into a separate group of natural zones. This is the largest gradation of the entire natural complex on the planet.

Natural areas and their features

Natural areas are located in accordance with temperature and humidity adapted to certain parameters. Basically, they occupy certain latitudes, but the specific area depends on the distance to the ocean and the surrounding terrain. The exception is mountainous natural zones, the characteristics of which are affected by the height of localization. Closer to the top, the temperature becomes lower, so the zonality is located in the direction from the equator to the poles. Below is a natural complex similar to that on the plain. The higher the mountain range, the more northern landscapes are localized at the top.

What is a natural area that is not on land? There is also a natural complex in the ocean, which is distinguished by its climatic location and depth. Its boundaries are vague, compared to land.

Natural areas of the tropics and subtropics, deserts

The forests of the equator and the tropics, located in Africa, South America and Asia, are characterized by high humidity and temperature. What is a natural zone in these areas of the globe? This is a complex of evergreen trees with a pronounced multi-layered structure (from small shrubs to giant trees). The accelerated circulation of substances leads to the formation of a super-fertile soil layer, which is quickly consumed. In the tropics and subtropics, a zone of dry forests is distinguished, where trees shed their foliage during the hot period.

The description of the natural zone includes savannahs - a transitional zone from tropical forests to northern landscapes with pronounced woodlands, constantly high temperatures and infrequent rainfall. This complex is characterized by a dry period, as a result, it occurs before water bodies.

The evergreen forests of the Mediterranean climate predominantly consist of plants with hard leaves. There are many coniferous trees, mild winters are typical. Most of the animal species of this natural area are on the verge of extinction.

Tundra and forest tundra occupy the territory of the subpolar and polar zones. The vegetation is stunted with a superficial root system due to the poverty of the soil, there are many mosses and lichens, mainly migratory birds live, most of the territory is covered with permafrost.

Animals in the Arctic desert mainly live in the water, during the warm period, which lasts several months, birds arrive. This is what the natural zone of the northern hemisphere is.

The warmth of the sun, clean air and water are the main criteria for life on Earth. Numerous climatic zones led to the division of the territory of all continents and water space into certain natural zones. Some of them, even separated by vast distances, are very similar, others are unique.

Natural areas of the world: what is it?

This definition should be understood as very large natural complexes (in other words, parts of the geographic belt of the Earth), which have similar, uniform climatic conditions. The main characteristic of natural zones is the flora and fauna that inhabits this territory. They are formed as a result of uneven distribution of moisture and heat on the planet.

Table "Natural zones of the world"

This characteristic of the natural zones of the world is only introductory, because you can talk about each of them for a very long time, all the information will not fit in the framework of one table.

Natural zones of the temperate climate zone

1. Taiga. Surpasses all other natural zones of the world in terms of the area occupied on land (27% of the territory of all forests on the planet). It is characterized by very low winter temperatures. Deciduous trees do not withstand them, so the taiga is dense coniferous forests (mainly pine, spruce, fir, larch). Very large areas of the taiga in Canada and Russia are occupied by permafrost.

2. Mixed forests. Characteristic to a greater extent for the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth. It is a kind of border between the taiga and the broad-leaved forest. They are more resistant to cold and long winters. Tree species: oak, maple, poplar, linden, as well as mountain ash, alder, birch, pine, spruce. As the table "Natural areas of the world" shows, the soils in the zone of mixed forests are gray, not very fertile, but still suitable for growing plants.

3. Broad-leaved forests. They are not adapted to harsh winters and are deciduous. They occupy most of Western Europe, the south of the Far East, the north of China and Japan. Suitable for them is a maritime or temperate continental climate with hot summers and fairly warm winters. As the table "Natural zones of the world" shows, the temperature in them does not fall below -8 ° C even in the cold season. The soil is fertile, rich in humus. The following types of trees are characteristic: ash, chestnut, oak, hornbeam, beech, maple, elm. The forests are very rich in mammals (ungulates, rodents, predators), birds, including commercial ones.

4. Temperate deserts and semi-deserts. Their main distinguishing feature is the almost complete absence of vegetation and sparse wildlife. There are a lot of natural areas of this nature, they are located mainly in the tropics. There are temperate deserts in Eurasia, and they are characterized by sharp temperature changes during the seasons. Animals are represented mainly by reptiles.

Arctic deserts and semi-deserts

They are huge areas of land covered with snow and ice. The map of natural zones of the world clearly shows that they are located on the territory of North America, Antarctica, Greenland and the northern tip of the Eurasian continent. In fact, these are lifeless places, and polar bears, walruses and seals, arctic foxes and lemmings, penguins (in Antarctica) live only along the coast. Where the land is free of ice, lichens and mosses can be seen.

