The southernmost part of Eurasia. Mainland Eurasia brief description for children

which are within its boundaries. The generalized name of the continent was first used in the first half of the 19th century. V. famous geographer Alexander Humboldt.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001.

EURASIA

the largest continent, area - 53.44 million km2. It occupies a third of all land. Traditionally divided into parts of the world: Europe and Asia. The border is drawn along the east. at the foot of the Urals, r. Embe, north shore of the Caspian Sea, Kuma-Manych depression north of the Caucasus, along the Azov, Black and Marmara seas, the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. Lies in the north. hemispheres. The continent is crossed by the Tropic and the Arctic Circle. Washed by all oceans. The banks are heavily indented. Geological structure and relief. Unlike other continents, Europe consists of several platforms connected by folded mobile belts. The main cores are the European, Siberian, and Chinese platforms. They were joined by fragments of Gondwana - the Arabian Peninsula and Hindustan. Within the platforms, flat terrain is common, sometimes disturbed by later uplifts (Aldan Plateau, ridges of China). Most mountain systems are confined to mobile folded belts, the main of which is the Alpine-Himalayan (Alps, Caucasus, Himalayas). Mountain systems of different ages. Along the east The coast of the continent stretches the second folded belt - the Pacific, where the process of mountain building is not completed. Tectonic movements (volcanism and earthquakes) continue in fold belts. Movements of the earth's crust occur along faults in ancient folded belts, where rejuvenated mountains are located (Tien Shan, Karakorum, Kun-Lun, Altai). Characterized by earthquakes, extinct volcanoes, and many thermal and mineral springs. The most powerful exogenous factor that shaped the modern relief of Eurasia was ancient glaciation. In addition, sowing part of the continent experienced long-term marine transgressions, which caused the appearance of a thick layer of sedimentary rocks on ancient platforms. The complex structure of the earth's crust determines the exceptional diversity of minerals. They are confined to the outcrops of crystalline foundations. ore deposits, in intermountain troughs, on sea shelves and ancient plains there are oil and gas reserves, ancient destroyed mountains are famous for gems (Ural, Deccan), rivers deposited gold-bearing sands, there are diamond deposits. Climate. All types of climate have formed on the continent; in almost every zone there are areas, the originality of which is determined by their position relative to the sea. Arctic and subarctic belt. The 3rd region has a maritime climate with warm, mild winters and cool, rainy summers; the Eastern region has a continental climate with very cold winters. Temperate zone. Zap. coast of Europe - maritime climate influenced by Western. winds and the warm Gulf Stream. With distance from the ocean, the amplitude of winter and summer increases; precipitation in summer is greater than in winter. This area is moderate continental climate, it is typical for the Center and East. Europe. Beyond the Urals, an area of ​​sharply continental climate is formed with very cold and dry winters and humid, hot summers. To the east The mainland coast has a monsoon climate with warm, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Subtropical zone. All year 1; are positive. Three regions are distinguished: 3. - Mediterranean (dry tropical air dominates in summer, sea air dominates in winter temperate latitudes); in the region of the Western Asian Highlands the climate is subtropical continental (with very dry and hot summers and relatively cold winters (possible 1; below 0°); in the east there is a monsoon climate region with a summer maximum precipitation. The tropical zone is expressed only on the Arabian Peninsula , in Mesopotamia, in the southern Iranian plateau and in the lower Indus basin. Tropical air masses, very dry and hot, dominate throughout the year. Replaced by a subequivalent belt with a monsoon climate on the Hindustan Peninsula, Indochina, and in most of the Indo-Gangetic Lowland and the very south of China.The equivalent belt occupies the Malacca Peninsula and the islands of the Malay Archipelago. Inland waters. The continent is unique in terms of the area of ​​internal drainage basins, the number of large rivers, and the diversity of their nutrition and regimes. To the North basin The Arctic Ocean includes the largest rivers in Russia: the North. Dvina, Pechora, Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Kolyma and others. The Atlantic Ocean basin includes the Western and Southern rivers. and partly East. Europe (Seine, Vistula, Odra, Elbe, Rhine, Danube, Dniester). Rivers Pacific Ocean begin in the mountains (Amur, Anadyr). The sources of the Yellow River, Yangtze and Mekong are in Tibet. The Indian Ocean basin includes the following rivers: Indus, Brahmalutra and Ganges begin in the Himalayas, Tigris and Euphrates in the Armenian Plateau. In the center, regions of Europe lie the regions of internal drainage (Volga, Amu Darya and Syr Darya). There are many lakes of different origins - the largest Caspian and Aral seas, the deepest Baikal, Ladoga, glacial lakes in northern Europe, picturesque mountain lakes. Natural areas. They stretch in latitudinal strips, and due to the characteristics of the relief and climate, sometimes do not have a continuous distribution. The largest areas are occupied by the temperate and subtropical zones. Arctic deserts, tundras and forest-tundras stretch in a narrow strip along the Arctic coast of Europe and Asia, gradually expanding as they move to the east. and have much in common with American ones. Lichen and shrub tundras dominate, inhabited by lemmings, arctic foxes, reindeer, wolves. Numerous in summer waterfowl. Coniferous forests occupy vast areas. Typical podzolic soils are formed; heat and moisture are sufficient for the growth of woody plants. In Europe, spruce and pine predominate, in Asia - cedar and larch. The zone in Siberia has a greater extent to the south than in Europe. The taiga is characterized by fur-bearing animals (sable, weasel, ermine, fox). There are ungulates (elk, red deer, musk deer); predators (bear, wolf, wolverine); birds such as wood grouse, hazel grouse, crossbill, and nutcrackers also gravitate to the taiga. Mixed forests grow on soddy-podzolic soils, do not form a continuous strip, and are common only in Europe and the East. Asia. Broadleaf forests grow on brown and gray forest soils. In the West In Europe, beech trees with hornbeam and elm predominate; to the east they are replaced by oak trees with maples and linden. In the herbaceous layer there are saplings, ferns, lily of the valley, and lungwort. In Eastern Eurasia, these forests are preserved only in the mountains. Here, in addition to the usual species, southern species (bamboo, vines) and many relict forms are added. Animal world mixed and deciduous forests close to the taiga (hares, foxes, squirrels, red deer, roe deer, wild boars). In V. monkeys and a tiger are added. In the center and regions of the mainland, forests to the south are replaced by forest-steppe and steppe with a predominance of herbaceous vegetation on chernozem soils. In the European steppes, almost no natural fauna has been preserved, since they are plowed everywhere. Only gophers, marmots, predator birds. To the east parts of the mainland, true steppes give way to dry steppes (Gobi) with sparse vegetation on chestnut soils. To the Center, and Wed. Asia is home to semi-deserts and deserts. The soils are brown and gray-brown. in some places highly saline. Animals are represented by rodents (jerboas, gerbils), reptiles (lizards, snakes - efa, viper, cobra, arrow, turtles, monitor lizards). All are characterized by a period of winter dormancy; in summer, activity is predominantly nocturnal and twilight. In some places, kulans, goitered gazelles, and saigas have been preserved. There are also predators - caracal, wolf, fox, jackal. Tropical deserts Mesopotamia and Arabia are similar to Africa and have common types plants and animals. In the subtropical zone, which does not have a continuous distribution, there are zones of subtropical forests. European Mediterranean forests are peculiar, giving their name to the type of vegetation. Fertile brown soils are common and plants have a fuzzy or waxy coating to protect them from summer heat. Natural vegetation (oaks, myrtle, strawberry tree, wild olive, laurel) has been preserved in small areas, since these areas have long been developed. There are few wild animals, most of them live only in protected areas (wild goats and sheep, reptiles, birds of prey, rodents). In the east of the continent there is a monsoon climate with a summer maximum of precipitation; very rich tropical forests have been preserved on red soils and yellow soils with magnolias, camphor laurel, camellias, and bamboo. They are mixed with deciduous and coniferous trees: oak, hornbeam, cypresses, pines, and many vines. Wild animals preserved in the mountains (black himalayan bear, bamboo bear panda, macaque monkeys, leopards; birds - pheasants, parrots). Wet eq. forests occupy the islands and peninsulas of South. and South-East. Asia. Some endemic animal species live here (orangutans, some reptiles), especially palm trees and bamboos. Huge regions of the continent are occupied by areas of high altitudinal zones, confined to the highest mountain systems. In high-mountain conditions, a unique climate with large amplitudes of t is formed, which leads to the formation of high-mountain deserts with low-growing cushion-shaped plants and burrowing animals. Yaks live in Tibet, there are several species of antelope, mountain sheep, special types martens, foxes, bears, rodents are common. In foreign Europe there are seven large natural complexes - North, Middle, South. Europe; Yugo-Zal." Central, East and Yuzh. Asia. Population. The most ancient civilizations on Earth developed in Europe. There are 3.5 billion people living on the mainland, the population density in some places reaches 700-1000 people/km2, but there are also uninhabited areas. The population is racially diverse. There are more than 60 states on the continent with different systems of organization and levels of development.

