The largest plains on the map. The largest plains in Russia
A plain is an area of land whose slope does not exceed 50°, and the heights do not differ by more than 200 meters. This is the most common type of relief on the planet, occupying about 64% of the territory. There are about 30 plains on the territory of the Russian Federation, the most famous of which is the East European one. In area it is second only to the Amazonian lowland and is the second in the world.
For Russia, plains are of great importance, because almost 75% of the country is located on this type of terrain. Historically, it was on the flat areas that the Slavic civilization developed: ancient cities and roads, political upheavals and wars occurred. Fertile soils The plains not only provided people with food, but also introduced unique features into culture and fishing.
East European Plain (4 million km2)
One of the largest plains on the planet, covering most of Eastern Europe, received a second name - Russian. The distance between the northern and southern borders exceeds 2500 km. And from west to east it extends for 2700 km. Borders:
- In the northwest are the Scandinavian Mountains;
- In the southwest there are mountains Central Europe(Sudetes);
- In the southeast - Caucasus Mountains;
- In the west is the Vistula River;
- In the north - the White and Barents Seas;
- In the east are the Ural Mountains and Mugodzhary.
The height of the plain above sea level is not uniform. Frequently occurring elevations are located at levels of 200-300 m, and large rivers such as the Volga, Dnieper, Danube, Don, Western Dvina and Vistula flow through the lowlands. The origin of the vast majority of highlands and lowlands is tectonic.
At the base of the plain lie two plates: Russian with a Precambrian crystalline foundation and Scythian with a Paleozoic folded foundation. The relief does not express the intertile boundary.
Glaciation had a significant impact on the process of relief formation, especially changing the surface of the northern areas. The passage of the glacier gave rise to the formation of many lakes for which the area is famous. This is how the Beloe, Peipus and Pskov lakes were formed. In the southern part, glaciation activity is weak due to erosion processes.
Central Siberian Plateau (about 3.5 million km2)
In the eastern part of Russia there is another largest flat area - the Central Siberian Plateau. It covers the territories of the Irkutsk region, Krasnoyarsk Territory and Yakutia.
- In the south - the Eastern Sayan mountain system, as well as the mountain regions of the Baikal region and Transbaikalia;
- In the west is the valley of the Yenisei River;
- In the north - the North Siberian Lowland;
- In the east is the Lena River valley.
The plateau is located on the Siberian platform. Feature- alternating plateaus and ridges. The highest peak is Mount Kamen (height 1701 m above ground level), which belongs to the middle mountains of Putorana. The western edge of the plateau is covered by the dissected hills of the Yenisei Ridge (the highest point is Mount Enashimsky Polkan, 1104 m high). The territory of the Central Siberian Plateau is distinguished by the largest permafrost rocks in the world, the height of which reaches 1500 km.
West Siberian Plain (2.6 million km²)
The plain is located in the northern part of Asia and covers the entire territory of western Siberia. It has a characteristic trapezoidal shape, which tapers towards the north. The length from south to north is about 2500 km, and from west to east it varies from 800 to 1950 km. Borders:
- In the west - the Ural Mountains;
- In the east - the Central Siberian Plateau;
- In the north - the Kara Sea;
- In the south - the Kazakh small hills;
- In the southeast - the West Siberian Plain and the foothills of Altai.
The surface of the plain is relatively uniform with a slight difference in elevation. Lowland areas are concentrated in the central and northern parts, and low elevations are located along the eastern, southern and western outskirts (height does not exceed 250 m).
Baraba Lowland (117 thousand km2)
The Barabinskaya stele is located in the southern part of Western Siberia, between the Irtysh and Ob rivers. It is an undulating plain, in the southern part of which there are ridges (parallel elevations). The Novosibirsk and Omsk regions are located in the lowlands. It is composed of thick deposits of Mesozoic and Cenozoic age.
In low areas (height 80-100 m), fresh (Ubinskoe) and salt (Chany, Tandovo and Sartlan) lakes, swamps filled with peat moss and saline fields were formed. During geological exploration activities, deposits of oil and natural gas were discovered in the north of the plain.
