I. Natural area of ​​savannas and woodlands. In the subequatorial belt O cages occur mainly or almost exclusively in summer. Long droughts alternate with devastating floods. Total radiation 160–180 kcal/cm 2 year, radiation balance 70–80 kcal/cm 2 year. The temperature of the warmest month reaches 30–34°, the coldest month is mostly above 15–20° (up to 24–25°). The highest temperatures are observed at the end of the dry season, before the onset of rains (usually in May). These climate features give a certain commonality to all landscapes located between the tropical deserts and the humid equatorial Hyla. However, there is a frequent change of different landscape types depending on the overall degree of moisture and the duration of dry and wet periods. It is enough to note that the average annual precipitation within the considered part of the continent ranges from 200 mm to 3000 mm or more (in the mountains - up to 12000 mm), and the humidification coefficient ranges from 0.1 to 3 and higher. Accordingly, several main types of landscapes can be distinguished: tropical desert savannas, subequatorial savannas, semiarid woodlands (dry monsoon forests) and semihumid monsoon forests. In Asia, we observe a complex picture of peninsulas and archipelagos with powerful mountain barriers that sharpen the contrast of moisture, with barrier-rain and barrier-shadow effects in relation to wet monsoon flows. Here there is a tendency to change different types of landscapes along longitude, but against this general background there is an “interstriation” caused by orography.

A.Arid landscapes of tropical desert savannas adjoining tropical deserts from the east, they serve as a transition from deserts to subequatorial savannas. They occupy the north-west of Hindustan, as well as a strip in the west of the peninsula in the barrier shadow of the Western Ghats. In addition, the central part of the intermountain plain in the Irrawaddy basin should be classified as this type. Annual precipitation is 200–600 mm. The dry season lasts 8–10 months. Zonal soils belong to reddish-brown savannah . Significant areas are occupied by alluvial, mainly cultivated, soils. The natural vegetation, some due to plowing and some due to overgrazing, has hardly been preserved. Typical for it are tough grasses, thorny bushes and rare deciduous hard-leaved trees - acacias, prosopis, tamarix, jujube, etc. In terms of the nature of the animal population, these landscapes are also close to desert ones.

B.Subequatorial monsoon forest-savanna (semiarid) landscapes. In the central part of Hindustan, deserted savannas transform into landscapes of typical savannas. The annual precipitation here is 800–1200 mm, but evaporation exceeds 2000 mm. The number of dry months is 6–8, and wet months only 2–4. On the eastern outskirts of Hindustan, up to 1200–1600 mm of precipitation falls annually. Although treeless landscapes predominate in the center of Hindustan, and landscapes with dry deciduous monsoon forests predominate on its eastern edge, it is advisable to consider them together, since they often alternate. Forests are usually confined to elevations . In addition to Hindustan, similar landscapes are common in the interior regions of Indochina, in the southwest of the Philippine Islands, in the eastern part of the island of Java and in the Lesser Sunda Islands (in the southern hemisphere, the wet period occurs mainly in December - April).

Red-brown soils of savannas formed on the weathering crust. Often with ferruginous-manganese nodules, low in humus, poor in bases, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Under variable-humid forests, red ferritic (ferruginous) soils with a thick but poorly differentiated profile, with ferruginous nodules, sometimes dense laterite layers. There is also little humus in them. Widespread on volcanic rocks (basalts) black tropical (montmorillonite) soils, or regurs , up to 1 m thick, clayey. These soils have a high moisture capacity and swell greatly during rains. Distributed alluvial soils, there are salt marshes.

The vegetation cover is severely disturbed. IN savannah landscapes proper dominated by a cover of tall (1–3 m) tough grasses - imperata, temed, wild sugar cane and other species or shrubs and ferns. Bamboo groves, single teak trees, and palmyra palms are often found. Variably moist deciduous forests characteristic of elevated areas (especially mountains) and richer soils. These forests are dominated by species with valuable wood - teak and sal . In teak forests, the entire tree layer and 90% of the undergrowth are deciduous species. Lard has a very short leafless period. Under typical conditions, teak forms the top tier (35–45 m). In the middle tier grow red and white sandalwood, satin tree, thuja, ironwood, and several types of palm trees; in the lower part there are terminalia, mimosas, and bamboos.