Concise geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008.

Eurasia

the largest continent on Earth, historically divided into two parts of the world - Europe And Asia, which do not have a clearly expressed nature among themselves. borders. The name of the continent was proposed in the 19th century. A. Humboldt. It is washed in the west by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north - north. Arctic, in the east - the Pacific, in the south - the Indian Ocean. From west to east it stretches for 16 thousand km, from north to south for 8 thousand km. Area approx. 53.4 million km², which is over 1/3 of the entire landmass.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Eurasia

the largest continent on Earth; comprises Europe And Asia, which do not have a clearly defined natural boundary. The division arose historically; the generalized name of the continent was first used in the 1st half. 19th century famous German geographer Alexander Humboldt. It is washed in the west by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north - north. The Arctic, in the east - the Pacific, in the south - the Indian oceans and their marginal seas. From west to east it extends for 16 thousand km, from north to south – for 8 thousand km. Pl. OK. 53.4 million km², which is St. 1 /3 of the earth's land surface; pl. islands approx. 2.75 million km². Eurasia is based on ancient platforms: East European with the Baltic and Ukrainian crystalline shields, Sino-Korean, South China, Indian. By eastern and south On the outskirts of the continent there are two mobile geosynclinal belts: East Asian and Alpine-Himalayan. For many districts Middle, Central, East. Asia and the Malay Archipelago are characterized by high seismicity. In Iceland, the Mediterranean, Kamchatka, the Vostochny Islands. and South-East. Asia has many active volcanoes.
2 /3 of its area. Basic mountain systems: Himalayas, Scandinavian mountains, Alps, Caucasus, Hindu Kush, Karakorum, Pamir-Alai, Tien Shan, Kunlun, Ural, Altai, Southern mountains. and Northeast. Siberia; highlands: Western Asian, Tibetan, Sayan-Tuva; plateaus: Deccan, Central Siberian. The most significant lowlands: East European (Russian), West Siberian, Turanian, Great Chinese, Indo-Gangetic. On the Arctic islands, Iceland and in the highlands of many mountain systems there is extensive modern glaciation of a total area. 228.8 thousand km².
The climate varies widely - from arctic in the north to equatorial in the south. In the outlying regions, the oceanic climate predominates (monsoon in the south and east), and in the interior regions it is continental and sharply continental. On the north-east continent (in the region of Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon) - the pole of cold North. hemispheres; The Arabian Peninsula is one of the hottest places on Earth. The contrasts in hydration are enormous: in the center. parts of the mainland there is a vast area of ​​deserts, where less than 200 mm of precipitation falls per year, and in the East. India (the town of Cherrapunji) has the highest amount of precipitation on Earth - up to 12 thousand mm. Basic rivers: Yangtze, Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Amur, Yellow River, Mekong, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Indus, Tigris, Euphrates, Volga, Danube. In Eurasia, there is the most extensive area of ​​internal drainage on the globe, which includes bass. Caspian and Aral seas, lakes Balkhash and Lop Nor. The deepest lake in the world is located here. Baikal.
All geographical zones of the North are represented in Eurasia. hemispheres. In the Arctic zone there is a zone arctic deserts, in the subarctic - tundra and forest-tundra zones, in the temperate and tropics huge areas are occupied by forests, in the South-West. and Center. Asia - deserts and semi-deserts. In the high mountains, altitudinal zonation is well defined. More than half of Eurasia (its northern part) in floristic and faunal terms belongs to the Holarctic; The south of Eurasia is occupied by the flora of the Paleotropical region and the fauna of the Indo-Malayan region. Map on pp. 176–177.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Edited by prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

Eurasia

the name of a continent that includes two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. This is the largest continent on Earth. Its area is 53,893 thousand square meters. km.

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

Eurasia is the largest continent on Earth, with an area of ​​53.893 million km², which is 36% of the land area. Population - more than 4.947 billion (2010), which is about 3/4 of the population of the entire planet.

Origin of the name of the continent

Initially, various names were given to the largest continent in the world. Alexander Humboldt used the name "Asia" for all of Eurasia. Carl Gustav Reuschle used the term "Doppelerdtheil Asien-Europa" in his book "Handbuch der Geographie" in 1858. The term "Eurasia" was first used by geologist Eduard Suess in the 1880s.

Geographical location of the mainland

The continent is located in the Northern Hemisphere between approximately 9° W. Longitude and 169°W etc., while some of the islands of Eurasia are located in the Southern Hemisphere. Most of continental Eurasia lies in the Eastern Hemisphere, although the extreme western and eastern ends of the continent are in the Western Hemisphere.

Contains two parts of the world: Europe and Asia. The border line between Europe and Asia is most often drawn along the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Emba River, the northwestern coast of the Caspian Sea, the Kuma River, the Kuma-Manych depression, the Manych River, the eastern coast of the Black Sea, the southern coast of the Black Sea, the strait Bosphorus, Sea of ​​Marmara, Dardanelles, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, Strait of Gibraltar. This division has developed historically. Naturally, there is no sharp border between Europe and Asia. The continent is united by the continuity of land, the current tectonic consolidation and the unity of numerous climatic processes.

Eurasia stretches from west to east for 16 thousand km, from north to south - for 8 thousand km, with an area of ​​≈ 54 million km². This is more than a third of the entire land area of ​​the planet. The area of ​​the Eurasian islands is approaching 2.75 million km².