Kulunda Plain (100 thousand km²)
The Kuluda Plain is the southern part of the West Siberian Plain and covers the Altai and Pavlodar regions. Its appearance is associated with the accumulative activity of large rivers - the Irtysh and Ob. The southeast of the plain adjoins the Altai foothills. The highest point does not exceed 250m, low-lying areas mainly occupy the central part (100-120 m above sea level).
The relief is distinguished by the alternation of elevated ridges (50-60m) and low areas separating them. The valleys of the Burla, Kuchuk and Kulunda rivers pass through the lowlands. For the industry of Western Siberia, the plain is of significant importance due to the endorheic lakes, from which table and Glauber's salt (Kuchukskoe and Kulundinskoe lakes), as well as soda (Petukhovskoe lakes) are extracted.
Azov-Kuban (Kuban-Azov lowland) plain (about 50 thousand km2)
The lowland is located in the Western part of the Ciscaucasia and covers the territories of the Krasnodar Territory, Stavropol Territory and Rostov Region. The height of the plain above sea level does not exceed 300 m.
- In the south - the Kuban River;
- In the west - the Sea of Azov;
- In the east - the Kumo-Manych depression;
- In the north is the Yegorlyk River.
The main part of the plain is located within the Scythian plate. Rocks of Meso-Cenozoic age, predominantly of sedimentary origin. The lowland area adjacent to the Black Sea is divided by a large number of branches of the Kuban River. In the marshy areas of the plain there are floodplains (flooded floodplains of rivers) and estuaries (bays that arise when a river flows into the sea).
The Russian Federation occupies a vast territory. Due to its impressive area, the country's topography is very diverse. The rivers, plains and mountains of Russia constitute a unique natural system that reflects the entire identity of the Eurasian continent.
Plains of Russia
Plains are areas of land with a flat or hilly surface, in which fluctuations in elevation will be very small. The main feature of all plains is their relatively flat terrain. But in fact, it is more diverse: in some places the plains are indeed flat, in others they are hilly.
On a physical map, plains are designated green varying degrees saturation. So, the brighter green color, the higher the flat area is located above sea level. Dark green color indicates lowlands.
Rice. 1. Plains on the physical map.
Plains dominate in Russia: they occupy about 70% of the country's territory. There are three largest plains in the Russian Federation:
- East European or Russian Plain . It is located to the west of the Ural Mountains and occupies more than 4 million square meters. km. Its surface does not have a perfectly flat topography, since it consists of lowlands, hills and hilly areas. Such plains are called hilly.
- West Siberian Plain . It is located east of the Ural Mountains and occupies 2.5 million square meters. km. This is one of the lowest plains on globe. Her distinctive feature- almost perfectly flat surface. Such plains are called flat. Only occasionally there are small hills, not exceeding 300 m in height.
- Central Siberian Plateau . It is located east of the West Siberian Plain and occupies about 3 million square meters. km. A plateau is a flat area of land that lies high above sea level. The plateau has much in common with the mountainous terrain, but only the mountains have their peaks “cut off.”
Rice. 2. Central Siberian Plateau
Mountains of Russia
On the territory of Russia, mountains are located in the southern and eastern parts. The mountains were formed in ancient times: hundreds of thousands of years ago, when active displacements of the earth's crust occurred.
Mountains are young and old. Young mountains continue to “grow” upward. As a rule, they are very tall, with sharp peaks. They often contain active volcanoes. The ancient mountains are relatively low, flat, and have been experiencing the destructive effects of wind and melt water for many years.
In Russia there are both young and old mountains:
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- Ural Mountains . Some of the most ancient, formed more than 300 million years ago. Stretching from north to south throughout the country, they separate the European part of Russia from the Asian part. The height of the Ural Mountains is very modest: their highest point is Mount Narodnaya (1895 m). They are very rich in minerals, among which they are of particular value gems and gems.
- . These are the highest and youngest mountains. Formed about 25 million years ago. They are divided into two mountain systems: the Lesser and Greater Caucasus. Nai highest point- Mount Elbrus (5642 m). Almost all the peaks of the Caucasus Mountains are covered with eternal snow, which attracts climbers and ski lovers.
Rice. 3. Caucasus Mountains.
- Altai and Sayans . Young and high mountains formed in the south of Siberia. The highest peak of the Altai Mountains is Belukha Peak (4506 m). They have a unique ecosystem and are included in the World Natural Heritage List.
