If you compare the distribution of natural zones in Australia and Africa, you will find that in Australia, as well as in Africa, a large area is occupied by savannah and tropical desert zones. Tropical deserts and semi-deserts are located in the central and western parts of the continent. Savannas border this zone from the north, east, southeast and southwest.

Although Australia has the same natural areas as South Africa with Madagascar, except regions altitudinal zone, but the organic world here is completely different. Nature has created a huge reserve in Australia, where many plants and animals have been preserved, similar to those that inhabited the Earth in ancient times and disappeared on other continents. Species composition plants and animals are distinguished by their poverty and originality. This is explained by the fact that Australia and the adjacent islands have long been separated from other continents. Organic world for a long time developed in isolation. Up to 75% of the mainland's plant species are found only in Australia. These include many species of eucalyptus, which are very diverse. There are giant eucalyptus trees, more than 100 m high. The roots of such trees go 30 m into the ground and, like powerful pumps, pump out moisture from it. There are low-growing eucalyptus and bush eucalyptus. Eucalyptus trees are well adapted to arid climates. Their leaves are located edge-on to the sunlight, the crown does not shade the soil, so eucalyptus forests are light. Eucalyptus trees have hardwood that is a good building material. And their leaves are used to produce oils, paints, and medicines.

In addition to eucalyptus trees, Australia is characterized by acacias and casuarinas with leafless thread-like branches, which are not found on other continents.

In subequatorial forests among tall grasses Together with other trees (palm trees, ficuses, etc.), peculiar bottle trees grow - with a trunk thick at the base, sharply tapering at the top. Feature sub tropical forests- dominance of various types of eucalyptus trees intertwined with vines, many tree ferns.

In the interior desert areas, thickets of dry bushes are common, consisting mainly of low-growing thorny acacias and eucalyptus trees. Such thickets are called scrub. There is almost no vegetation on moving sandy ridges and rocky placers. In contrast to Africa, Australia does not have oases, but the deserts do not look as lifeless as, for example, the Sahara.

The fauna of Australia is also very unique. Only here live the most primitive mammals - the echidna and the platypus. They are interesting because they hatch their young from eggs and feed them milk, like mammals. There are many marsupials in Australia. Their cubs are born very small, and the mother carries them to term in a pouch, which is a fold of skin on the abdomen.

The vast majority of marsupial families are unique to Australia. Among them, the kangaroo family is especially common. Giant kangaroos reach 3 m. There are dwarf kangaroos, 30 cm in size. Wombats, reminiscent of marmots, are also found here. In eucalyptus forests you can find the marsupial koala bear. It lives in trees and leads a sedentary nocturnal lifestyle; it is also called the Australian sloth. A very rare predator has survived on the island of Tasmania - the marsupial devil.

The world of birds is rich, diverse and also unique. Especially a lot of parrots. Found in forests beautiful bird lyrebird, birds of paradise with bright plumage, in dry savannas and semi-deserts - emu. There are lizards, poisonous snakes, and crocodiles live in the waters of Northern Australia.

Australians love and care for the nature of their continent. They pay a lot of attention to the protection of plants and animals and their study. An emu and a kangaroo are depicted on state emblem countries, and the echidna, platypus, and lyrebird are depicted on Australian coins.

Natural areas. If you compare the distribution of natural zones in Australia and Africa, you will find that in Australia, as well as in Africa, a large area is occupied by savannah and tropical desert zones. Tropical deserts and semi-deserts are located in the central and western parts of the continent. Savannas border this zone from the north, east, southeast and southwest.

The originality of the organic world. Although Australia has the same natural zones as South Africa and Madagascar, except for the areas of altitudinal zonation, the organic world here is completely different. Nature has created a huge reserve in Australia, where many plants and animals have been preserved, similar to those that inhabited the Earth in ancient times and disappeared on other continents. The species composition of plants and animals is poor and unique. This is explained by the fact that Australia and the adjacent islands have long been separated from other continents.