Extreme points of Eurasia

Mainland points

• Cape Chelyuskin (Russia), 77°43′ N. w. - the northernmost continental point.
• Cape Piai (Malaysia) 1°16′ N. w. - the southernmost continental point.
• Cape Roca (Portugal), 9º31′ W. d. - the westernmost continental point.
• Cape Dezhnev (Russia), 169°42′ W. d. - the extreme eastern continental point.

Island points

• Cape Fligeli (Russia), 81°52′ N. w. - the northernmost point of the island (However, according to topographic map Rudolf Island, the latitudinal coastline west of Cape Fligeli lies several hundred meters north of the cape at coordinates 81°51′28.8″ N. w. 58°52′00″ E. d. (G) (O)).
• South Island (Cocos Islands) 12°4′ S w. - the southernmost point of the island.
• Rock of Monchique (Azores) 31º16′ W. d. - the westernmost point of the island.
• Ratmanov Island (Russia) 169°0′ W. d. - the easternmost point of the island.

Largest peninsulas

• Arabian Peninsula
• Peninsula of Asia Minor
• Balkan Peninsula
• Apennine Peninsula
• The Iberian Peninsula
• Scandinavian Peninsula
• Taimyr Peninsula
• Chukotka Peninsula
• Kamchatka Peninsula
• Indochina Peninsula
• Hindustan Peninsula
• Malacca Peninsula
• Yamal Peninsula
• Kola Peninsula
• Peninsula Korea

Geological characteristics of the continent

Geological structure of Eurasia

The geological structure of Eurasia is qualitatively different from the structures of other continents. Eurasia is composed of several platforms and plates. The continent was formed in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras and is the youngest in geologically. This distinguishes it from other continents, which are hills of ancient platforms formed billions of years ago.

The northern part of Eurasia is a series of plates and platforms formed during the Archean, Proterozoic and Paleozoic periods: the East European platform with the Baltic and Ukrainian shields, the Siberian platform with the Aldan shield, the West Siberian plate. The eastern part of the continent includes two platforms (Chinese-Korean and South China), some plates and areas of Mesozoic and Alpine folding. The southeastern part of the continent represents areas of Mesozoic and Cenozoic folding. The southern regions of the continent are represented by the Indian and Arabian platforms, the Iranian plate, as well as areas of Alpine and Mesozoic folding, which prevail in southern Europe. The territory of Western Europe includes zones of predominantly Hercynian folding and plates of Paleozoic platforms. The central regions of the continent include zones of Paleozoic folding and plates of the Paleozoic platform.

In Eurasia there are many large faults and cracks, which are found in Siberia (Western and Lake Baikal), Tibet and some other areas.

Story

The period of formation of the continent covers a huge period of time and continues today. The process of formation of the ancient platforms that make up the continent of Eurasia began in the Precambrian era. Then three ancient platforms were formed: Chinese, Siberian and East European, separated by ancient seas and oceans. At the end of the Proterozoic and in the Paleozoic, processes of closing the oceans that separated the land masses took place. At this time, the process of land growth around these and other platforms and their grouping took place, which ultimately led to the formation of the supercontinent Pangea by the beginning of the Mesozoic era.

In the Proterozoic, the process of formation of the ancient platforms of Eurasia - Siberian, Chinese and East European - took place. At the end of the era, the land area south of the Siberian Platform increased. In the Silurian, extensive mountain building occurred as a result of the connection of the European and North American platforms, forming the large North Atlantic continent. In the east, the Siberian platform and a number of mountain systems united, forming new continent- Angarida. At this time, the process of formation of ore deposits took place.

During the Carboniferous period, a new tectonic cycle began. Intense movements led to the formation of mountainous areas connecting Siberia and Europe. Similar mountainous regions also formed in the southern regions of modern Eurasia. Before the start of the Triassic period, all the ancient platforms were grouped and formed the continent of Pangea. This cycle was long and divided into phases. In the initial phase, mountain building took place in the southern territories of what is now Western Europe and in the regions of central Asia. During the Permian period, new major mountain-building processes took place, in parallel with the general uplift of the land. As a result, by the end of the period, the Eurasian part of Pangea was a region with major folding. At this time, the process of destruction of old mountains and the formation of thick sedimentary deposits took place. In the Triassic period, geological activity was weak, but during this period the Tethys Ocean gradually opened in the east of Pangea, which later in the Jurassic divided Pangea into two parts, Laurasia and Gondwana. In the Jurassic period, the process of orogenesis begins, the peak of which, however, occurred in the Cenozoic era.

The next stage in the formation of the continent began in Cretaceous period when the Atlantic Ocean began to open. The continent of Laurasia finally divided in the Cenozoic.

At first Cenozoic era northern Eurasia was a huge landmass that made up ancient platforms connected by the Baikal, Hercynian and Caledonian folds. In the east and southeast, this massif is adjacent to areas of Mesozoic folding. In the west, Eurasia was already separated from North America by the narrow Atlantic Ocean. From the south, this huge massif was supported by the Tethys Ocean, which had shrunk in size. In the Cenozoic, there was a reduction in the area of ​​the Tethys Ocean and intense mountain building in the south of the continent. By the end of the Tertiary period, the continent took on its modern shape.

Physical characteristics of the continent

Relief of Eurasia

The relief of Eurasia is extremely diverse; it contains some of the largest plains and mountain systems in the world, the East European Plain, the West Siberian Plain, and the Tibetan Plateau. Eurasia is the highest continent on Earth, its average height is about 830 meters (the average height of Antarctica is higher due to the ice sheet, but if its height is considered to be the height of the bedrock, then the continent will be the lowest). In Eurasia there are the highest mountains on Earth - the Himalayas (ind. Abode of Snows), and the Eurasian mountain systems of the Himalayas, Tibet, Hindu Kush, Pamir, Tien Shan, etc. form the largest mountain region on Earth.

The modern relief of the continent is caused by intense tectonic movements during the Neogene and Anthropocene periods. The East Asian and Alpine-Himalayan geosynclinal belts are characterized by the greatest mobility. A wide band of structures of different ages from Gissar-Alai to Chukotka is also characterized by powerful neotectonic movements. High seismicity is inherent in many areas of Middle, Central and East Asia and the Malay Archipelago. Active volcanoes of Eurasia are located on Kamchatka, the islands of Eastern and South-East Asia, in Iceland and the Mediterranean.

The average height of the continent is 830 m, mountains and plateaus occupy about 65% of its territory.

The main mountain systems of Eurasia:

• Himalayas
• Alps
• Hindu Kush
• Karakoram
• Tien Shan
• Kunlun
• Altai
• Mountains of Southern Siberia
• Mountains of North-Eastern Siberia
• Western Asian highlands
• Pamir-Alai
• Tibetan plateau
• Sayano-Tuva Plateau
• Deccan plateau
• Central Siberian Plateau
• Carpathians
• Ural Mountains

The main plains and lowlands of Eurasia

• the East European Plain
• West Siberian Plain
• Turanian Lowland
• Great Chinese Plain
• Indo-Gangetic Plain

The relief of the northern and some mountainous regions of the continent was influenced by ancient glaciation. Modern glaciers remain on the Arctic islands, Iceland and in the highlands. About 11 million km² (mainly in Siberia) is occupied by permafrost.

