Types of economic activity in the steppe zone. Characteristics of the steppes of Russia

All natural areas have long been mastered by man. He actively conducts economic activities, thereby changing the characteristics of natural areas. How does human economic activity differ in natural areas?

polar deserts

These are the most unsuitable regions of Russia for the economy. The soil here is represented by permafrost and covered with ice. Therefore, neither animal husbandry nor crop production is possible here. There is only fishing here.

Arctic foxes live in coastal areas, whose fur is highly valued in the world. Arctic foxes are actively hunted, which can lead to the extinction of this species.

Rice. 1. The most unsuitable natural area for farming is the Arctic Desert

Tundra and forest tundra

Natural conditions are not much better than in the polar deserts. Only indigenous people live in the tundra. They are engaged in hunting, fishing, reindeer herding. What changes did the person make here?

The soil of these areas is rich in gas and oil. Therefore, they are actively mined here. This results in significant pollution. environment.

forest zone

This includes taiga, mixed and broadleaf forests. The climate is temperate, characterized cold winter and relatively warm summer. Due to the large number of forests, vegetation and animal world. Favorable conditions allow various types of human economic activity to flourish. A large number of factories and plants have been built in these regions. Here they are engaged in animal husbandry, agriculture, fishing, woodworking industry. This is one of the natural areas modified by man to the greatest extent.

Rice. 2. There is active deforestation in the world

Forest-steppes and steppes

These natural and economic zones are characterized by a warm climate and insufficient rainfall. The soil here is the most fertile, and the animal world is very diverse. Agriculture and animal husbandry flourish most of all in these regions. Various varieties of vegetables and fruits, cereals are grown here. Coal and iron ore are actively mined. This leads to a distortion of the relief and the destruction of some species of animals and plants.

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Semi-deserts and deserts

It is not the most favorable conditions for human economic activity. The climate is hot and dry. The soil is desert, not fertile. The main type of economic activity in the deserts is animal husbandry. The population here breeds sheep, rams, horses. The need to graze animals leads to the final disappearance of vegetation.

Rice. 3. Livestock in the desert

Subtropics and tropics

This region has been the most affected by human activity. This is due to the fact that it was here that civilizations were born and the use of these areas has been going on for a very long time.

subtropical and rainforests almost cut down, and the territory is occupied by agricultural plantings. Huge areas are occupied by fruit trees.

What have we learned?

Man is engaged in economic activities in almost all natural areas of the world. This leads to their significant modification, which, ultimately, may lead to the extinction of some species of animals and plants.

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Steppes are endless plains covered with herbaceous plants.

For steppe zone characterized by an almost complete absence of trees, dense grass cover and increased soil fertility.

Steppes of Russia - location and description of the natural zone

The steppe zone is located a little south of the zone forests, but the transition from zone to zone stretches for several kilometers.

The territory of the steppe zone is located on the territories of the East European Plain, Western Siberia, and is also included in the geographical regions of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov.

Plants of the steppe zone

As soon as spring comes, the steppe is covered with a colorful carpet. These are early flowering flowering plants: tulips, forget-me-nots, poppies. As a rule, they have a short growing season and bloom only a few days a year.

The steppe zone is characterized by conditional "forbs", when up to eighty plant species grow on one square meter of land.

Many steppe plants have hairs, spines (thistles) on their leaves, or secrete essential oil(wormwood) to protect against excessive evaporation. Therefore, steppe grasses smell strongly.

Shrubs are typical for the northern steppe: almonds, steppe cherries, and for the southern steppe - cereals: oats, feather grass.

Animals living in the steppes

Animals of the steppe zone are distinguished by their ability to run: these are steppe hares, whose hind legs are much longer than those of their forest brothers, and ungulate animals such as saiga, bison, antelope, roe deer and even some birds, such as bustards.

The most common inhabitants of the steppe are rodents: marmots, ground squirrels, field mice. Many are endemic species, that is, they do not occur in any of the other zones.

Gopher at the hole

Due to the abundance of rodents, the entire underground section of the steppe is pitted with burrows, which save not only from bad weather, but also from attacks by predators. Burrows are also characteristic of some birds: hoopoes, wheatears, but most of the birds that live here nest right on the ground.

It often happens that other people's burrows are occupied by other animals. For example, wolves capture the dwellings of foxes and badgers, ferrets and ermines inhabit the burrows of large rodents, and minnows, lizards, and some species of snakes live in the burrows of small ones.

Ecological problems of the steppe zone

In ancient times, the steppes occupied gigantic territories, but now they are almost completely plowed up. Fertile steppe soils are occupied by agricultural crops, while the natural vegetation of the steppes is almost non-existent.

The predecessors of domestic animals have long disappeared: the bull tour, tarpan horses, which can now only be seen in the photo.

Many species of steppe animals are under the threat of extinction, their names are listed in the Red Book, for example, bustard, saiga, ground squirrels, bison, antelopes and so on.

Human economic activity continues, and every day new species of animals are under threat. Some of them can be found only in nature reserves and reserves.

Climate features

The steppes are located in the subtropical and temperate zones of the northern and southern hemispheres, this is studied in grades 3-4 of elementary school.

The steppe zone includes the classic characteristics temperate zone: summer here is warm, dry, hot winds often blow, called dry winds.

At the end of summer, dry grass and dust make the steppe look gray. Heavy rains are rare, after which the water quickly evaporates, not having time to saturate the soil.

Winter stops life in the steppe: the vast expanses of the steppes are covered with a thick layer of snow, piercing winds blow.

Steppe Zone Power Scheme

Insects feed on steppe grasses: grasshopper, praying mantis, bees. The life of animals and birds directly depends on their quantity.