- Kamchatka Mountains . These are young mountains, among which there are more than 140 volcanoes, including 28 active ones. The highest and at the same time active volcano in Kamchatka is Klyuchevaya Sopka (4750 m).
Russia is a country of vast plains and majestic mountains. The largest plains in Russia are the East European (Russian), West Siberian, and Central Siberian Plateau. The most famous mountains of our country are the Ural, Caucasian, Altai, Sayan.
Using the map in the textbook ( The world 4th grade, p. 58-59) label the largest plains and mountains of our country on the contour map (p. 30-31). Please note that the outline map has dotted lines for labels.
Ask a student sitting next to you to check your work.
Question Ant wants to know the names of these geographical features. Indicate with arrows.
Test yourself using the textbook.
"Stone Belt of the Russian Land" - Ural Mountains
A plain stretching from the western borders of Russia to the Ural Mountains - East European Plain
The highest mountain in Russia is Elbrus
The plain located east of the Ural Mountains is the West Siberian Plain
Learn to recognize plains and mountains from photographs. Cut out photos from the Appendix. Think about what signs you can use to recognize these geographical features. Place the photos in the appropriate boxes. Ask your teacher to check your work. After checking, paste the photos.
The Wise Turtle invites you to use the map as a source of information and obtain important information about the mountains of Russia. Using the map in your textbook, fill in the table.
The height of some mountains in Russia
Using a map, explain (orally) where each mountain is located. Using the table data, compare the mountains by height. List the mountains in order of increasing height; in order of decreasing height.
According to the instructions of the textbook (p. 64), prepare a report about one of the geographical objects (of your choice).
Message subject: Caucasus Mountains
Message plan:
1. Location.
2. Mountain relief.
3. Greater Caucasus
4. Lesser Caucasus
5. Mount Elbrus and Kazbek
6. Minerals in the Caucasus.
7. Flora and fauna.
Important message information: Divided into two mountain systems:
The Caucasus is a folded mountain range with some volcanic activity that formed approximately 28-23 million years ago. The mountains are composed of granite and gneiss, among other things, and the foothills contain deposits of oil and natural gas.
The Caucasus is often divided into the Northern Caucasus and Transcaucasia, the border between which is drawn along the Main, or Watershed, ridge of the Greater Caucasus, which occupies a central position in the mountain system. The most famous peaks - Mount Elbrus (5642 m) and Mount Kazbek (5033 m) are covered with eternal snow and glaciers.
Source(s) of information: Internet
Message about the Ural Mountains >>
The largest lowland in Russia
East European Lowland
Between the highlands of the East European Plain lies the largest lowland in Russia.
It stretches along the valleys of large rivers such as the Dnieper, Don, and Volga. The lowland is washed by the White and Barents seas from the north, the Caspian, Black and Azov seas from the south, and borders the Scandinavian mountains, the mountains of Central Europe, the Caucasus, Crimea, and the Urals. The total length of the lowland is about 2500 km.
The lowest point is located on the coast of the Caspian Sea.
The Russian Plain almost completely coincides with the East European Platform. This may explain the absence of strong natural phenomena such as volcanoes and earthquakes. The only thing that can pose a danger to a person is strong whirlwinds and tornadoes.
The climate on the plain was formed under the influence of external natural forces, namely, the Quaternary glaciation. The largest lowland in Russia was exposed to glaciers from different directions.
They were approaching from the Scandinavian Peninsula and the Urals. Over the centuries, depressions, reliefs were formed, rocks were deformed, and winding deep bays. As the glaciers retreated, clear lakes were formed and hills appeared, which to this day surround the largest lowland in Russia.
Natural areas in the largest lowland in Russia
Almost all types of natural zones existing in Russia are located on the territory of the East European Plain.
Tundra, coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests, forest-steppe and steppe zones, deserts and semi-deserts stretch from the shores of the Barents Sea to the lowest point on the Caspian coast.
Moderate rainfall, rich wildlife and vegetable world, the diversity of landscapes combined with amazing beauty made the Russian Plain a populous area.
The largest lowland in Russia has long been developed by man. A considerable part of the Russian population is concentrated there.
Many industrial enterprises and farms have been built, the railway and automobile industries have been developed, a large number of cities and villages. The human influence did not go unnoticed. Emissions, waste, deforestation, extermination of wildlife, pollution of soils and water bodies negatively affect the ecology of the Russian Plain.