The organic world developed in isolation for a long time. Up to 75% of the mainland's plant species are found only in Australia. These include many species of eucalyptus, which are very diverse. There are giant eucalyptus trees, more than 100 m high. The roots of such trees go 30 m into the ground and, like powerful pumps, pump out moisture from it. There are low-growing eucalyptus and bush eucalyptus. Eucalyptus trees are well adapted to arid climates. Their leaves are located edge-on to the sunlight, the crown does not shade the soil, so eucalyptus forests are light. Eucalyptus trees have hardwood that is a good building material. And their leaves are used to produce oils, paints, and medicines.

In addition to eucalyptus trees, Australia is characterized by acacias and casuarinas with leafless thread-like branches, which are not found on other continents.

In subequatorial forests, among tall grasses, along with other trees (palms, ficuses, etc.), peculiar bottle trees grow... - with a trunk thick at the base, sharply tapering upward. A characteristic feature of subtropical forests is the dominance of various types of eucalyptus trees intertwined with vines and many tree ferns.

In the interior desert areas, thickets of dry bushes are common, consisting mainly of low-growing thorny acacias and eucalyptus trees. Such thickets are called scrub. There is almost no vegetation on moving sandy ridges and rocky placers. In contrast to Africa, there are no oases in Australia, but the deserts do not look as lifeless as, for example, the Sahara.

The fauna of Australia is also very unique. Only here live the most primitive mammals - the echidna and the platypus. They are interesting because they hatch their young from eggs and feed them milk, like mammals. There are many marsupials in Australia. Their cubs are born very small, and the mother carries them to term in a pouch, which is a fold of skin on the abdomen.

The vast majority of marsupial families are unique to Australia. Among them, the kangaroo family is especially common. Giant kangaroos reach 3 m. There are dwarf kangaroos, 30 cm in size. Wombats, reminiscent of marmots, are also found here. In eucalyptus forests you can find the marsupial koala bear. It lives in trees and leads a sedentary nocturnal lifestyle; it is also called the Australian sloth. A very rare predator has survived on the island of Tasmania - the marsupial devil.

The world of birds is rich, diverse and also unique. Especially a lot of parrots. In the forests there is a beautiful bird, the lyrebird, birds of paradise with bright plumage, in dry savannas and semi-deserts - the emu. There are lizards, poisonous snakes, and crocodiles live in the waters of Northern Australia.

Australians love and care for the nature of their continent. They pay a lot of attention to the protection of plants and animals and their study. The emu and kangaroo are depicted on the country's national emblem, and the echidna, platypus, and lyrebird are depicted on Australian coins.

Topic 3.AUSTRALIA

§ 26. Natural areas. The originality of the organic world. Objects on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Remember or guess

1. What determines the richness of nature of any territory?

2. Why does the nature of the continent depend on its size?

3. Why are the seasons in Australia different from the seasons in Europe?

Natural areas and the uniqueness of the organic world of Australia

Mainland large deserts. Australia is a continent of deserts, semi-deserts and dry woodlands, occupying vast interior spaces. Wet and variable-humid rainforests characteristic of the northern and northeastern parts of the continent; to the south and west they are replaced by woodlands and savannas, which turn into semi-deserts and deserts (small 2.117). In the extreme southwest, shrubby steppes give way to hard-leaved forests and shrubs. In the southeast there are zones of subtropical humid and mixed forests. In general, Australia ranks first among continents in terms of the relative area of ​​deserts and last in terms of forest area.

Rice. 2.117. Desert in Australia

Rice. 2.118. Australia's eucalyptus forests are spacious and bright because the eucalyptus leaves are positioned edge-on to the sun.

Australian flora. Australia differs from other continents in the uniqueness of the organic world. Thanks to long-term insulation, features geographical location And natural conditions The continent has preserved many species of plants and animals that are not found on other continents. they are called endemics. Characteristic plants Australia: eucalyptus, grass tree, acacia, palm, tree fern, many types of grasses and shrubs. There are more than 300 species of eucalyptus. Among them there are giants reaching a height of 150 m, low-growing trees and even bushes (Fig. 2.118).