Teak forests are being intensively cut down. On the plains they are almost completely eliminated and, as a result of repeated burning, are replaced by shrubs and herbaceous communities that are difficult to distinguish from natural savannas. Teak can regenerate under the shade of bamboo. The Deccan Plateau is characterized by multi-stemmed banyan trees , the crowns of which reach 200–500 m in circumference.

Animal world diverse: some monkeys (including gibbon), three types of bear, panda, several types of deer, buffalo, wild ox, elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, typical birds are peacocks, banker hens, pheasants, hornbills, weaver birds, sunbirds, etc.

Eurasia is the largest continent on the globe. This land mass with its adjacent islands stretches from the equatorial to the northern polar latitudes. Therefore, the entire set of natural zones is presented here, as well as their various provincial modifications, depending on the region’s distance from the ocean or terrain features. The giant belt of mountain structures, stretching from the Alps to the Himalayas, has a predominantly latitudinal orientation, so its length geographical zones Eurasia is close to classical. A significant part of the continent is part of our country, and the zones of its northern half are known to us better than other areas of the globe.

Moist equatorial and tropical forests. Evergreen rain forests and related wet (with a short dry season) monsoon forests occupy the equatorial and some tropical regions of Eurasia. The most extensive areas of typical gili are found in many places on the Malacca Peninsula, on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. In addition, rain forest and the wettest types of monsoon forests are common in Indochina, India (Assam), Sri Lanka, in some areas of the Western and Eastern Ghats of India, in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. In Burma, Thailand, and southern China, seasonally dry monsoon forests predominate, and the real rain forest is represented by small islands. Close to the Indo-Malayan rain forest of the Western Pacific Islands and the Philippines. New Guinea represents a transition to the Australian tropical rainforests.

The appearance of the Asian Gila generally corresponds to what we already know for other continents. Three main tree layers A, B and C are also expressed here. Under the canopy of a clearly visible and sparse tier A, there are tiers B and C, often difficult to separate from each other (when analyzing profile diagrams). They form a closed canopy intertwined with vines, under which Only rare grasses and tree shoots grow.

By number known to science In terms of species of woody plants and the overall richness of flora, the rainforests of Asia surpass those of Africa and even South America. The flowering flora of the Malay Archipelago with Malacca and New Guinea has approximately 20 thousand described species, but in fact there are even more. For the Malacca Peninsula alone, figures of 10 thousand species are given. The floristic richness of the Asian moist equatorial forests is also visible when comparing some characteristic families. Thus, in the Congo Basin, several hundred species of orchids are known, most of them are epiphytes (probably their number does not exceed 500). 5 thousand of these plants are known for the Malay Archipelago. On one of the trial plots of 1.5 hectares among the primary rain forest(Mount Dulit area, Kalimantan) about 100 species of trees with a trunk diameter of more than 20 cm were discovered, and only about 4% of the individuals belonged to one species (according to Richards). Despite the very small proportion of each species in the community, about 17% of all trees with a trunk diameter greater than 20 cm and about 45% of large trees (with a trunk diameter greater than 40 cm) belonged to the dipterocarp family. We especially emphasize the latter, because it is one of the most characteristic features humid evergreen forests of Asia: dominance of trees belonging to this family. Dipterocarp species predominate especially clearly in the upper layer of A.

As on other continents, polydominant groups of woody plants are most typical. However, in a number of cases, most often in special edaphic conditions (poor leached sands, etc.), groups with a small number of dominant trees in the upper layer predominate. Total number There are almost half as many species on an area of ​​1 hectare here as in typical polydominant communities. Areas with a predominance of conifers and some dipterocarps are described. Note that at low altitudes above sea level, dipterocarp species predominate in monodominant (and oligodominant) evergreen forests. Forests dominated by Malayan ironwood are of very high economic value. There are also plantings dominated by kapur, or Malayan camphor tree, one of the representatives of dipterocarps. The last tree is typical for wet monsoon forests; it is on a short time sheds its leaves (most trees, especially short ones, remain evergreen). Semi-evergreen forests of Asia are also characterized by an abundance of vines and epiphytes. They often contain a lot of bamboo and small palm trees. For most of the year, these forests are almost indistinguishable from typical rain forests. They are similar not only in the structure of the vegetation cover and floristic richness, but also in the characteristics of the fauna and animal population. For many groups of animals, the differences between them are even smaller than for vegetation.