Elevation, or high plain- plot earth's surface, with an absolute height of ~200 to ~500 meters. Despite the fact that they are called plains, they do not always have a flat surface.
Plateau- this is an elevated plain, clearly distinguished by ledges from neighboring flat areas, and having a flat surface (in other words, a plateau is a small mountain with a cut off top).
Central Russian Upland
The Central Russian Upland is a large elevated plain with a length of about 1000 km and a width of up to 500 km.
Its average height is 200-300 meters, and the highest point is at 320 meters.
Valdai Upland
The Valdai Upland Plain is located in the northwestern part of Russia.
It is quite large in size and seems attractive for tourism. Perhaps because there are nature reserves and national parks on the hill.
Smolensk-Moscow Upland
Located on the territories of Russia and Belarus, it is usually divided into 2 hills, which are its constituent parts: Smolensk and Moscow. Their total length is about 500 km.
Laurentian Rise
Located in northeastern North America.
It is one of the largest hills in the world - an area of about 5 million km2.
Donetsk Ridge
It is located on the border of Russia and Ukraine and has a length of about 370 km.
Danilovskaya Upland
The Danilovskaya Upland is located in northwestern Russia.
Its average height is about 200 meters and has a wavy and gently undulating topography.
Volga Upland
The Volga Upland is located on the right bank of the Volga, for which it received its name.
It has a length of about 810 km and a width of up to 500 km (although in some places the width does not exceed 60 km).
Vyatsky Uval
It is a small elevated plain located on the territory of Russia, in the Kirov region and the Republic of Mari El.
Luga Upland
It is located in the north-west of Russia, in the Pskov region.
Its area is slightly less than 3 thousand km2.
Plateau- a transitional form between plains and mountains.
Represents a plot mountainous terrain, with an absolute height of ~500 to ~1000 meters, and a relatively flat surface.
Vitim Plateau
Located in the southeastern part of Russia.
It is a territory with mixed relief (alternating ridges with depressions). Its height varies between 1000-1600 km.
Central Siberian Plateau
The Central Siberian Plateau is located in Eastern Siberia. Its length is about 1500-2000 km, and the average height is 500-700 meters.
The highest point is 1701 meters (Mount Kamen).
Deccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau is located on the Hindustan Peninsula (India). Its area is approximately 1 million km2, and the average height is 500-1000 meters.
Nerskoye Plateau
The Nerskoye Plateau is located in the northeastern part of Russia.
Its length is twice the width and is 130 km. Maximum height- about 1500 meters.
Arabian plateau
Located on Arabian Peninsula, occupying almost its entire area. Behind this fact and got its name.
Guiana Plateau
It is a large plateau (about 1930 km), located in the northern part of South America.
Western Australian Tablelands
The plateau of western Australia.
It has an uneven terrain (height ranges from 400 to 900 meters), covered with a sandy and rocky surface.
East African plateau
Located in southeastern Africa. Has an area exceeding 800 thousand km2. It became famous due to the presence of unique natural objects on its territory: Lake Victoria and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Anadyr Plateau
In the northeast of Russia there is the Anadyr Plateau, bordering the ocean.
It is about 400 km long and reaches 1116 meters at its highest point.
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Business plan Biography Bulletin Quiz |
Plains and mountains of Russia
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1. Main features of orography.
2. The role of recent tectonics in modern relief.
3. The role of glaciations in modern relief.
4. Morphosculptural relief (fluvial, cryogenic, aeolian, etc.).
Main features of orography
The surface relief of Russia is extremely diverse.
It has the following features: 1) the predominance of plains in the western and central parts, and mountains along the eastern and southern outskirts; 2) a higher altitude position of the eastern part compared to the western part, the border between which runs along the Yenisei valley; 3) the general slope of the country's territory to the north and northwest. About 60% of Russia's territory is occupied by plains, 40% by mountains. The two largest plains of Russia are among the greatest plains in the world: East European (Russian) and West Siberian.
The East European (Russian) Plain is distinguished by the most diverse relief; within its borders there are large hills up to 300-400 m.