The uniqueness of the animal world. The fauna of Australia is even more unique than the flora. There are many ancient (relict) species here. Among them, first of all, are animals such as the platypus and echidna (Fig. 2.119), which lay eggs. Most mammals in Australia are marsupials (kangaroos, koalas, wombats - Fig. 2.119), which carry their babies for a long time in pouches on their stomachs (Fig. 2.120). The world of birds is diverse: birds of paradise, cassowaries, parrots, black swans, lyrebird, emu (Fig. 2.120). There are many in Australia poisonous snakes, lizards, locusts, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, flies. All these animal species have a zonal distribution.

Rice. 2.119. Animals of Australia: platypus and echidna, wombat and koala

Rice. 2.120. Kangaroo and emu

Features of natural areas. The zone of humid and variable-humid tropical forests covers the northeast of the mainland, where there is a lot of rainfall. They grow here on red ferrallitic soils. different kinds palms, ficus, laurels. The trees in these forests are shrouded in vines. The forests on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range are dominated by eucalyptus trees. In the mountains above 1,000 m, mountain forests grow, in which you can see separate tracts of ancient coniferous species - Araucaria (Fig. 2.121). As you move toward the interior of the continent, forests with a rich species composition are replaced by light and dry eucalyptus forests, which turn into tropical savannas and woodlands.

Rice. 2.121. Araucaria cones have a diameter of up to 20 cm

Rice. 2.122. Australian scrub - dense bushland

Rice. 2.123. Dingo dog

Savannahs are characterized by eucalyptus, acacia, and casuarina trees. Red-brown and red-brown soils form under eucalyptus forests and in savannas. Among the animals, kangaroos and emus live there, and there are many birds near the ponds.

Vast spaces of semi-deserts and deserts in the interior parts of the continent are in some places occupied by thickets of hard-leaved, thorny, densely intertwined evergreen shrubs. Such areas are called scrapers (Fig. 2.122). In deserts, special desert soils are formed, often colored red; in some places the soil cover is not developed. The main plants of the scrapers are shrubby forms of eucalyptus and acacia. Grasses also grow in deserts, among which cereals are common. Among the animals found here are giant kangaroos, wombats, emus, wild dog dingo (Fig. 2.123).

In the humid subtropical forests in the southeast of the continent, eucalyptus forests grow on red-yellow ferrallite soils, and evergreen beech grows in the southern part of these forests.

Nature and man. Among the wild vegetation of Australia there are no plants that would play a significant role in agriculture. However, there are plants that provide wood, tannins, essential oils. Many species of trees, bushes, grasses, and domestic animals were brought from Europe and other continents of Australia. Along with cereals and their weeds, fruit trees appeared on the mainland, as well as oaks, poplars and other species. Dingoes, foxes, and rats pushed back or exterminated local animal species. Rabbits cause great damage to the farm. In general, the nature of Australia has been greatly changed by man. Large tracts of forests have been cut down and destroyed by fire. Large areas of savannas and woodlands have been plowed or converted into pastures.

However, over the relatively short (more than 200 years) history of the country’s development, the living world, in comparison with other continents, has still been well preserved in its original form. Protecting Australia's endemic and vulnerable nature - important problem. Many protected areas have been created on the mainland. In total, more than 1,000 protected areas have been created in Australia (about 3% of the continent’s area).

Objects on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List

The uniqueness of natural objects. In total, over 30 objects are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in Australia and Oceania, of which 19 are natural. These are, in particular, the national parks of Purnululu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock) (Fig. 2.124), Kakadu (Fig. 2.125). The largest among them is National Park Kosciuszko, where various natural complexes- from eucalyptus forests to alpine meadows. Great Victoria Desert Park was created to protect desert nature. The Great Barrier Reef is a unique wonder. This is the world's largest coral system, which is the largest living structure on the planet (Fig. 2.126). wild nature islands of Tasmania (Fig. 2.127), rain forests the east coast is also under UNESCO protection.

Rice. 2.124. Rocks in national park Uluru-like hives

Rice. 2.125. One of the waterfalls in Kakadu National Park

Rice. 2.126. At the Great Barrier Reef Underwater Park

Rice. 2.127. The island of Tasmania, unlike Australia, has significant amount lakes

Rice. 2.128. Crocodile in Kakadu National Park

Each of the natural sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List is unique. For example, the Purnululu National Park protects unique mountains of striped sandstones, cut by bizarre gorges and abysses that were formed under the influence of external geological forces over the past 20 million years. In Kakadu National Park, among picturesque river valleys and granite rocks with waterfalls, you can find unique plants and animals, in particular palm trees, ficus, eucalyptus, many different birds, rare jellyfish, fish, crocodiles are found in the waters (Fig. 2.128).