As in other areas of the globe, arboreal forms are abundantly represented among the animals of the Asian Gila. Termites predominate in the ground and soil layers. These insects, together with ants, are the most noticeable of all animals, either directly or by the traces of their activity. As in other humid equatorial and tropical latitudes, in Asia there are numerous people living in air environment hygrophilic invertebrates and amphibians. In particular, in some places people are very bothered by terrestrial forest leeches of the genus Hamadipsus. As on other continents, such groups of insects as crickets, cockroaches, cicadas, earwigs, bronze beetles and other beetles, brentids, sugar beetles, tree racers and ground beetles, various bugs, butterflies, etc. are abundant. All of them, however, either they hide under the bark, in cracks, etc., or live high in the crowns, and are not immediately noticeable. In general, we can say that at the family level, the previously described invertebrate groups of the evergreen equatorial forests of Africa and America are very similar to those of the Asian Giles. There is even greater similarity in the set of biological groups of these animals, as well as in their ratio; Consumers of dying primary products (termites, etc.) and phytophages dominate in biomass. Among predators and animals with mixed nutrition, ants predominate; among pollinators, various bees (trigons, woody xylocope bees) predominate.

Among the amphibians, various toads and frogs are abundantly represented. Frogs almost never enter the gili and wet monsoon forests, although they live in East Asia, Australia and New Guinea. But precisely in those areas of tropical Asia where there are no or few tree frogs, the species of copepod families that replace them are abundantly represented. Some types last kind have the ability to glide using wide membranes between the toes of the front and hind legs. The length of flights from tree to tree can reach 12 m. Many crayfish lay their eggs in foamy lumps on the leaves or carry them on themselves for some time. After some time, the hatched tadpoles enter the water and complete their development there. They live both on trees and on the surface of the earth. different kinds narrow-mouthed, feeding mainly on termites and ants. Of these, we mention the decorated frog, which has an amazingly loud voice. During mating calls, the male's entire body swells and resonates.

Various reptiles of evergreen forests are also almost exclusively zoophagous. As on other continents, one of the most abundant reptiles are geckos, most of which live in the crowns and trunks of trees. Among the agamidae lizards, the species of flying dragons are exceptionally unique. Thanks to the wide leathery folds on the sides of the body, they are capable of gliding flight at a distance of up to 30 m. Of the other species of this family, we mention the very numerous calots.

Skinks live in the ground layer, and partly in the soil layer as well. There are no amphisbaenas so characteristic of Africa and America in Asia, but typhlopid blind snakes are just as typical. The arboreal forms of snakes in the Asian Hyla are no less diverse. Let us mention bronze snakes and dendrelafis from the colubrids. The related ornamented snakes are interesting because of their ability to make planned jumps from tree to tree. At the same time, the animal greatly flattens its body, spreading its ribs to the sides. In various types of forests in Southern and South-East Asia Whip snakes live, whose entire life also spends on trees.

The amazing exotic world of the equatorial forest is a rather rich and complex ecosystem of our planet in terms of vegetation. It is located in the hottest climate zone. Trees with the most valuable wood, miraculous medicinal plants, bushes and trees with exotic fruits, fabulous flowers. These areas, especially forests, are difficult to navigate, so their fauna and flora have not been sufficiently studied.

Plants of equatorial forests are represented by at least 3 thousand trees and more than 20 thousand flowering plant species.

Distribution of equatorial forests

Equatorial forests occupy a wide swath of territories on different continents. The flora here grows in fairly humid and hot conditions, which ensures its diversity. A huge variety of trees of various heights and shapes, flowers and other plants are amazing world forests extending in the equatorial zones. These places are practically untouched by man, and therefore look very beautiful and exotic.

Equatorial rainforests are found in the following parts of the world:

• in Asia (South-East);
• in Africa;
• In South America.

Their main share is in Africa and South America, and in Eurasia they are found mostly on the islands. Unfortunately, the increase in clearing areas is sharply reducing the area of ​​exotic vegetation.

Equatorial forests occupy large areas of Africa, South and Central America. The island of Madagascar, the territory of the Greater Antilles, the coast of India (southwest), the Malay and Indochina peninsulas, the Philippine and Greater Zand Islands, and most of Guinea are covered in jungle.