Geographical records of the mainland

In Eurasia there is the highest mountain on Earth - Chomolungma (Everest), the largest lake - the Caspian Sea and the deepest - Baikal, the largest mountain system in area - Tibet, the largest peninsula - the Arabian, the largest geographical area- Siberia, the most low point sushi - Dead Sea Depression. The cold pole of the northern hemisphere, Oymyakon, is also located on the continent. Eurasia is also home to the largest natural area Lands - Siberia.

Historical and geographical zoning

Eurasia is the homeland of the ancient civilizations of Sumer and China, and the place where almost all the ancient civilizations of the Earth were formed. Eurasia is conventionally divided into two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. The latter, due to its size, is divided into smaller regions - Siberia, the Far East, the Amur region, Primorye, Manchuria, China, India, Tibet, Uighuria (East Turkestan, now Xinjiang within the People's Republic of China), middle Asia, Middle East, Caucasus, Persia, Indochina, Arabia and some others. Other, less well-known regions of Eurasia - Tarkhtaria (Tartaria), Hyperborea today are almost forgotten and not recognized.

Climate of continent Eurasia

All climatic zones and climatic zones are represented in Eurasia. In the north, polar and subpolar climate zones predominate, then a wide strip of Eurasia is crossed by the temperate zone, followed by the subtropical zone. The tropical belt in Eurasia is interrupted, stretching across the continent from the Mediterranean and Red Seas to India. The subequatorial belt projects northward, covering India and Indochina, as well as the extreme south of China, while the equatorial belt covers mainly the islands of southeast Asia. Maritime climate zones are found predominantly in the west of the continent in Europe, as well as on the islands. Monsoon climate zones predominate in the eastern and southern regions. As you move deeper into the land, the continental climate increases, this is especially noticeable in the temperate zone when moving from west to east. The most continental climate zones are located in Eastern Siberia (see Sharply continental climate).

Nature on the continent

Natural areas

All are represented in Eurasia natural areas. This is due to the large size of the continent and its length from north to south.

Northern Isles and high mountains partially covered by glaciers. The polar desert zone extends mainly along the northern coast and a large part of the Taimyr Peninsula. Next comes a wide belt of tundra and forest-tundra, occupying the most extensive areas in Eastern Siberia (Yakutia) and the Far East.

Almost all of Siberia, a significant part of the Far East and Europe (northern and northeastern), is covered by coniferous forest - taiga. On South Western Siberia and on the Russian Plain (central and western parts), as well as in Scandinavia and Scotland there are mixed forests. There are also areas of such forests in the Far East: in Manchuria, Primorye, Northern China, Korea and the Japanese Islands. Deciduous forests predominate mainly in the western part of Europe. Small areas of these forests are found in eastern Asia (China). In the southeast of Eurasia, there are tracts of moist equatorial forests.

The central and southwestern regions are occupied mainly by semi-deserts and deserts. In Hindustan and Southeast Asia there are areas of open forests and variable-humid and monsoon forests. Subtropical and tropical forests of the monsoon type also predominate in eastern China, and their temperate counterparts in Manchuria, the Amur region and Primorye. In the south of the western part of the continent (mainly the Mediterranean and the Black Sea coast) there are zones of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs (Mediterranean type forests). Large areas are occupied by steppes and forest-steppes, occupying the southern part of the Russian Plain and the south of Western Siberia. Steppes and forest-steppes are also found in Transbaikalia and the Amur region; there are vast areas of them in Mongolia and northern and northeastern China and Manchuria.

Areas of high altitude zones are widespread in Eurasia.

Fauna, animal world

The large, northern part of Eurasia belongs to the Holarctic zoogeographic region; the smaller, southern one - to the Indo-Malayan and Ethiopian regions. The Indo-Malayan region includes the peninsulas of Hindustan and Indochina along with the adjacent part of the mainland, the islands of Taiwan, the Philippine and Sunda, southern Arabia along with for the most part Africa is part of the Ethiopian region. Some southeastern islands of the Malay Archipelago are classified by most zoogeographers as belonging to the Australian zoogeographic region. This division reflects the peculiarities of the development of the Eurasian fauna in the process of changing natural conditions during the end of the Mesozoic and the entire Cenozoic, as well as connections with other continents. To characterize modern natural conditions, ancient extinct fauna known only in fossil form, fauna that disappeared in historical times as a result of human activity, and modern fauna are of interest.

At the end of the Mesozoic, a diverse fauna formed on the territory of Eurasia, consisting of monotremes and marsupial mammals, snakes, turtles, etc. With the advent of placental mammals, especially predators, lower mammals retreated south to Africa and Australia. They were replaced by proboscideans, camels, horses, and rhinoceroses, which inhabited most of Eurasia in the Cenozoic. The cooling of the climate at the end of the Cenozoic led to the extinction of many of them or their retreat to the south. Proboscideans, rhinoceroses, etc. in northern Eurasia are known only in fossil form, and now they live only in South and Southeast Asia. Camels and wild horses were until recently widespread in the arid interior of Eurasia.

The cooling of the climate led to the settlement of Eurasia by animals adapted to harsh climatic conditions (mammoth, aurochs, etc.). This northern fauna, the center of formation of which was located in the Bering Sea region and was common with North America, gradually pushed the thermophilic fauna to the south. Many of its representatives have become extinct, some have survived as part of the modern fauna of tundras and taiga forests. The drying up of the climate in the interior of the continent was accompanied by the spread of steppe and desert fauna, which survived mainly in the steppes and deserts of Asia, and partially became extinct in Europe.

In eastern Asia, where climatic conditions did not undergo significant changes during the Cenozoic, many animals of pre-glacial times found refuge. In addition, through East Asia there was an exchange of animals between the Holarctic and Indo-Malayan regions. Within its borders, tropical forms such as the tiger, Japanese macaque, and others penetrate far to the north.

The distribution of modern wild fauna across the territory of Eurasia reflects both the history of its development, as well as the characteristics of natural conditions and the results of human activity.

On the northern islands and in the far north of the mainland, the composition of the fauna remains almost unchanged from west to east. The fauna of tundras and taiga forests has minor internal differences. The further south you go, the differences in latitude within the Holarctic become more and more significant. The fauna of the extreme south of Eurasia is already so specific and so different from the tropical fauna of Africa and even Arabia that they are classified as different zoogeographic regions.

The tundra fauna is especially uniform throughout Eurasia (as well as North America).

Most common large mammal tundra - reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). It is almost never found in the wild in Europe; This is the most common and valuable domestic animal in the north of Eurasia. The tundra is characterized by arctic fox, lemming and mountain hare.

Eurasian countries

The list below includes not only states located on the Eurasian mainland, but also states located on islands classified as Europe or Asia (for example, Japan).

• Abkhazia
• Austria
• Albania
• Andorra
• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brunei
• Butane
• Vatican
• Great Britain
• Hungary
• East Timor
• Vietnam
• Germany
• Greece
• Georgia
• Denmark
• Egypt (partially)
• Israel
• India
• Indonesia (partially)
• Jordan
• Ireland
• Iceland
• Spain
• Italy
• Yemen
• Kazakhstan
• Cambodia
• Qatar
• Kyrgyzstan
• Republic of China (Taiwan)
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Lithuania
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Pakistan
• State
• Palestine
• Poland
• Portugal
• The Republic of Korea
• Republic
• Kosovo
• Macedonia
• Russia
• Romania
• San Marino
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Size of territory and geographical location

This is the largest continent on Earth. She is almost 7 times more australia, 2 times - Africa and more than Antarctica, North and South America combined. Eurasia is 1/3 of the planet's land area - about 53.4 million km2.

