The North Caucasus is a huge territory, whichstarts from the Lower Don. It occupies a part of the Russian platform and ends with the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Minerals, mineral waters, developed agriculture - the North Caucasus is beautiful and diverse. Nature, thanks to the seas and expressive landscape, is unique. The abundance of light, heat, alternation of dry and humid areas provides a variety of flora and fauna.
Landscape of the North Caucasus
On the territory of the North Caucasus areKrasnodar and Stavropol Territory, Rostov Region and Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia and Dagestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia. Majestic mountains, endless steppes, semi-deserts, forests make this region so interesting for tourism.
The whole system of mountain ranges is the North Caucasus. Nature it varies with altitude. The landscape of the territory is divided into 3 zones:
- Mountain.
- Piedmont.
- Steppe (flat).
The northern borders of the region stretch between the rivers Kuban and Terek. There is a steppe zone. To the south begins the foothill area, which ends with multiple ridges.
The climate is influenced by the abundance of mountains and the proximity of the seas - the Black, Azov, Caspian. Thermal waters that can be found in the North Caucasus contain bromine, radium, iodine, and potassium.
Mountains of the North Caucasus
From the icy northern regions to the hot southern regions stretched the nature of Russia. Caucasus - the highest mountains of the country. They were formed in the period of alpine folding.
The system of the Caucasus Mountains is considered a young mountainconstruction, as well as the Apennines, the Carpathians, the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Himalayas. Alpine folding is the last epoch of tectogenesis. It led to numerous mountain constructions. Named in honor of the Alps, where the process took the most typical manifestation.
The territory of the North Caucasus is represented by the mountains Elbrus, Kazbek, the Rocky and Pasture Range, the Cross Pass. And this is only the smallest, most famous part of the slopes and hills.
The highest peaks of the North Caucasus are Kazbek, the highest point of which is at 5033 m. And the extinct Elbrus volcano is 5642 m.
Due to the difficult geological development, the territory and nature of the Caucasus Mountains so rich in gas and oil deposits. There is mining of minerals - mercury, copper, tungsten, polymetallic ores.
Features of the nature of the North Caucasus
The accumulation of mineral sources of differentits chemical composition and temperature can be found in this area. The extraordinary usefulness of the waters led to the question of creating resort areas. Essentuki, Mineralnye Vody, Zheleznovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk are widely known for their sources and sanatoriums.
Природа Северного Кавказа делится на увлажненные and dry areas. The main source of precipitation is the Atlantic Ocean. That is why the foothill areas of the western part are sufficiently moist. While the eastern region is subject to black (dusty) storms, dry winds, drought.
Features of the nature of the North Caucasus consist in a variety of air masses.In all seasons, a cold, dry stream of the Arctic may enter the territory, a wet - Atlantic, and a tropical - Mediterranean. The air masses, replacing each other, carry a variety of weather conditions.
In the territory of the North Caucasus there is also a local wind - fen. Cold mountain air, falling down, gradually heats up. Reaches the land already hot stream. So wind blow dryer is formed.
Often, cold air masses penetrate the Caucasus range, bending around it from the east and west sides. Then a cyclone reigns in the territory, destructive for the heat-loving flora.
Climate
The North Caucasus is on the border itself.temperate and subtropical zones. This gives the climate softness and warmth. Short winter, which lasts about two months, long summer - up to 5.5 months. The abundance of sunlight in this area due to the same distance from the equator and the pole. Therefore, the nature of the Caucasus is different riot and brightness of colors.
In the mountains, a large amount of precipitation falls.This is due to the fact that the air masses, lingering on the slopes and rising up, cool, give off moisture. Therefore, the climate of mountainous areas is different from the foothills and plains. During the winter, a layer of snow accumulates up to 5 cm. On the northern slopes, the border of eternal ice begins.
At an altitude of 4000 m, even in the hottest summer, positive temperatures are almost nonexistent. In winter, avalanches from any sharp sound, unsuccessful movement are possible.
Mountain rivers, turbulent and cold, have their originduring the melting of snow, glaciers. Therefore, the floods are so intense in spring and almost dry in the fall when the temperature is low. Thawing of snow in the winter stops, and stormy mountain streams become shallow.