Characteristics of tropical moist (equatorial) forests

Tropical rainforest grows in subequatorial (tropical variable-humid), equatorial and tropical regions with fairly humid climate. Annual precipitation is 2000-7000 mm. These forests are the most widespread of all tropical and rain forests. They are characterized by great biodiversity.

This zone is the most conducive to life. Plants of equatorial forests are represented by a huge number of their own, including endemic species.

Evergreens rain forests extend in spots and narrow stripes along the equator. Travelers of past centuries called these places a green hell. Why? Because high multi-tiered forests stand here as a continuous impassable wall, and darkness constantly reigns under the dense crowns of vegetation, heat, monstrous humidity. The seasons are indistinguishable here, and terrible downpours with huge streams of water constantly fall. These areas on the equator are also called permanently rainy areas.

What plants grow in equatorial forests? These are the habitats of more than half of all plant species. There are suggestions that millions of species of flora have not yet been described.

Vegetation

The flora of equatorial forests is represented by a huge variety of plant species. The basis is trees growing in several tiers. Their powerful trunks are entwined with flexible vines. They reach a height of up to 80 meters. They have a very thin bark and you can often see fruits and flowers right on it. Various types of palms and ficus trees, ferns and bamboo plants grow in the forests. In total, approximately 700 species of orchids are represented here.

Coffee and banana trees, cocoa (the fruits are used in medicine, cosmetology and cooking), Hevea brasiliensis (from which rubber is extracted), oil palm (they produce oil), ceiba (the seeds are used in soap making, and its fruits are used to produce fiber used in for stuffing furniture and toys), ginger plants and mangrove trees. All of the above are plants of the highest level.

The flora of the forests of the equatorial lower and middle tiers is represented by lichens, mosses and mushrooms, herbs and ferns. Reeds grow in places. Shrubs are practically not found here. These plants have very wide foliage, but as they grow, the width decreases.

Average monthly temperatures are +24...+29 °C. Annual temperature fluctuations do not exceed 1-6 °C. Total solar radiation per year is higher than the indicators middle zone 2 times.

Relative humidity is quite high - 80-90%. Up to 2.5 thousand mm of precipitation falls per year, but their amount can reach up to 12 thousand mm.

South America

Equatorial rain forests of South America, especially on the banks of the river. Amazons are 60-meter-high deciduous trees intertwined with dense bushes. Epiphytes growing on mossy branches and tree trunks are widely developed here.

In such not very comfortable conditions of the jungle, all plants fight for survival as best they can. They are drawn to the sun's rays all their lives.

Africa

The plants of the equatorial forests of Africa are also rich in the diversity of growing species. Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year and amounts to more than 2000 mm per year.

The zone of equatorial humid forests (otherwise known as gile) occupies 8% of the entire continental territory. This is the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and the river basin. Congo. Ferrallitic soils of red-yellow color are poor in organic matter, but sufficient moisture and heat contribute to the good development of vegetation. In terms of the richness of plant species, African equatorial forests are second only to the humid zones of South America. They grow in 4-5 tiers.

The upper levels are represented by the following plants:

• giant ficuses (up to 70 meters tall);
• wine and oil palms;
• ceibas;
• cola

Lower tiers:

• ferns;
• bananas;
• coffee trees.

Among the vines, interesting species are landolfia (rubber vine) and rattan (palm vine growing up to 200 meters in length). The last plant is the longest in the whole world.

There are also iron, red, black (ebony) trees, which have valuable wood. A huge variety of mosses and orchids.

Flora of Southeast Asia

Grows in equatorial zone Asia has a huge number of palm trees (about 300 species), tree ferns, ramps and bamboos. The vegetation of the mountain slopes is represented by mixed and coniferous forests at the foot and lush alpine meadows at the tops.

Tropical wet areas Asia is distinguished by its abundance and species richness useful plants, cultivated not only here in their homeland, but also on many other continents.

Conclusion

We can talk about plants of equatorial forests endlessly. This article was aimed at introducing readers at least a little to the peculiarities of the living conditions of representatives of this wonderful world.