The continent is located in the Northern Hemisphere and stretches from north to south for 8 thousand km through all zones - from the Arctic to the equatorial. Its length along the parallel is 16 thousand km. This is more than a hemisphere (almost 200°): the continent occupies the entire Eastern Hemisphere, and its extreme western and eastern points are located in the Western.

The enormous size of Eurasia determine the diversity and uniqueness of its nature. No other continent has such a number of natural complexes, changing from north to south and with distance from the coasts.

Outline of the coast of Eurasia

The continental mass is so large that it separates all the oceans of the Earth. Its shores are washed by the waters of all four oceans of the planet. The coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, which washes the western coast, is heavily indented by peninsulas and bays. There are many islands and seas near the mainland. Seas protruding deeply into the land separate parts of the world (Europe and Asia) and continents (Eurasia and Africa).

TO northern edge of Eurasia adjacent to the wide shelf of the Arctic Ocean. Its coastline is smoother.
It is divided into peninsulas by narrow bays and the White Sea. The marginal seas of Norway, Barents, Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian separate large islands and archipelagos from the mainland.

Pacific coastline poorly dissected. The marginal seas are cut into East Coast continent with wide contours. They are separated from the ocean by arcs and chains of volcanic islands and peninsulas. South coast Eurasia, washed by the Indian Ocean, stretches in a broken line: large peninsulas protrude into the ocean - the Arabian (the largest on the planet), Hindustan and Malacca. There are only two seas at the southern edge of the continent - the Red and the Arabian.

Configuration coastline determines the possibilities and degree of participation of oceanic air in the formation of the climate of the continent.

On nature of Eurasia influenced by the surrounding continents. Eurasia has two close neighbors. In the southwest is Africa, separated by the Suez Canal, and in the east is North America, separated by the Bering Strait. The “bridge” with a length of more than 3 thousand km - the largest island region of the planet - the Greater and Lesser Sunda Islands (Malay Archipelago), the Philippine Islands - connects Eurasia with Australia. Farthest away, separated from Eurasia by oceans, are South America and Antarctica.

Composition of the territory of Eurasia

Mainland Eurasia includes two parts of the world - Europe And Asia. The border between them is conditional. It is carried out along the eastern slope of the Ural Mountains, down the Ural River to the Caspian Sea, along the northern foot of the Caucasus, the Black Sea, the Bosphorus Strait, the Sea of ​​Marmara, and the Dardanelles Strait. The division of Eurasia into two parts of the world developed historically - as a consequence of the settlement and development of its territory (by different peoples from different sides). But it also has a natural scientific basis. The continent was formed as a result of the combination of lithospheric blocks that had previously developed under different conditions. After unification over millions of years, it develops as one natural-territorial complex. Therefore the mainland is a unique geographical system: large, complex, but at the same time holistic.

Regions of Europe and Asia

The territory of Eurasia is very vast. In this vast territory, not only nature has significant differences, but also the population, as well as its economic activity. In order to better study this diversity, understand its causes and patterns, regionalization is carried out: smaller territories - regions - are distinguished within the large continent. Countries that have common features geographical location, as well as the similarities between historical and modern social economic development. The European part of the continent is divided into Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Europe. Countries of Eastern Europe, occupying a neighboring position in relation to our Motherland - Belarus - are united into an independent region, the Belarusian Borderlands. This region also includes Russia, the largest state on the continent, located in both Eurasian parts of the world. The Asian part of the mainland is divided into Central, Eastern, Southeast, Southern and Southwest Asia. The boundaries between regions are drawn according to state borders countries included in them.

Geographical discoveries and exploration of Eurasia. The territory of Eurasia has been inhabited by different peoples since ancient times. Each of them carried out the development and study of the continent, guided by their own goals and needs, gradually expanding the range of territories known to them.

>> Eurasia - a continent of contrasts

Chapter 7

Continents are the largest natural

land complexes

§ 1. Eurasia - a continent of contrasts

Geographical position. Size and outline. Oceans and seas washing the continent.

Eurasia is the largest continent on Earth. Together with the islands, its area is 54 million km2 - this is one third of the land. The continent consists of two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. The border between them is drawn conditionally: along the eastern foot of the Ural Mountains, along the Emba River, the northern coast of the Caspian Sea and the Kuma-Manych depression. Further, Europe and Asia are divided by the Black and Sea of ​​Azov and the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, connecting the Black Sea with the Mediterranean. Eurasia is separated from Africa by the Suez Canal, and from North America by the Bering Strait.

Names of two parts of the world - Europe and Asia - come from the Assyrian words “ereb” - west and “asu” - east.

Occupying 1/3 of the entire landmass, Eurasia concentrates the 3D population of the planet, and the peoples inhabiting the continent are so numerous and diverse that just listing them could take several pages. Our state is also located in Eurasia - Russia.

Eurasia is located in the Northern Hemisphere. The prime meridian crosses its territory in the west. Coordinates of the extreme points of the mainland:

northern - Cape Chelyuskin - 78° N. latitude, 105° east. d.
southern - Cape Piai - 1° N. latitude, 104° east. d.
western - Cape Roca - 39° N. latitude, 9°w. d.
eastern - Cape Dezhnev - 67° N. latitude, 170°w. d.

Eurasia is washed by the waters of all four oceans, which form marginal and inland seas: Baltic, Black, Azov, Mediterranean, North and Norwegian seas; The Straits of Gibraltar and the English Channel, as well as the Bay of Biscay, belong to the Atlantic Ocean. There are large islands here: Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland, as well as peninsulas: Scandinavian, Iberian, Apennine. The northern shores of Eurasia are washed by the seas of the Arctic Ocean: Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukotka. The largest islands are New Earth, Spitsbergen; peninsulas - Taimyr, Yamal. The Bering Strait connects the Arctic Ocean with Quiet, which forms the marginal seas off the coast of Eurasia: Bering, Okhotsk, Japan, Yellow, East China, South China. The largest islands: Sakhalin, Hokkaido, Honshu, Philippine, Greater Sunda; peninsulas: Kamchatka, Korea, Indochina.

The seas of the Indian Ocean (Red, Arabian) and bays (Persian, Bengal) extend deep into the land. They wash large peninsulas - Arabian, Hindustan, Malacca.

Eurasia is a continent of contrasts. Due to the enormous size of the continent, the nature of Eurasia is diverse and complex. Here is the greatest peak of the world - Mount Chomolungma (Everest) with a height of 8848 m and the deepest depression of land (relative to sea level) - the Dead Sea (-402 m); the cold pole of the Northern Hemisphere in Oymyakon, where a temperature of -70° is recorded, and the sultry regions of Mesopotamia; the arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula, where only 44 mm of precipitation falls annually, and the humid regions of North-Eastern India (Cherrapunji) with a precipitation of 12,000 mm or more per year; in the north of the continent there are arctic deserts, and in the south there are humid equatorial forests.