The two largest rivers of the North Caucasus - the Terek and Kuban - donate the territory of numerous tributaries. Thanks to them, fertile black soil is rich in harvest.
Gardens, vineyards, tea plantations, berriessmoothly moving into the arid zone. These are the features of the nature of the Caucasus. The cold of the mountains gives way to the warmth of the plains and foothills, the chernozem turns into chestnut soil.
Mineral water
You should know that the features of the North Caucasus- This is a whole complex of factors. These include the distance from the seas, oceans. The nature of the relief, landscape. Distance from the equator and pole. The direction of air masses, the abundance of precipitation.
It so happened that the nature of the Caucasus varied.Here there are fertile lands and dry areas. Mountain meadows and pine forests. Dry steppe and deep rivers. The richness of natural resources, the availability of mineral waters makes this area attractive for industry and tourism.
Description of the nature of the Caucasus remarkable in that more than 70 healingsources can be found on its territory. It is cold, warm, hot mineral water. They are different in composition, which helps in the prevention and treatment of diseases:
- gastrointestinal tract;
- skin;
- circulatory system;
- nervous system.
The most famous hydrogen sulfide waters are located in the city of Sochi. Ferrous sources - in Zheleznovodsk. Hydrogen sulfide, radonic - in Pyatigorsk. Carbonic - in Kislovodsk, Yessentuki.
Flora
The vegetation cover is alsoas diverse as the wild nature of Russia. The Caucasus is divided into mountainous, foothill, and flat areas. Depending on this, the vegetation cover of the area also changes. It is caused by climatic conditions, soil, precipitation.
Горные луга – пышные альпийские, сенокосные grounds Thickets of rhododendron add color to the grass. There you can find juniper, creeping shrubs, which are adapted to the snowy lifestyle. They are being replaced by deciduous forests, where oak, beech, chestnut, hornbeam grow.
Meadow-marsh vegetation alternates with arid semi-desert areas. They are filled with artificial plantings - poppies, irises, tulips, groves of acacia and oak.
Aronal lands are represented by vast berries, vineyards. Caucasus nature favorable for fruit trees, shrubs - pear, cherry plum, hawthorn, thorns, dogwood.
Fauna
The steppes are inhabited by animals such as the gopher,jerboa, hare, steppe polecat, fox, wolf. They are rich and wild nature of Russia. The Caucasus, its semi-desert areas, are favorable for the eared hedgehog, dwarf sand eel, midday hare and Korsak fox. There are saigas (steppe antelope). In the forests live roe deer, brown bear, bison.
The nature of the Caucasus is distinguished by a large number of reptiles. A humid and warm climate is an excellent condition for their survival and reproduction. This is a steppe viper and a boa, a snake and lizards.
In the reed beds can be found wild boar, reed cat, jackals. There are waterfowl, as well as an eagle, kite, kestrel, lark, bustard, harrier, crane.
Minerals
The Caucasus’s nature is rich in large deposits of oil and gas. Deposits of stone and brown coal, copper and manganese ores, asbestos, and rock salt are of industrial importance.
Soil studies have shown that all the metals necessary for the national economy can be found in the North Caucasus. These are deposits:
- zinc;
- copper;
- chromium;
- aluminum;
- arsenic;
- lead;
- gland.
Recently, widespread popularitybuilding stone development. Strong tuff lava and roofing slate are especially appreciated. For the construction of buildings used local Neogene limestone. The North Caucasus is famous for its deposits of granite, marble, basalt. Identified deposits of gold and silver.
Conclusion
The main features of the nature of the North Caucasuslie in its diversity. The combination of glacial mountains with black-capped lowlands, alpine meadows with semi-deserts. Abundant precipitation of the western territory passes into the dry winds of the eastern regions.
Cyclones, warm and cold air frontsform a feature of the North Caucasus. Flows from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea carry moisture. Dry air masses from Central Asia and Iran are hot winds.
Clean, clear air, saturatedultraviolet light gives longevity to its multinational inhabitants. Warm, short winters, a high level of the agricultural sector attracts travelers. Healing springs, deposits of natural resources make this area attractive for the health care system and industry.
Multi-level landscape, numerous rivers -The natural beauty of the region is striking in its magnificence. Historical and cultural landmarks give an energy boost to this fertile territory.