The highest point of the plain is in the east – the Bugulma-Belebeevskaya Upland (almost 480 m). There are a number of lowlands on the plain, the lowest is the Caspian (-26 m, i.e. 26 m below the level of the World Ocean). The average height of the Russian Plain is 170 m.
The West Siberian Plain has a more uniform topography with slight fluctuations in elevation.
Only small areas in the outlying parts of the plain exceed 200 m. The maximum height of the plain is 285 m - the Verkhnetazovskaya Upland. Almost half of the plain's territory lies below 100 m above sea level. The average height of the West Siberian Plain is 120 m.
The Central Siberian Plateau is located between the Yenisei and Lena rivers. The average height of the plateau is almost 500 m. Greatest heights it reaches within the Putorana plateau (1700 m).
The plateau is dissected by deep and large river valleys.
To the east, the Central Siberian Plateau gradually passes into the Central Yakut Plain (Vilyui Plain), and to the north it steeply descends to the North Siberian Lowland.
The East European and West Siberian plains are separated by low (1000-1500m) Ural Mountains.
The highest point of the Urals is Mount Narodnaya - 1895 m.
In the southwest of Russia and the Russian Plain extend highest mountains Greater Caucasus, which stretches from the Black to the Caspian Sea.
Here is the highest point of the Caucasus and Russia - Mount Elbrus (5642 m).
On the Crimean peninsula - the Crimean Mountains.
A mountain belt stretches across the south of Siberia, which begins with the Altai Mountains, the highest point of Altai is Mount Belukha (4506 m). Further to the east are the Western and Eastern Sayans, even further east lies the Tuva highlands, then the mountains of the Baikal region and Transbaikalia.
In Transbaikalia there is the highest highland - Stanovoe (3073 m).
To the east of the Lena River there are medium-altitude ridges and highlands: Verkhoyansk ridge (2390 m), Chersky ridge (3000 m), Suntar-Khayata ridge (2960 m), Dzhugdzhur ridge (1906 m); Oymyakon, Kolyma, Chukotka, Koryak highlands. To the south they pass into the low and medium-altitude ridges of the Amur region, Primorye (Sikhote-Alin ridge) and Sakhalin.
Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands feature folded and volcanic mountains.
In Kamchatka there is the Sredinny Range and many volcanic cones, among which the highest active volcano in Russia is Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4688 m). In general, Russia is characterized by the predominance of low and medium-high mountains.
The role of recent tectonics in modern relief
The presence of diverse relief on the territory of Russia is explained by the long history of geological development and the interaction of endogenous (internal) and exogenous (external) processes, with the leading role of endogenous ones.
After a period of relative tectonic calm, at the beginning of the Cenozoic low plains prevailed and almost no mountains remained (with the exception of low mountains in the area of Mesozoic folding), vast areas of Western Siberia and the south of the Russian Plain were covered with shallow basins.
In the Neogene, the activation of tectonic processes (new tectonic movements) began, leading to a radical restructuring of the relief. It is the latest tectonic movements that formed the modern morphostructures of Russia. The latest tectonic movements are associated with the interaction of lithospheric plates. Mountains arose in the immediate zone of contact between lithospheric plates. All currently existing mountains are the result of recent tectonic movements, so they have the same age, but the morphostructures of these mountains are different, depending on the method of their origin.
Where mountains arose on young oceanic or transitional crust, with a thick cover of sedimentary rocks crumpled into folds, young folded mountains formed. These include the mountains of Alpine folding - the Greater Caucasus, the Crimean Mountains and the mountains of the Pacific belt (the ridges of Sakhalin, Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, the Sakhalin Mountains, the Kuril Islands, including volcanic cones).
The mountain ranges here are linearly elongated along the margins of the lithospheric plates.
In areas where folding had previously occurred (Baikal, Caledonian, Hercynian), over many millions of years the mountains turned into plains and a hard continental crust formed that could not be compressed into folds.
Here, the formation of mountains proceeded differently: with lateral pressure arising when the plates approached each other, the rigid foundation was broken into separate blocks, some of which were squeezed upward. This is how blocky, or more precisely folded-blocky, mountains arose - they are also called reborn - the Urals and all the mountains of southern Siberia (Altai, Sayan Mountains, the mountains of Tuva, the Baikal region and Transbaikalia, the Stanovoe Highlands).