From the history of research. Long before the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries and the founding of the First Geographical Institute by the Portuguese Prince Henry, the inhabitants of Europe were actively exploring the lands around them and making geographical discoveries. One of the first were the Phoenicians, who in the 2nd century BC. e. explored the shores Mediterranean Sea, then the ancient Greeks completed the discovery of Southern Europe. And during the reign of the Romans, who conquered the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the name of the third part of the world appeared - Africa. During the Age of Great Geographical Discovery, the famous journey of the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama to India took place, as well as the circumnavigation of Ferdinand Magellan, who, having sailed across the Pacific Ocean, approached the islands of Indonesia. The nature of Central Asia, Siberia and the Far East has long remained a mystery to European geographers.

Famous expeditions of our compatriots - Semyon Dezhnev to Siberia and the Far East, Vladimir Atlasov to Kamchatka, Pyotr Chikhachev to Altai, Pyotr Semenov-Tien-Shansky to the Tien Shan mountains, Nikolai Przhevalsky to Central Asia- filled in the gaps on geographical maps of Asia.

Relief and minerals. Diversity relief Eurasia is explained by the structural features of the earth's crust in different parts of the continent. The ancient platforms: East European, Siberian, Sino-Korean, Indian, African-Arabian correspond to vast stable plains: East European Plain, Central Siberian Plateau, Great Chinese Plain, Deccan Plateau, Arabian Plateau. The areas of new folding correspond to mountain belts: Alpine-Himalayan, including the Pyrenees, Apennines, Alps, Carpathians, Caucasus, Pamir, Himalayas; as well as the Pacific belt of folded mountains (part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”), stretching along the eastern shores of Eurasia from Kamchatka to the Malay Archipelago. Here, in the Pacific Ocean, there are deep-sea trenches. These are seismically active areas with frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the most famous of which are: Vesuvius (Apennine Peninsula), Etna (Sicily), Hecla (Iceland). The highest active volcano in Eurasia is Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4750 m) on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Fuji (Honshu Island), Krakatoa, located on a small island in the Malay Archipelago.

The Ural, Altai, and Tien Shan mountains appeared in the era of ancient folding. However, Altai and Tien Shan have undergone new uplifts - rejuvenation of the relief, in contrast to the Ural Mountains, which are heavily destroyed and smoothed.

In the vicinity of folded mountains in foothill troughs layer of the earth's crust Lowlands were formed, for example, the Indo-Gangetic (Hindustan Peninsula) and Mesopotamian (Arabian Peninsula).

Minerals of Eurasia extremely diverse, and their reserves are large. Iron ore deposits in the north of the Scandinavian Peninsula, on the Hindustan Peninsula and northeast China are associated with igneous rocks. A strip of deposits of such rare metals as tungsten and tin stretches across southern China, the Indochina and Malacca peninsulas, forming the so-called tin-tungsten belt. The mountains of the Alpine-Himalayan belt and the Deccan plateau abound in ores of non-ferrous metals.

Extremely rich in oil and gas West Siberian lowland, coast Persian Gulf, North Sea shelf, Arabian Peninsula and Mesopotamian lowland. WITH sedimentary rocks also associated coal deposits, the largest of which are located in the Ruhr and Upper Silesian basins in Western Europe, in the Donetsk basin in southern Russia, as well as on the Great Chinese Plain and the Indo-Gangetic Lowland.

Iron ore deposits are associated with metamorphic rocks, such as the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly in Russia, as well as with sedimentary rocks (the Lorraine deposit in Western Europe). Bauxite is of sedimentary origin. Their deposits are located along the Alps, south of the Carpathians and on the Indochina Peninsula.

Eurasia is the only continent of the Earth that is located in all climatic zones and in all natural zones (Fig. 26). Its nature is extremely diverse, therefore, several large natural complexes are distinguished on its territory: Northern, Western, Central and Southern Europe; South-West, Central, East and South Asia. The patterns of development of the population and political map are also very different, so we will consider them separately for Europe and Asia.

Foreign Europe

The coasts of Europe are characterized by a maritime climate. Most of it lies in the temperate zone and is influenced western winds, carrying moisture from the Atlantic. Western transport contributes to the formation of cyclones on fronts of air masses of different properties (Arctic, temperate and tropical), which often causes cloudy and rainy weather: cool in summer, mild in winter, with temperatures above 0°C. On the climate of Scandinavia strong influence has a warm North Atlantic Current: thanks to it, conifers and broadleaf forests, while most of the island of Greenland, which lies at approximately the same latitudes as the Scandinavian Peninsula, is covered with ice all year round.

Foreign Europe has a dense river network belonging to the Atlantic Ocean basin (with rare exceptions). The most long river- Danube (2850 km), other large rivers: Rhine, Elbe, Odra, Vistula, Tagus, Duero. There are many lakes in Northern Europe, especially in Finland.

Northern Europe includes the islands: Spitsbergen, Iceland and Fennoscandia (countries Scandinavian Peninsula and Finland). The main attraction of the southwestern coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula are narrow, deep bays with steep banks - fjords. The depth of the largest of them - Sognefjord - is 1200 m, and the length is 220 km. The fjords were formed as a result of faults in the Scandinavian mountains. During glaciation, these faults were deepened and widened. Fennoscandia is a land of lakes and forests (mostly coniferous).

Central Europe occupies the Central European plains, the largest of which are the North German and Polish lowlands; the coasts of the North and Baltic seas; the region of medium-high mountains of Central Europe (French and Czech massifs, Ore Mountains), the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as the Alpine and Carpathian mountain ranges with adjacent plains. For south coast The North Sea is characterized by so-called secular fluctuations of the earth's crust, as a result of which the coastal lowlands gradually sink (by 1 mm per year). Many areas (in the Netherlands, for example) are already below sea level, so their populations have to fight the advancing sea and build dams.

Central Europe is located in a zone of deciduous forests of beech and oak, which are favored by a humid, warm climate and brown forest soils. However, the forests have been heavily cut down, and in their place are industrial areas, the largest of which - the Ruhr - is located in Germany.

Southern Europe is located in the subtropical zone in the Mediterranean climate area. It includes the Iberian, Apennine and Balkan Peninsula and islands of the Mediterranean Sea. This is the most unstable section of the earth's crust in Europe, part of the Alpine-Himalayan belt. Despite this, Southern Europe is famous for its resorts. Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, and Bulgaria are visited by millions of tourists every year. The comfortable Mediterranean climate is formed under the influence of two different types of air masses that change with the seasons. In winter, westerly winds bring moist ocean air from temperate latitudes from the Atlantic. Summers here are hot and dry under the influence of tropical air masses. Evergreen hard-leaved forests and shrubs grow in the Mediterranean. The imported plants also do well here - various palm trees and citrus fruits.

Population and political map. Over 500 million people live in Foreign Europe. This is a region of ancient settlement, the “cradle” of several ancient civilizations (ancient and Christian). On the territory of Europe, for several millennia, major events world history associated with aggressive campaigns, wars, and mass migrations of peoples, which determined the very complex ethnic composition of its population. The majority of the current European population belongs to Indo-European language family, which includes three language groups: Germanic, Romance and Slavic. In terms of the number of speakers, the Germanic group predominates (see atlas map).