The plants of such forests are of great interest not only to scientists, but also to ordinary travelers. These exotic places attract attention with their unusualness and diversity of flora. The plants of the forests of equatorial Africa and South America are not at all similar to the flowers, herbs, and trees that are familiar to all of us. They look different, bloom unusually, and the aromas emanate from them are completely different, so they arouse curiosity and interest.

Since Eurasia lies in all climatic zones of the northern hemisphere, all natural zones of the globe are represented here.

Arctic deserts, tundra and forest-tundra

Zones of arctic deserts, tundra and forest-tundra stretch across a narrow solid stripe across the entire continent. The climate of the Arctic deserts is very strict. The vegetation is very poor. Large areas have no vegetation cover.

Here we meet the arctic fox, polar bear, reindeer. In summer, many waterfowl arrive; they settle on high rocky shores, forming bird colonies.

In the tundra there is little precipitation, temperatures are low, and permafrost is characteristic, which contributes to the formation of swamps.

Taiga

There are many peat and sedge bogs here. The European taiga is dominated by pine and spruce. They are mixed with small-leaved species - birch, aspen, rowan. South of 60°N. w. broad-leaved species appear in the forests - maple, ash, oak. In the Asian taiga, fir, Siberian pine or cedar grow, as well as larch - the only conifer tree, sheds its needles for the winter.

The fauna of coniferous forests is very rich. It is home to elk, squirrel, mountain hare and forest lemming. The most common predators are wolf, fox, lynx, pine marten, ferret, weasel and Brown bear. Otters live in ponds. Among the birds, the most numerous are crossbills, woodpeckers, ptarmigan, wood grouse, black grouse, hazel grouse and owls.

Mixed forests

The main part of mixed forests in Europe is located on the East European Plain and gradually disappears in a western direction. In these forests, broad-leaved species grow alongside coniferous and small-leaved species. There is already abundant grass cover on soddy-podzolic soils, and swamps are less common. In Asia there is also a zone of mixed forests, but it appears only in the Pacific sector of the temperate zone, where forests grow in conditions monsoon climate, and their composition is more diverse.

Western, Atlantic broad-leaved forests are characterized by beech and oak. As we move east and the amount of precipitation decreases, beech forests are replaced by lighter oak forests.

Hornbeam, linden, and maple grow in broad-leaved forests. In addition to animals living in the taiga, there are wild boar, roe deer, and deer. The brown bear is found in the Carpathians and Alps.

Forest-steppe and steppe

In the forest-steppe, islands of forests on gray forest soils alternate with steppe areas. The steppes are dominated by herbaceous vegetation. Various grasses are most common in the grass cover.

Among the animals, rodents predominate - gophers, marmots, and field mice. Natural vegetation has been preserved only in nature reserves.

In the eastern part of the Gobi Plateau there are dry steppes: the grass is low or the soil surface is completely devoid of grass cover, and there are saline areas.

Semi-deserts and temperate deserts

These zones extend from Caspian lowland across the plains of Central and Central Asia. Brown semi-desert soils and brown and gray-brown desert soils are developed here.

In deserts, conditions are unfavorable for plant development: little rainfall and dry air. In clayey and rocky deserts there is no soil cover of vegetation. IN sandy deserts In the temperate zone, saxaul, wormwood, solyanka, and astragalus grow.

The fauna of these zones is also poor. In semi-deserts and deserts the Przewalski's horse, wild kulan donkeys, camels, and various and numerous rodents are still preserved.

Subtropical forests and shrubs

Coast Mediterranean Sea there is a zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs. Climatic conditions zones are characterized by dry and hot summers, rainy, warm winters.

Holm and cork oaks, wild olive, Mediterranean pine, and cypress grow on chestnut soils. The forests on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea are now almost completely cut down. Now there are thickets of evergreen bushes and low trees growing here.

In the south of China and the Japanese islands there is a zone of variable-humid (monsoon) forests. Summers here are humid, winters are relatively dry and cool. In the forests on red soils and yellow soils, magnolias, palm trees, ficuses, camellias, camphor laurel grow, and bamboo is found.

Subtropical and tropical semi-deserts and deserts

Inland deserts feature hot and dry climates throughout Eurasia. average temperature July can reach +30 °C. It rains extremely rarely.

The plants in these zones are the same as those in temperate deserts. Acacias grow along dry riverbeds, and date palms are grown in oases.