These mountains are characterized by the absence of a single general orientation of the ridges and the combination of ridges with highlands and intermountain basins (Minusinsk, Tuva, Chui, etc.).
In places where, by the beginning of the latest tectonic movements, the mountains were only partially destroyed (Mesozoic folding), block-folded mountains were formed - they are also called rejuvenated - the Sikhote-Alin, Dzhugdzhur ridges, mountains and highlands of North-Eastern Siberia (Verkhoyansk ridge, Chersky ridge , Oymyakon Highlands, etc.).
In internal parts The Eurasian plate (plain) experienced very slight uplifts and subsidences; only the Picaspian Lowland sank intensively.
The West Siberian Plain experienced weak subsidence. On the East European Plain, uplifts of the Central Russian, Volga and Bugulma-Belebeevskaya uplands occurred. On the Central Siberian Plateau, the uplifts were greater; the Putorana Plateau was especially strongly elevated.
On the shields, which had a constant tendency to rise, basement plains (Kola Peninsula, Karelia) and basement plateaus (Anabar massif) were formed, and the Yenisei and Timan ridges were also formed.
In those areas of the platforms where there is a thick sedimentary cover, strata, accumulative plains and plateaus have formed.
Stratified plains are characteristic of most of the East European Plain, the southern half of Western Siberia, and partly of Central Siberia.
On the Central Siberian Plateau (Vitim Plateau) and other neighboring plateaus there are volcanic plateaus (Putorana, etc.). Accumulative plains are confined to areas of subsidence of the earth's crust in recent times.
They are characterized by a thick Neogene-Quaternary sedimentary cover. These are the middle and northern parts of Western Siberia, the Middle Amur Plain, the Caspian and Pechora lowlands.
Earthquakes and volcanism are associated with recent tectonic movements. Frequent and strong earthquakes characteristic of the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, the Baikal region, Altai, the mountains of North-East Siberia, and the Greater Caucasus.
Modern volcanism in Russia manifests itself in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. The Kuril Islands are volcanic ridges and single volcanoes. In total, there are 160 volcanoes in the Kuril Islands, of which about 40 are active. The highest of them - Alaid volcano (2339 m) - is located on the island.
Atlasova. In Kamchatka there are about 130 extinct and 28 active volcanoes. The highest volcano is Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4688 m).
Active volcanoes in Quaternary times were Elbrus and Kazbek in the Caucasus.
The role of glaciations in modern relief
In addition to the latest tectonic movements (NTD), the formation of modern relief was also influenced by glaciations. There were several glaciations in Quaternary times; at least on the territory of Russia, traces of three glacial eras are clearly visible: the Oka, Dnieper and Valdai glaciations.
Glaciers covered over 20% of Russia's territory. The Dnieper glaciation was the largest in terms of territory coverage. Its border ran along the western edge of the Central Russian Upland, from the city of Sumy, further along the Oka-Don lowland, then through Penza to Kirov. The Urals were crossed by the glaciation boundary near 58° N latitude. Further, the border went to Western Siberia to the mouth of the Podkamennaya Tunguska River.
Oka glaciation in modern relief is poorly traced and is revealed only by the presence of a moraine lying under the Dnieper moraine.
The Valdai (Zyryansk) glaciation was the last, it occupied a smaller area. Its border ran along the line Smolensk - Rybinsk Reservoir– along the northwestern edge of the Dvina-Mezen Upland, further to the Pechora River, in Western Siberia – to the lower reaches of the Taz River and the coast of Taimyr.
During glacial epochs, deep freezing of soils occurred south of the glacier boundary.
Thus, during the Valdai glaciation, the permafrost boundary reached the lower reaches of the Don.
About 10,000 years ago, warming began (the end of the Pleistocene - the beginning of the Holocene), which caused the melting of glaciers.
Morphosculptural relief (fluvial, cryogenic, etc.)
Landforms created by glaciers (glacial forms) and melted glacial waters (fluvioglacial) occupy second place among morphosculptures in Russia after fluvial (water) forms.
The glacial forms of mountain and lowland areas are very different. Glacial erosional forms (exaration) have been preserved on the Kola Peninsula and Karelia; these are ram's foreheads and curly rocks.
Glacial-accumulative forms (moraine hills) are characteristic of the north of the Russian Plain, the north of Western Siberia, the north of the Central Siberian Plateau and the North Siberian Lowland: drumlins, eskers, kamas, moraine ridges.