After working through the paragraph, try to answer

1. What natural area occupies largest area in Australia?

2. What are the features of the Australian flora?

3. What is unique about the animal world of Australia?

4. What are the features of Australia's natural areas?

5. What are the most famous UNESCO natural heritage sites located in Australia?

Apply knowledge, find out more

1. Which natural areas have the most protected areas? Why?

2. Find information about other UNESCO Heritage Sites in Australia.

Natural areas of Australia. The originality of the organic world Compiled by: geography teacher Ershova E.I. Municipal educational institution "Secondary School No. 40" in the city of Saransk, Republic of Mordovia.

Vegetable and animal world Australia The organic world of Australia is unique and original: 75% of plant species and 95% of animal species are endemic. 162 species of marsupials. Oviparous and milk-feeding organisms live in Australia and are not found anywhere else on Earth. Most things grow here tall tree– eucalyptus.

consider the placement of natural zones; identify the reasons for the uniqueness of the organic world of Australia; continue to develop the skills to work with various sources geographic information Lesson Objective:

Traveler's Diary

Climate map of Australia

The driest continent On average, Australia receives 420 millimeters of precipitation per year, eight times less than in South America, and five times less than on the African continent. Half of the continent receives less than 300 millimeters of precipitation.

Plants 12,000 species Marsupials 162 species Birds 670 species Endemics 9,000 species – 75% Endemics 90% Endemics 450 species Diversity of the organic world

Variably humid forests

EUCALYPTUS evergreen reaches a height of 150 m about 500 species annually sheds its bark is characterized by rapid growth leaves do not form shade

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is the koala bear's favorite treat! There are huge eucalyptus trees, more than 100 meters high, and roots up to 30 m. About 300 species of eucalyptus trees are common in Australia. Giant eucalyptus trees

Umbrella acacia B subequatorial belt Among the tall grasses grow umbrella acacias, which stand out against the blue sky at a very distant distance

SILVER ACACIA is an evergreen, heat-loving leaves with a whitish coating; small yellow fragrant flowers collected in an inflorescence - a panicle known as “mimosa”

Grass Trees The trunk is like a real tree, and the leaves look like long blades of grass hanging from above.

BOTTLE TREE The trunk looks like a giant bottle at the bottom of the trunk accumulates water in the middle part of the trunk has a reservoir with sweet thick sap

Bottle tree In subequatorial forests, bottle trees grow along with other grasses - with a trunk thick at the base, sharply tapering towards the top.

TREE FERN moisture-loving trees have tall trunks up to 25 m; they look like very ancient palm trees.

In the far north of Australia, tropical moist (equatorial) forests are common. They are distinguished by large, fleshy leaves with a glossy surface that can withstand heavy rains and scorching rays of the sun. Ficus

Breadfruit

Scrubs In the interior desert regions of Australia, thickets of dry bushes are common, consisting of low-growing thorny acacias and eucalyptus trees. Such thickets are called scrub.

Prickly pear cactus

Moth butterfly Larvae of the moth butterfly Monument to the moth (Darling River valley)

Australian open spaces

Wombats are the largest living mammals that dig and spend most of their lives underground. Wombat

Small scaled snake Taipan

Anaconda

Ostrich Emu

Echidna The echidna is a primitive oviparous mammal. She lays eggs like a bird, but feeds the hatched babies with milk. Outwardly, she looks like a hedgehog: her body is covered with needles, and she also knows how to curl up into a ball. Endemic to Australia.

Lyrebird Lyrebird- big bird, 75-130 cm. Males have 2 curved feathers in their tail, like an ancient musical instrument - the lyre. Capable of imitating birds and animals. Endemic to Australia.

Bird of paradise Birds of paradise are very brightly and variedly colored. Its pride and decoration is its bright and unusual plumage, which you will not see on other birds. Length from 14 to 100 cm. Endemic to Australia and New Guinea. There are about 45 species in total.