The fauna of deserts is relatively poor. In Arabia there are wild Przewalski's horses, wild ass, fleet-footed antelopes, and wild donkeys and onagers. There are also predators - striped hyena, jackal. Lots of rodents - jerboas, gerbils.

Savannas and subequatorial forests

In the savannas of Eurasia, palm trees, acacias, teak and sal trees grow among tall grasses. There are areas of sparse forests. Subequatorial humid variable-humid forests cover the western coast of Hindustan, the region of the lower reaches of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, the coast of the Indochina Peninsula and the northern part of the Philippine Islands. The vegetation of the zone resembles southern equatorial rainforests, but some trees shed their leaves during the dry season.

The fauna of savannas and subequatorial forests is diverse. Many ungulates, especially antelopes, many monkeys. Tigers and leopards hunt along the rivers of Hindustan. Wild elephants still live in Hindustan and on the island of Sri Lanka.

Equatorial rainforests

In Eurasia they occupy quite a lot large areas and varied. There are more than 300 species of palm trees alone. The coconut palm grows on the coast of the Philippine Islands and the Malay Archipelago. Numerous species of bamboos grow in equatorial forests.

Altitudinal zone

Brighter altitudinal zonations were found in the Alps and Himalayas - the highest mountain systems in Europe and Asia. The highest mountains of Europe are the Alps. Their highest point- Mont Blanc - reaches an altitude of 4807 m. In addition, this mountain system is an important climate for Europe. Glaciers and eternal snow decrease in the Alps to 2500-3200 m.

The highest mountain system in Asia and the entire globe is the Himalayas. Their highest point is the city of Chomolungma. The Himalayas are the natural boundary between the mountainous deserts of Central Asia and the tropical landscapes of South Asia.

At the foot of the Eastern Himalayas are the Terai. Tall bamboo, various palm trees, and sal tree grow in them. Elephants, rhinoceroses, buffaloes live here, among the predators are tigers, spotted and black leopards, many monkeys, and snakes. Above 1500 m and up to 2000 m there is a belt of evergreen subtropical forests. At an altitude of 2000 m, these forests give way to forests of deciduous species with an admixture of conifers. Above 3500 m the belt of bushes and alpine meadows begins.

On the southern slopes of the Alps, the landscapes of the lower altitudinal zone up to an altitude of 800 m have Mediterranean features. In the northern regions of the Western Alps, beech and mixed forests, in the drier eastern Alps - oak and pine forests alternate with steppe meadows. Up to an altitude of 1800 m, the second belt with oak and beech forests is common with coniferous species trees.

The subalpine belt extends to an altitude of 2300 m - shrub and tall grass meadow vegetation predominates. In the alpine belt, most of the mountain surface is devoid of vegetation or covered with crustose lichens. The upper zone is a belt of high-mountain rocky and glacial deserts, in which higher plants and animals are practically absent. The Alps are one of the most important recreational areas in Europe.

Changing nature by man

Throughout historical time natural conditions continents have been modified by man. In many areas, natural vegetation has been almost completely destroyed and replaced by cultivated vegetation. The steppe and forest-steppe zones were especially affected.

In many cases, irreversible changes have occurred in nature, many species of plants and animals have been destroyed, and soils have been depleted. Created to preserve nature National parks, nature reserves and other protected areas.

TOPIC 2. EURASIA

LESSON 52. NATURAL AREAS OF EURASIA. SEMI-DESERTS AND DESERTS. SUBTROPICAL FORESTS. SAVANNAH. SUBECUATORIAL AND EQUATORIAL FORESTS. VERTICAL SIZE

Target:

· repeat, expand and systematize knowledge about the natural zones of Eurasia; to develop knowledge about the features of the vertical zonation of the continent; improve practical skills to characterize the natural areas of the continent with thematic atlas maps;

· develop the ability to independently plan ways to achieve educational goals, organize joint activities with peers, work in a group, find common decision; develop competencies in the use of ICT technologies;

· cultivate tolerance and respect for the opinions of others.

Equipment: physical map Eurasia, map of natural areas of the world, textbooks, atlases, computer, multimedia projector, student multimedia presentations, outline maps.

Lesson type: combined.