Compared to other continents, the region of Foreign Europe is characterized by uniform settlement of territories, although there are differences in population density: higher population density is observed in Southern and Central Europe, the north of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Iceland are sparsely populated. 3/5 of the total population live in cities, the largest of which are London, Madrid, Paris, Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Rome.

The political map of Foreign Europe began to take shape a long time ago and has undergone many changes. On modern political map There are 42 countries in the region, among which the most economically developed are Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy. A special feature of the political map of Europe is the presence of a number of dwarf states: the Vatican, Monaco, Andorra and others.

Foreign Asia

The relief of Foreign Asia has significantly higher average heights than Europe. There are many highlands, the highest of which - Tibet - rises to 4.5 km. The climate of Asia is much hotter than Europe. The abundance of precipitation on the eastern and southeastern coasts gives way to an arid climate in Central and Southwestern Asia. There is a desert zone here. The climate of Asia is greatly influenced by its topography. Let's give an example. The Himalayas almost do not allow moist air masses from the Indian Ocean to pass to the north. Therefore, up to 12,000 mm of precipitation falls annually on the southern slopes, while to the north of the Himalayan mountains there is one of the driest deserts in the world - the Taklamakan.

Southwest Asia is located on the Arabian Peninsula, the Mesopotamian Lowland, as well as on the vast highlands: Asia Minor, Armenian and Iranian, along the outskirts of which rise high, relatively recently formed folded mountains. As you move east from the Mediterranean Sea, the climate from Mediterranean gradually becomes subtropical continental. The penetration of moisture to the east is prevented by mountain ranges. Arabia is located in a tropical dry climate region. The Rub al-Khali desert is located here. Desert landscapes characterize much of Southwest Asia. The most convenient places for people to live are along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and in the Mesopotamian lowland, where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (the Indian Ocean basin) create favorable conditions for irrigated agriculture.

central Asia is a combination of huge plateaus and highlands with high mountain ranges of the Tien Shan and Kun-Lun, the peaks of which rise 7 km or more. Main feature The climate of Central Asia is sharply continental with large daily and annual temperature amplitudes. This is a land of dry steppes and deserts, the largest of which - the Gobi - is located northeast of the Tibetan Plateau. High ridges prevent moist air masses from the oceans from penetrating into Central Asia, so Tibet receives only 100 mm of precipitation per year. Here are the glaciers that give rise to large rivers: the Yangtze, Yellow River, Mekong, Brahmaputra, Indus.

East Asia includes mainland (Eastern China and the Korean Peninsula) and island (Japanese Islands) natural complexes. This is an area of ​​monsoon climate with variable-humid (monsoon) forests. From north to south, the region is crossed by two climatic zones: temperate and subtropical. Therefore, in the north, the winter monsoon is dry and cold (average temperatures are negative), while the summer monsoon is humid and hot. To the south, winter and summer temperatures gradually increase. The large Chinese rivers Yangtze (5800 km) and Yellow River (4845 km), carrying their waters to the Pacific Ocean, flood in the summer during the wet monsoon.

A characteristic feature of the climate of East Asia and the Japanese Islands is typhoons. These are hurricane-force winds originating in the Pacific Ocean. They cause great destruction and are accompanied by heavy rainfall.

South Asia includes the Himalayas - the greatest mountain system in the world, whose ten peaks exceed 8 km; Indo-Gangetic lowland with deep rivers Indus (3180 km) and Ganges (2700 km), flowing into the Indian Ocean; the Hindustan Peninsula, where the Deccan plateau is located, exceptionally rich in ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals; the Indochina Peninsula with its tin-tungsten belt, as well as deposits of zinc, silver, gold and diamonds; as well as the Malay Archipelago, whose islands are covered with equatorial rainforests.

South Asia is located in the subequatorial and equatorial belts and is under the influence of the southwest monsoons.

Altitudinal zonation is clearly expressed in the Himalayas. Here you can find almost all the natural zones of the Earth, which replace each other as you climb the mountains. It is not without reason that plant hunters flock to the Himalayas, because here you can collect an extraordinary collection, especially since the places are difficult to access and little developed by man.

Population and political map. Foreign Asia is the most populous region on Earth: about 4 billion people live here, i.e. over half of all humanity. The population is extremely diverse in terms of race and national composition. Representatives of all three major races live here, as well as peoples who combine the characteristics of different races in their appearance. The most numerous peoples speak Indian and Sino-Tibetan languages. In South-West Asia, Arabic and Iranian languages ​​are spoken.

Due to the peculiarities of the relief, the population is distributed extremely unevenly throughout the territory. Very high population densities in the river valleys and coastal regions of South and East Asia. The high mountainous and desert central areas of the region are very sparsely populated. The population of Overseas Asia is growing very quickly, especially in China and India. 34% of the population live in cities. Largest cities: Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai (Bombay), Shanghai, Jakarta, Kolkata. On the political map of the region there are 48 states, differing greatly in size and population. Almost all countries are classified as developing countries in terms of economic development, and Japan leads the list of developed countries. Significant economic successes in last years achieved by the largest country in the world - China, as well as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore (see atlas map).

Eurasia is the largest continent, occupying 1/3 of the entire landmass. The area of ​​Eurasia is 53.4 million km2. Extreme points Eurasia:

Northern: Cape Chelyuskin (78° N, 104° E);

South: Cape Piai (1°N, 103°E);

Western: Cape Roca (39°N, 9°W);

Eastern: Cape Dezhnev (67°N, 169°W).

The southern coast of Eurasia is less indented; large geographical features: the huge Arabian Peninsula and Hindustan, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal, which is almost as big as it.

The border between Europe and Asia is drawn quite conventionally: it is usually considered to be a line running from the Arctic Ocean along Ural mountains, then along the Ural River, the northern shore of the Caspian Sea, and the Kuma-Manych depression. Further, Europe and Asia are separated by seas: the Black and Mediterranean.

On the Mediterranean coast there are large reserves of non-ferrous metal ores and bauxite; in northern Asia (Russian territory) there are large reserves of gold and copper-nickel ores. The “tin belt” runs along the coast - a number of tin ore deposits. In the north and on there are diamond deposits, others are mined in gems emeralds, rubies, turquoise.

Eurasia is rich in rivers and lakes, rivers flow into all four oceans, and there are also large areas of internal drainage. Pechora, Yenisei, and others carry their waters into the Arctic Ocean. The largest of them - Ob, Yenisei, Lena - originate in the mountains and plateaus, they are quite deep, as they are fed by melting glaciers and precipitation, in addition, all rivers of the Arctic Ocean have a spring flood, since in these quite areas snowy winters- melting snow feeds the rivers. These rivers have a huge number of large and small tributaries, the West Siberian Plain, which is located between the Ob and, is very swampy

Rivers of the Pacific Ocean basin. They originate in mountainous areas, but their main course flows along the plain, which is why the rivers are quite deep. The Yellow River and Yangtze overflow heavily, forming sediment. It is not for nothing that the Yellow River is called the “yellow river” - its waters carry a huge amount of sand and small particles of soil. This is especially noticeable at the place where it flows into the sea - the water of the Yellow River is noticeably different in color from the sea.