Fluvio-glacial landforms formed at the edge of the glacier: these were predominantly outwash plains. They occur on the West Siberian and East European Plains.
Mountain glaciation is characterized by karas and trough valleys.
This type of relief occurs in the Caucasus, in the mountains of the Northeast and southern Siberia (Altai, Sayan, Baikal region).
Huge areas in Russia are occupied by fluvial morphosculptural relief. Its largest forms, river valleys, are distributed throughout the country. Non-glacial areas, especially the highlands of the south of the country, are characterized by gully-gully relief.
Karst landforms are confined to areas where soluble rocks occur. They take place on the Russian Plain, in the Cis-Urals and the Urals, as well as the Caucasus. Suffosion relief (steppe saucers, depressions, pods) is associated with the mechanical removal of small particles by sediment seeping through the soil, mainly on loess-like rocks. This is the south of Western Siberia and the south of the Russian Plain. Landslide relief is confined mainly to middle lane East European Plain, especially the Volga region.
Aeolian landforms (dunes) are not typical for Russia.
Currently they are developing in the Caspian lowland. But there are many fixed dunes along the pine forest terraces of rivers and seashores.
Cryogenic landforms are associated with permafrost. They are distributed mainly in Siberia, especially Eastern Siberia. On the European territory of the country they occur only along the coast of the Arctic Ocean. These are thermokarst basins, heaving mounds, solifluction terraces, polygonal formations (for tundras), aufeis (taryns).
In the mountainous regions of Siberia and Far East, in the Polar and Northern Urals there is a widespread char topography - kurums. These are placers of stone fragments covering the slopes of mountains.
The Amazonian lowland is the most extensive plain in the world, covering an area of more than 5 million km2. It rises above sea level to a height of 10-120 m. The entire surface of the plain is occupied by equatorial rain forests - hylea. Vast expanses of lowland are associated with the life of the great Amazon River, the largest in the world in terms of drainage area. Part of the territory near the floodplain of the river is constantly flooded, forming swampy areas, the so-called marshes, and near the mouth of the river the tidal waves of the Atlantic Ocean influence the relief of the plain. Their action is associated with the amazing phenomenon of “pororoka”, when during high tide the water swell of the ocean rises so high that it enters the mouth of the Amazon in the form of a large wave, turning back the waters of the river.
The Gobi Plain is the largest in Central Asia. It owes its name to the desert of the same name. The plain is located in an intramountain basin. In the Gobi there are denudation and accumulative areas, rocky surfaces - hammads, and real “aeolian cities” created by winds in sedimentary rocks. Due to its elevated position relative to sea level (more than 1000 m - approx. Sandwiched on all sides by high mountains, the inner Gobi plain has a harsh climate.
Great Plains - foothill plateau in North America, descending in wide steps from the Rocky Mountains to the Central Plains of America. The higher stage begins at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. It is called the Great Prairie. This is a stratified sloping plain composed of pliable sedimentary rocks that are severely destroyed by denudation. The surface of the prairies is often pitted with ravines. To the east, the Great Plains merge into the lower Central Plains. Their surface in the north is covered with glacial deposits and loess.
The Mesopotamian lowland, although not the most extensive, is certainly the most famous. This is a flat accumulative plain, composed of sediments from two great rivers of the East - the Tigris and Euphrates. The famous civilization of Mesopotamia arose here.
The West Siberian Lowland is a former bay of the Arctic Ocean. The lowland is distinguished by many lakes and a dense river network. Vast areas of the lowlands are swampy. The absolute heights of the lowland above sea level are only a few tens of meters. The richest oil and gas fields in Russia are concentrated here.
The Sahara is the largest desert on the globe, located in North Africa. The area of the Sahara is about 8 million km2, which is comparable to the size of the continent of Australia. Surfaces 200-500 m high - a vast expanse of aeolian plains (Libyan Desert, Great Western and Great Eastern Erg), lake basins (Lake Chad basin - approx., plateaus, with a few island mountain ranges - highlands (Ahaggar, Tibesti, Darfur). In some places, these plains are cut through by wide valleys - wadis (as the Arabs call dry river beds).