Expected results: students will be able to characterize the features of natural zones of Eurasia; compare them with similar natural areas North America; identify differences natural complexes within the temperate zone of Eurasia.

DURING THE CLASSES

I. ORGANIZATIONAL MOMENT

II. UPDATING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Work in pairs

Reception "Geographical workshop"

Tasks. Using atlas maps, compare the location of natural zones in North America and Eurasia. Name the signs of similarity and difference. (One of the students identifies signs of similarity, the second - differences.)

Reception “Problem question”

Unlike North America, in Europe woody vegetation extends to almost 70° mon. w. How can we explain its presence at such high latitudes?

III. MOTIVATION OF LEARNING AND COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Technique “Practicality of Theory”

A comparison of the natural zones of Eurasia with the natural zones of North America shows that there are certain signs of similarity in their distribution on both continents, but also many differences.

Thus, vast spaces in Eurasia are occupied by a natural zone of deserts and semi-deserts, which in area is second only to forests. Deserts and semi-deserts formed not even in one, but in three geographical zones Asia!

Unlike other continents, in Eurasia much larger areas are occupied by areas of vertical zonality. The diversity of natural zones in Eurasia is also striking.

Today we will continue to work on characterizing the natural complexes of the continent.

Groups of students who conducted a detailed study of the following natural zones of Eurasia will help us with this.

IV. LEARNING NEW MATERIAL

1. Characteristics of natural areas

(Group performances. Sample.)

Semi-deserts and deserts

Semi-deserts and deserts formed in the arid regions of central, southwestern, and partially southern Asia in three climatic zones: temperate, subtropical and tropical.

Temperate deserts occupy a significant part of Central Asia. These are the Karakum, Kyzylkum, Gobi, and Taklamakan deserts. In semi-deserts, light chestnut and brown soils predominate, in deserts - gray-brown soils with a very small amount of humus, and many saline soils. The vegetation is very poor, in some places completely absent. The grass cover of wormwood, solyanka, and hard prickly grasses is found in individual bushes. A typical plant of these deserts is the tree-like shrub saxaul. Temperate deserts are characterized by sharp contrasts in climatic conditions: sweltering heat in summer and severe frosts and winds in winter. The fauna is well adapted to temperature changes and constant water shortages. There are many rodents - gophers, jerboas, pikas; Large herbivores include antelopes, kulans, and Bactrian camels. There are especially many reptiles - lizards, snakes, turtles and arachnids - scorpions and tarantulas.

IN subtropical zone semi-deserts and deserts are located on plateaus and highlands fenced by mountains - Asia Minor, Iranian and the like. Here, on infertile gray soils and gray-brown soils, ephemeral vegetation grows, which rapidly develops in the spring.

Arabian Peninsula, northern shores Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the region of the lower reaches of the Indus River are occupied by a desert zone tropical zone. Vegetation is extremely sparse, and on quicksand it is completely absent. The date palm grows in the oases - the main crop of the oases of the Arabian Peninsula.

Tropical deserts are home to various rodents, wild ass, fennec fox, and striped hyena. In general, the natural conditions of the tropical deserts of Eurasia are in many ways similar to those of Africa.

Subtropical forests

The southwest and southeast of Eurasia, within the subtropical zone, are occupied by zones with evergreen vegetation.

The zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs is located on the Mediterranean coast, protected by mountains from the cold northern winds. In a subtropical climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers, plants grow that have adapted to long-term summer drought: holm and cork oak, strawberry tree, laurel, oleander, olive tree, cypress. They have thick bark, shiny waxy leaves, and a strong root system. In our time, there are few evergreen forests near the Mediterranean, but thickets of evergreen shrubs - maquis - are common. There are also few wild animals left. There are fallow deer, jackal, wild rabbit, and in the west - monkey, white-tailed macaque. Lots of lizards, snakes and turtles. In southeast Asia there is a zone of subtropical monsoon forests. It occupies the southern part of the Great Chinese Plain, the south of the Korean Peninsula and the southern half of the Japanese Islands. The climatic conditions here are different than near the Mediterranean: precipitation is predominantly in summer. they are brought in by the summer monsoon from the ocean. Winters are cool and relatively dry. Evergreen trees grow in the forests on yellow soils and red soils: magnolias, camphor laurel, camellias, tung tree, low-growing palms, bamboo. They are mixed with deciduous trees: oak, beech, hornbeam and southern conifers (special types of pine, cypress). Wild animals are preserved mainly in the mountains. There are black Himalayan bears, bamboo bears - pandas, leopards, monkeys - macaques and gibbons. There are many birds with bright plumage - pheasants, parrots, ducks.