The largest rivers of the Indian Ocean are the Indus, Ganges, and Tigris. These rivers flow through a fairly hot area, and if the Indus and Ganges valleys are highly humidified thanks to the Himalayas, the Tigris and Euphrates flow through arid areas. Due to the fact that the sources of these rivers are located at higher elevations, they are the main reason for soil fertility; a lot of water is used for irrigation.

Other large lakes: and, are connected by natural and artificial channels to each other, as well as from one side to the other. Thus, they are an important element of the transport route from Europe to the Arctic Ocean.

The huge size of the continent affects its climatic conditions. Because of long distance From north to south, Eurasia is located in all regions; the difference in climate in the northern and southern regions of the continent is very great. Due to the enormous extent from west to east, the influence of the ocean is weakened, a sharply continental type of climate is formed, therefore Eurasia is characterized by not only sublatitudinal, but also submeridional climate change.

Another specific feature of the climate of Eurasia is that the mountains in the south and east of the country block the path from the Pacific and, especially, from the warm Indian Ocean. On the contrary, air masses forming over the Atlantic and significant influence on the climate of the continent. Warm winds blow from the Atlantic Ocean, making it quite mild. But cold winds penetrate almost unhindered from the Arctic Ocean to the north and center of the continent.

All this leads to an uneven distribution of temperature on the continent in winter months. January isotherms are not sublatitudinal, but practically follow the contours of the coastline, especially in the west, gradually smoothing out to the east. In the north of the Asian part of the continent there is the cold pole of the northern hemisphere: Oymyakon, -71 °C.

Precipitation is also very unevenly distributed. The central part of the continent, remote from all oceans, is quite arid; deserts form here, including the largest desert in Eurasia - the Gobi. Little precipitation falls in the north of the Asian part. The coasts of the Atlantic, Pacific and, with rare exceptions (the Arabian Peninsula), are quite well moistened. As we move deeper into the continent, the average annual precipitation decreases sharply in the south (the path to moist air is blocked by mountains) and gradually in the east and west.

The northern coast of Eurasia is located within the Arctic climate zone. These territories are located beyond the Arctic Circle; in winter, the polar night reigns here - the sun does not rise above the horizon. Accordingly, the territories of the Arctic zone receive very little solar energy. In the summer, the days become quite long, but most of the energy is reflected from the surface of the earth covered with snow. Therefore, the average temperatures in the summer months are also low. There is little precipitation here, since cold air cannot be moist, and moist sea masses do not form over the Arctic Ocean.

To the south stretches a strip of the subarctic climate zone, quite narrow in the west of the continent and expanding to the east. This area is characterized by large temperature differences in summer and winter, and it is also possible sudden changes weather influenced by cold air from the ocean. In the western part, the climate is moderated by the influence of the warmer Atlantic Ocean.

The temperate climate zone runs through a wide strip. It begins north of 40° north latitude, in the western part of the continent it reaches the Arctic Circle.

The coast of Europe is located in the sea zone temperate climate, there are mild winters, temperatures rarely drop below zero, and warm summer. There is a lot of precipitation on the coast (up to 1000 mm), and the weather is very changeable.

The European part of Eurasia is located in the temperate continental climate zone. Humid air masses from the Atlantic Ocean come from the west, which soften the climate, thanks to which the average amount of precipitation falls here (500-600 mm). Still, the temperature difference between winter and summer is quite high.

The central part of Eurasia has a sharply continental temperate climate. It is characterized by sharp temperature changes, not only seasonally, but also throughout the day. Winters are very cold and dry, and summers also receive little precipitation (200 mm).

The east coast is influenced by a temperate monsoon climate. In winter it is cold and clear, without thaws, and there is little precipitation. In summer, on the contrary, it is very humid and quite cool, the sky is often overcast.

Southern Europe, the Middle East, the Pamirs and southern China are in the subtropical climate zone. In the west, the climate is softened by the proximity of the seas; a Mediterranean type of climate is formed here: summers are hot and dry, winters are quite warm and humid. As you move east, deeper into the continent, a zone of continental subtropical climate with hot summers begins, warm winter and very little precipitation (100-150 mm). The Pacific coast has a subtropical monsoon climate: winters are warm and dry, summers are hot and humid.

The tropical climate is characteristic of the Arabian Peninsula and the coast of the Persian Gulf. It is dry, very hot in summer and quite cool (up to 0°C) in winter. Deserts form in this zone.

The subequatorial climate is characteristic of the Hindustan Peninsula and the south: it is warm here in both summer and winter. Winter and spring are dry; summer is dominated by a humid monsoon, bringing heavy, long rainfall from the Indian Ocean.

The equatorial climate type is observed mainly on islands located along the equator. There are no serious temperature changes here, it is always warm and there is a lot of rainfall.

There are all natural zones in Eurasia, the boundaries between them are very clear.

The zone of arctic deserts and semi-deserts occupies the islands of the Arctic Ocean. Most of the territory is covered with ice, the soil freezes many meters deep. Marine animals live here - seals, fur seals and numerous seabirds.

To the south there is a zone of tundra and forest-tundra. Mosses and lichens and dwarf trees grow here. Birch and alder trees appear in the southern part of the forest-tundra. The fauna is very limited: there are lemmings, reindeer, and arctic foxes.

In the temperate climate zone, a large forest belt is formed, consisting of two natural zones: mixed and deciduous forests. Taiga occupies almost the entire Scandinavian region, northern part Eastern European and West Siberian Plain, as well as the Central Siberian Plateau. Taiga is a dense, sometimes swampy coniferous forest, mainly fir and cedar grow, and podzolic soils are formed. Animals include martens, chipmunks, hares, moose, and brown bears. There are many birds, both insectivores and predators. The zone of mixed and deciduous forests is formed mainly in the European part of the continent. Pines, spruces, oaks grow here, the soils are chestnut and brown forest. This natural area is very densely populated by humans; there is little natural fauna left, mostly small ones - squirrels, chipmunks, hares.

Forests in the south gradually turn into forest-steppes, and then into steppes. These areas are inhabited by many rodents: marmots, gophers, mice, and a variety of grasses grow. The most fertile soil, chernozem, is formed in the steppe zone, so cereals are grown here in abundance.

Deserts and semi-deserts are located in the center of the continent. This area receives very little rainfall and winters are quite cold. The fauna is practically absent; the predominant plants are wormwood and saxaul.

On the Mediterranean coast a zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs has been formed. Palm trees grow, heat-loving conifers, oil trees, citrus fruits.

On the opposite, eastern, side of the continent there is a zone of variable-humid (monsoon) forests. Beech, oak, magnolias, and bamboo grow here - plants that tolerate dry, cool winters well and begin to grow actively in the warm season. There are many fairly large animals: monkeys, leopards, the Himalayan bear, and in the forests of India - antelopes, crocodiles, tigers, jackals. There are a lot of snakes - about 200 species.

A savannah zone has formed on the Hindustan Peninsula. Many herbs grow here, as well as drought-resistant trees: bamboo, acacia. There are also many large animals here: elephants, buffalos.

The zone of moist equatorial forests is formed on the southern islands of Eurasia. A variety of palm trees, ficuses, and vines grow here. The fauna is diverse: there are many large and small monkeys, there are wild boars, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, crocodiles, lizards and snakes.

In Eurasia there are many areas of altitudinal zones, where natural zones change with altitude.