The East European (Russian) Plain extends west of the Ural Mountains and is located within the East European Platform. The appearance of the northern half of the plain was significantly influenced by the invasion of the ice cover in the last glacial period. The plain contains deposits of many minerals, the largest of which is the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly.
The Western European lowland plains frame the northern coast with a wide border Western Europe. These include the North German, Polish, and Flanders lowlands. By origin, these are glacial and alluvial sea plains, on the territory of which in some places there are many lakes (in Poland, for example, areas with a large number of lakes are called “lake districts” - approx.. The lands of Holland lying within the Flanders Lowland often have elevations below sea level. To protect These areas are protected from floods, people built dams.Now these lands (polders) are used for farms and pastures.
A plain is one of the main forms of earth's relief. On the physical map of the world, plains are indicated by three colors: green, yellow and light brown. They occupy about 60% of the entire surface of our planet. The most extensive plains are confined to slabs and platforms.
Characteristics of the plains
A plain is an area of land or seabed that has a slight fluctuation in elevation (up to 200 m) and a slight slope (up to 5º). They are found at different altitudes, including at the bottom of the oceans.
A distinctive feature of the plains is a clear, open horizon line, straight or wavy, depending on the surface topography.
Another feature is that the plains are the main territories inhabited by people.
Natural areas of the plains
Since the plains occupy a vast territory, almost all natural zones exist on them. For example, the East European Plain includes tundra, taiga, mixed and deciduous forests, steppes and semi-deserts. Most of the Amazonian lowland is occupied by jungles, and on the plains of Australia there are semi-deserts and savannas.
Types of plains
In geography, plains are divided according to several criteria.
1. By absolute height distinguish:
. low-lying . The height above sea level does not exceed 200m. A striking example— West Siberian Plain.
. Exalted — with a height difference from 200 to 500 m above sea level. For example, the Central Russian Plain.
. Upland plains , whose level is measured at levels above 500 m. For example, the Iranian Plateau.
. depressions - the highest point is below sea level. Example - Caspian lowland.
Separately, underwater plains are distinguished, which include the bottom of basins, shelves and abyssal areas.
2. By origin plains are:
. Rechargeable (sea, river and continental) - formed as a result of the influence of rivers, ebbs and flows. Their surface is covered with alluvial sediments, and in the sea - with marine, river and glacial sediments. Of the sea, we can cite the West Siberian Lowland as an example, and of the river, the Amazon. Among continental plains, marginal lowlands that have a slight slope towards the sea are classified as accumulative plains.
. Abrasion - are formed as a result of the impact of surf on land. In areas where they dominate strong winds, rough seas are frequent, and the coastline is formed of weak rocks, this type of plains is more often formed.
. Structural - the most complex in origin. In place of such plains, mountains once rose. As a result of volcanic activity and earthquakes, the mountains were destroyed. The magma flowing from cracks and splits bound the surface of the land like armor, hiding all the unevenness of the relief.
. Ozernye — are formed on the site of dry lakes. Such plains are usually small in area and are often bordered by coastal ramparts and ledges. An example of a lake plain is Jalanash and Kegen in Kazakhstan.
3. By type of relief plains are distinguished:
. flat or horizontal - Great Chinese and West Siberian Plains.
. wavy — are formed under the influence of water and water-glacial flows. For example, the Central Russian Upland
. hilly — the relief contains individual hills, hills, and ravines. Example - East European Plain.
. stepped - are formed under the influence of the internal forces of the Earth. Example - Central Siberian Plateau
. concave - These include the plains of intermountain depressions. For example, the Tsaidam Basin.
There are also ridge and ridge plains. But in nature it is most often found mixed type. For example, the Pribelsky ridge-undulating plain in Bashkortostan.
Plains climate
The climate of the plains is formed depending on its geographical location, the proximity of the ocean, the area of the plain itself, its length from north to south, as well as climate zone. The free movement of cyclones ensures a clear change of seasons. Often the plains are replete with rivers and lakes, which contribute to the formation of climatic conditions.
Largest plains in the world
Plains are common on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. In Eurasia, the largest are the East European, West Siberian, Turanian, and East China Plains. In Africa - the East African Plateau, in North America - the Mississippian, Great, Mexican, in South America- Amazonian lowland (the largest in the world, its area is over 5 million sq. km) and the Guiana Plateau.