Savannas and woodlands

The plains of the peninsulas of Hindustan, Indochina and the islands of Sri Lanka, where the dry period is well defined, are occupied by savannas and woodlands in the subequatorial belt. They are characterized by a predominance of grass cover, where there are scattered thickets of shrubs and individual areas of rare forests, under which red-brown and red soils have formed. During the dry season, some trees, particularly teak and sal trees, shed their leaves for 3-4 months. Teak produces valuable wood that does not rot in water; sal wood is used in construction. In rare forests, trees stand farther from each other, which facilitates the movement of large animals - wild boars, buffaloes, elephants.

Subequatorial and equatorial forests

The sea coasts and mountain slopes of the Hindustan and Indochina peninsulas are occupied by subequatorial variable-humid forests. Here, on red-yellow soils, palm trees, ferns, bamboo, and many tall grasses. The fauna of savannas and subequatorial forests is rich and diverse. Common predators include the tiger, black panther, cheetah, and striped hyena. Deer and buffalo live in the forests, antelopes live in the savannas, and in the thickets river valleys - wild boars. There are monkeys everywhere. In some places there are still wild elephants. Asian elephants are easily tamed and enjoy performing useful work, dragging logs, transporting people performing in the circus. There are many in the forests poisonous snakes, there are crocodiles in the rivers.

The Eurasian equatorial rainforest zone covers the south of the Indochina Peninsula, almost the entire Greater Sunda Islands and the southwest of Sri Lanka. Like equatorial forests on other continents, they are characterized by lush multi-layered evergreen vegetation and rich animal world. The zone of Eurasian equatorial forests is characterized by rhinoceroses, wild bulls, tigers, Malayan bears, and tapirs. Common in the Greater Sunda Islands apes- orangutans and gibbons. There are huge lizards - monitor lizards and pythons, many birds and butterflies.

Conclusion 1. The remoteness of the interior regions of Eurasia from the oceans and the features of the relief favored the formation of large territories occupied by deserts and semi-deserts. Subtropical forests located in western and eastern Eurasia have been significantly modified by economic activity person. Savannahs, compared to Africa and South America, occupy small areas on the peninsulas of Hindustan and Indochina. Equatorial forests cover mainly the islands of southern and southeast Asia.

Vertical zonality

In Europe, altitudinal zonation is most clearly manifested in the Alps: five altitudinal zones naturally replace each other.

The largest number of altitudinal zones is observed on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. There are only two altitude zones on the northern slopes of the mountains. This is explained by its proximity to the Tibet plateau, which is characterized by harsh climatic conditions.

The composition of the altitudinal zones of the western (at the foot is drier and cooler) and eastern (hot and humid) is different. In the western part, up to 1000 m, rare drought-resistant forests and shrubs grow. In the east, at similar altitudes, moist evergreen forests are common, which are gradually replaced by mixed and coniferous forests. The snow line is located higher than in the western part.

Conclusion 2. Eurasia is characterized by various manifestations and a significant distribution of altitudinal zones. The composition and number of altitudinal zones depends on the geographical location and height of the mountains.

V. CONSTRUCTION OF LEARNED MATERIAL

Discussion of group performances(review and opposition)

Reception "Cartographic workshop"

Tasks. Mark on the contour map the natural zones of semi-deserts and deserts, subtropical forests, savannas and woodlands, subequatorial and equatorial forests.

VI. RESULT OF THE LESSON, REFLECTION

Reception “Five Sentences”

The teacher asks students to formulate conclusions about the landscapes of the mainland in five sentences.

VII. HOMEWORK

1. Work through the corresponding paragraph of the textbook.

2. Complete altitudinal diagrams in the Alps and Himalayas in your notebook.

3. Conduct research. Take an imaginary trip along the 50th parallel. Identify natural patterns along the route, draw up maps of the route indicating countries, natural objects and natural complexes.

4. Leading (for individual students): prepare a report on the most famous objects listed in the UNESCO natural heritage.