Moist equatorial forests

Their second name is rainforests. They are located mainly in South America, as well as in Africa, Australia and the Greater Sunda Islands. The main condition for their formation is a constant and very high humidity (more than 2000 mm of precipitation per year) and a hot climate (20 ° C and above). They are very rich in vegetation, the forest consists of several tiers and is an impenetrable, dense jungle that has become home to more than 2/3 of all types of creatures that now live on our planet. These rainforests are superior to all other natural areas of the world. Trees remain evergreen, changing foliage gradually and partially. Surprisingly, the soils of moist forests contain little humus.

Natural zones of the equatorial and subtropical climatic zone

1. Variably humid forests, they differ from rainforests in that precipitation falls there only during the rainy season, and during the period of drought that follows it, the trees are forced to shed their leaves. The animal and plant world is also very diverse and rich in species.

2. Savannas and woodlands. They appear where moisture, as a rule, is no longer enough for the growth of variable-humid forests. Their development occurs in the depths of the mainland, where tropical and equatorial air masses dominate, and the rainy season lasts less than six months. They occupy a significant part of the territory of subequatorial Africa, the interior of South America, partly Hindustan and Australia. More detailed information about the location is reflected in the map of natural areas of the world (photo).

hardwood forests

This climate zone is considered the most suitable for human habitation. Hardwood and evergreen forests are located along sea and ocean coasts. Precipitation is not so abundant, but the leaves retain moisture due to a dense leathery shell (oaks, eucalyptus), which prevents them from falling off. In some trees and plants, they are modernized into thorns.

Steppes and forest-steppes

They are characterized by the almost complete absence of woody vegetation, this is due to the meager level of precipitation. But the soils are the most fertile (chernozems), and therefore are actively used by man for agriculture. Steppes occupy large areas in North America and Eurasia. The predominant number of inhabitants are reptiles, rodents and birds. Plants have adapted to the lack of moisture and most often manage to complete their life cycle in a short spring period, when the steppe is covered with a thick carpet of greenery.

Tundra and forest tundra

In this zone, the breath of the Arctic and Antarctic begins to be felt, the climate becomes more severe, and even coniferous trees cannot withstand it. Moisture is in excess, but there is no heat, which leads to swamping of very large areas. There are no trees at all in the tundra, the flora is mainly represented by mosses and lichens. It is believed that this is the most unstable and fragile ecosystem. Due to the active development of gas and oil fields, it is on the verge of an ecological disaster.

All natural areas of the world are very interesting, whether it is a desert that seems completely lifeless at first glance, boundless Arctic ice or thousand-year-old rain forests with boiling life inside.

This is the largest natural complex, the surface of the globe, with nature characteristic of the planet.
It is possible to distinguish a huge number of smaller natural complexes - territories with a similar nature, different from other complexes. Oceans, seas, continents, rivers, lakes, swamps and more are all separate.

natural areas- very large natural complexes with similar landscape, flora and fauna. Natural zones are formed as a result of the distribution of heat and moisture on the planet: high temperature and low humidity are characteristic of equatorial deserts, high temperature and high humidity - for equatorial and tropical forests, etc.
Natural zones are located predominantly sublatitudinally, but the relief, the distance from the ocean affect the location of the zones and their width. In the mountains there is also a change of natural zones, depending on the height, the change of zones occurs in the same order as the change of land zones from the equator to the poles. The lower natural zone corresponds to the natural zone of the territory, the upper one depends on the height of the mountain range.

Natural land areas

Equatorial and tropical forests

Deserts and semi-deserts

This zone is formed in the temperate zone with an average amount of precipitation, it is characterized by cold winters and moderately warm summers. In the forests, there are usually two or three tiers, the lower ones are formed by shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. Forest ungulates, predators, rodents, and insectivorous birds are common here. The soils in this zone are brown and gray forest.

This zone is formed in the northern hemisphere in the temperate zone with cold winters, short warm summers and a fairly large amount of precipitation. The forests are multi-tiered, there are many coniferous trees. The animal world is represented by many predators, including some that hibernate in the winter. Soils are poor in nutrients, podzolic.

This natural zone is located in the subpolar and polar zone, where it is quite low. The flora is represented mainly by low-growing plants with a poorly developed root system - mosses, lichens, shrubs, dwarf trees. Ungulates, small predators, many migratory birds live in the tundra. The soils in the tundra are peat-gley, a large territory is located in the zone.

Arctic deserts

Arctic deserts are found on islands close to the poles. From the vegetation there are mosses, lichens, or there is no vegetation at all. Animals found in this zone live most of the time in the water, birds arrive for several months.

Natural zones of the Earth or natural-residential zones are large areas of land with the same characteristics: topography, soil, climate, and a special flora and fauna. The formation of a natural zone depends on the ratio of the level of heat and moisture, that is, the climate changes - the natural zone also changes.