The black swan is found in the wild only in Australia. The black swan looks very elegant with shiny black plumage, a red beak with a white edge and white wing tips.

The yellow-crested cockatoo is an Australian parrot that is also known Western countries like poultry. He is very sociable and lives in numerous flocks. Cockatoo

The chicken goose is a large, heavy bird. He lives only in Australia and on the island of Tasmania. They rarely go into the water and are poor swimmers.

The Laughing Kingfisher is a very noisy bird. They are easily recognized by their cry, similar to laughter.

The dingo is the only Australian predator brought to the continent from Asia. Doesn't bark. Very cunning and careful. Poorly tamed.

A nocturnal marsupial that lives primarily in trees. It feeds on leaves, flowers and bark, but does not disdain bird eggs. Kuzu

The tiger cat, or marsupial marten, is a ferocious, warlike predator. Lives in eucalyptus forests. Attacks chickens, rabbits, herons, tree possums, small kangaroos.

The length of her neck and head is almost equal to the length of her body. Lives in rivers and lakes, swims and dives well. Snake-necked turtle

The Tasmanian devil is the largest living marsupial predator.

The world's largest terrestrial or coastal predator. Males of this species can reach 7 m in length, weighing up to 2000 kg. Also lives in rivers, lakes and swamps. Saltwater crocodile

Australian rabbits

1. What is a natural complex?

A natural complex is a site earth's surface, which is distinguished by the characteristics of natural components that are in complex interaction. Each natural complex has boundaries and has a natural unity, manifested in its appearance. The largest natural complex is the geographical envelope of the Earth. Next come the continents and oceans, and within the continents are countries. Examples of natural complexes include natural zones: tundra, taiga, forests temperate zone, steppes, deserts, seas, rivers, lakes, etc. The smallest natural complexes occupy small areas. These are hilly ridges, individual hills, their slopes; or a low-lying river valley and its individual sections. The territories of the natural complex also include urban and suburban forests, forest parks, and parks.

2. What natural complexes are called natural areas?

Complexes that have common temperature conditions, moisture, soils, vegetation and fauna. Such complexes are called natural areas.

3. What main reason alternation of natural zones?

Geographical location and latitudinal zonation.

Questions and tasks

1. What are the features of the location of natural areas in Australia? What explains them?

In Australia, a large area is occupied by savannah and tropical desert zones. Tropical deserts and semi-deserts are located in the central and western parts of the continent. Savannas border this zone from the north, east, southeast and southwest. The location of natural areas is influenced by several factors: relief, climate, ocean, atmospheric circulation. In the northern part of the continent in the subequatorial climatic zone humid and variable-humid forests formed. As they move away from the ocean, they move into the zone of savannas and woodlands. The tropical climate zone is dominated by deserts and semi-deserts. In the south of the continent, in a subtropical humid climate, there is a natural zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs. In the east of the continent along the Great Dividing Range in conditions humid climate under the influence of winds Pacific Ocean Variably humid forests formed.

2. What is the diversity of flora and fauna? Explain the reasons for this uniqueness.

The organic world of Australia is completely different. Nature has created a huge reserve in Australia, where many plants and animals have been preserved, similar to those that inhabited the Earth in ancient times and disappeared on other continents. The species composition of plants and animals is poor and unique. This is explained by the fact that Australia and the adjacent islands have long been separated from other continents.

The organic world developed in isolation for a long time. Up to 75% of the mainland's plant species are found only in Australia. These include many species of eucalyptus, which are very diverse. There are giant eucalyptus trees, more than 100 m high. The roots of such trees go 30 m into the ground and, like powerful pumps, pump out moisture from it. There are low-growing eucalyptus and bush eucalyptus. Eucalyptus trees are well adapted to arid climates. Their leaves are located edge-on to the sunlight, the crown does not shade the soil, so eucalyptus forests are light. Eucalyptus trees have hardwood that is a good building material. And their leaves are used to produce oils, paints, and medicines.

In addition to eucalyptus trees, Australia is characterized by acacias and casuarinas with leafless thread-like branches, which are not found on other continents.