Types of natural areas of the world

Geographers distinguish the following natural areas:

• arctic desert
• Tundra
• Taiga
• mixed forest
• broadleaf forest
• Steppe
• desert
• Subtropics
• Tropics

Rice. 1. Mixed forest

In addition to the main zones, there are also transitional ones:

• forest tundra
• forest-steppe
• Semi-desert.

They have features of two neighboring main zones. This is the complete official list of zones.

Some experts also distinguish such natural areas as:

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• Savannas;
• Monsoon forests;
• equatorial forests;
• Highlands or zones of altitudinal zonation.

Zones of high zonation have their own internal division.

Here are areas such as:

• broad-leaved forest;
• Mixed forest;
• Taiga;
• Subalpine belt;
• Alpine belt;
• Tundra;
• Snow and glacier zone.

Location of zones- strictly vertically, from the foot to the top: the higher, the more severe the climatic conditions, the lower the temperature, the lower the humidity, the higher the pressure.

The names of natural areas are not accidental. They reflect their main characteristics. For example, the term "tundra" means "plain without forest". Indeed, only single dwarf trees can be found in the tundra, for example, polar willow or dwarf birch.

Zone placement

What are the patterns of placement of natural and climatic zones? It's simple - there is a strict movement of the belts along the latitudes from the North (North Pole) to the South (South Pole). Their placement corresponds to the uneven redistribution of solar energy on the Earth's surface.

You can observe the change of natural zones from the coast deep into the mainland, that is, the relief and distance from the ocean also affect the location of natural zones and their width.

There is also a correspondence of natural zones to climatic zones. So, within what climatic zones are the above natural zones located:

• equatorial belt- moist equatorial forests with areas of humid evergreen forest and rainforest where short dry periods are observed;
• subequatorial belt- monsoon forests and savannas with areas of oceanic rain forests and monsoon deciduous forests;
• tropical belt- savannas, tropical forests, tropical deserts and semi-deserts;

Rice. 2. Savannas

• subtropical belt- zone of evergreen forest, steppe and desert;
• Temperate zone- deserts, semi-deserts, a zone of steppes, a zone of mixed, deciduous and coniferous forests;
• subtropical belt- forest-tundra and tundra;
• arctic belt- tundra and arctic desert.

Based on this ratio, in the same natural area, differences in climate, soil type and landscape can be observed.

Geographical position

Knowing where this or that natural zone is located, one can also indicate its geographical position. For example, the zone of the Arctic desert occupies the territories of Antarctica, Greenland and the entire northern tip of Eurasia. The tundra occupies large areas of countries such as Russia, Canada, Alaska. The desert zone is located on such continents as South America, Africa, Australia and Eurasia.

Characteristics of the main natural zones of the planet

All natural areas differ in:

• relief and composition of the soil;
• climate;
• animal and plant world.

Neighboring zones may have similar characteristics, especially where there is a gradual transition from one to the other. Thus, the answer to the question of how to define a natural area is very simple: note the climate features, as well as the features of flora and fauna.

The largest natural zones: the forest zone and the taiga (trees grow everywhere except Antarctica). These two zones have both similar characteristics and differences that are inherent only in the taiga, mixed forest, broadleaf forest, monsoon and equatorial forests.

Typical characteristic for the forest zone:

• warm and hot summer;
• a large amount of precipitation (up to 1000 mm per year);
• the presence of full-flowing rivers, lakes and swamps;
• the predominance of woody vegetation;
• diversity of the animal world.

The largest in area are equatorial forests; they occupy 6% of all land. The greatest diversity of flora and fauna is characteristic of these forests. 4/5 of all plant species grow here and 1/2 of all land animal species live, and many species are unique.

Rice. 3. Equatorial forests

The role of natural areas

Each natural zone plays its own special role in the life of the planet. If we consider natural areas in order, we can give the following examples:

• arctic desert, despite the fact that it is almost completely an icy desert, it is a kind of “pantry” where multi-ton fresh water reserves are stored, and also, being the polar region of the planet, it plays a key role in shaping the climate;
• climate tundra keeps the soils of the natural zone in a frozen state for most of the year and this plays an important role in the carbon cycle of the planet;
• taiga, as well as equatorial forests are a kind of "lungs" of the Earth; they produce the oxygen necessary for the life of all living things and absorb carbon dioxide.

What is the main role of all natural zones? They store a large amount of natural resources that are necessary for human life and activities.

The global geographic community has long come up with both color conventions for natural areas and emblems that define them. So the arctic deserts are indicated by blue waves, and just deserts and semi-deserts are indicated by red. The taiga zone has a symbol in the form of a coniferous tree, and the zone of mixed forests in the form of coniferous and deciduous trees.

What have we learned?

We learned what a natural area is, defined this term and identified the main features of the concept. We learned what the main zones of the Earth are called, and what are the intermediate zones. We also found out the reasons for such zonality of the geographic envelope of the Earth. All this information will help prepare for a geography lesson in grade 5: write a report on the topic “Natural zones of the Earth”, prepare a message.

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