Rodents and insectivorous birds are eaten by carnivores, such as the steppe eagle., which is the top of the steppe food chain, as well as predatory animals: badgers, hedgehogs, martens.

The soil of the steppes and their properties

The main difference of the steppe from other natural zones is the increased fertility of the soil.

The humus layer here can reach 50 cm or more, while in the neighboring forest zone its thickness is only about 15 cm.

Steppe reserves of Russia

In Russia, 28 reserves have been created with a steppe or mixed-steppe zone, which are under special protection.

Among them are a reserve in Khakassia or the Taiga Museum of Nature, in which such rare animals as deer, musk deer, American mink and so on live.

Przewalski's horse in the Orenburg Reserve

Also Orenburg nature reserve, the territory of which is 47,000 hectares. There are endangered designations of plants, for example, burnet, valerian, celandine, as well as 98 species of Red Book animals and birds.

Human activity in the steppe

Due to the fertility of the soil, the steppe is used by man to grow various crops, mainly drought-resistant plants: sunflower, cereals, corn, millet, and various melons. The unplowed area is given over to pastures.

Finally, some interesting facts:

1. Steppe zones are found on the map of all the continents of the world, except for Antarctica.
2. There are practically no trees in the steppe due to the lack of moisture necessary for their vital activity.
3. Only in the steppe zone grows tumbleweed - a spherical shrub that is carried by the wind over long distances and scatters its seeds at this time.
4. The South American Plain in America also includes the steppes, which are called differently - prairies.

Conclusion

The steppe is a unique natural zone, a storehouse of unique species of plants and animals that are under the threat of extinction and need our enhanced protection. Looking at the boundless steppe with its vast expanses, you understand that this territory with its incalculable wealth must be preserved for future generations.

ODiplom // State Medical University // 04/01/2014

Influence of natural conditions and natural resources on the territorial organization of society.

Natural factors have played and continue to play a crucial role in the life and development of human society.

The concept of "natural factors" usually includes the following categories: natural conditions, natural resources, sustainability of landscapes and ecological situation, which we will consider further mainly from the standpoint of the science of management.

Natural conditions are understood as a set of the most important natural characteristics of the territory, reflecting the main features of the components of the natural environment or local natural phenomena.

Natural conditions directly affect the life and economic activity of the population. On them depend: the resettlement of the population, the development and distribution of productive forces, their specialization. They determine the cost and, consequently, the competitiveness of manufactured products, which is especially important for countries with a significant spread of extreme natural features, including Russia.

Among the components of the natural environment, as a rule, climate, geological environment, surface and ground waters, soils, biota, and landscapes are considered as characteristics of natural conditions.

An additional, but very important characteristic of natural conditions is the prevalence of local natural phenomena - adverse and dangerous natural phenomena, which include natural natural disasters and natural foci of infection.

The climatic features of the territory are manifested primarily in the ratio of heat and moisture.

The amount of heat required to complete the vegetation cycle (growth period) is called the biological sum of temperatures. Thermal resources determine the energy of plant growth.

As the world's largest country in terms of territory (about 17 million sq. km), Russia is characterized by a significant variety of climatic conditions. At the same time, it should be emphasized that Russia as a whole is the northernmost and most cold country in the world, which affects its economy, economy, many aspects of the life of the population and politics. The consequence of climatic conditions is permafrost, which covers an area equal to almost 10 million square meters. km.

The specifics of permafrost must be taken into account when creating engineering structures: pipelines, bridges, railways and roads, power lines and other infrastructure facilities.

Hydration manifests itself primarily in the form precipitation, is the second most important climatic factor. It is necessary for the entire period of plant life. The lack of moisture leads to a sharp decrease in yield. To identify the conditions for moistening a particular territory, they operate with indicators of the amount of precipitation and the magnitude of possible evaporation. In Russia, territories with excessive moisture predominate; excess of precipitation over evaporation.

The most important factors in the formation of the natural specificity of the region are the relief and geological structure. Influencing all components of the natural environment, the relief contributes to the emergence of differences in landscapes and at the same time is itself affected by natural zonality and altitudinal zonality. Engineering-geological conditions of the area reflect the composition, structure and dynamics of the upper horizons earth's crust in connection with the economic (engineering) activities of a person. On the basis of engineering and geological studies, the most favorable places for locating various types of economic facilities are determined, calculations of the stability of rocks during construction work, processing of banks after filling reservoirs, stability of dams, determine the requirements for the construction of structures in conditions of permafrost, excessive moisture of the surface in seismic, karst, landslide areas, etc. Accounting for mining and geological conditions is vital in all areas of economic activity, but especially in urban planning, transport and hydraulic engineering construction.

For agriculture and a number of other sectors of the economy essential have soil conditions. Soil is a special natural body formed as a result of the transformation of the surface layer of the earth's crust under the influence of water, air and biota and combines the properties of living and inanimate nature. The value properties of the soil are reflected in its fertility - the ability to provide plants with digestible nutrients and moisture and create conditions for harvesting.

In the natural sciences, biota is understood as a historically established set of living organisms living in any large area, i.e. fauna and flora of this area. The characteristic of the natural conditions of the area also includes an assessment of vegetation and wildlife.

In Russia, the main types of vegetation include tundra, forest, meadow and steppe. Among various types vegetation a special place belongs to the forest. Their ecological and economic value is high, as well as their unique environment-forming role on the planet.

Natural conditions affect almost all aspects Everyday life population, features of its work, rest and life, people's health and the possibility of their adaptation to new, unusual conditions. The total assessment of natural conditions is determined by the level of their comfort for a person. To measure it, up to 30 parameters are used (duration climatic periods, temperature contrast, climate humidity, wind regime, the presence of natural foci of infectious diseases, etc.)

According to the level of comfort, there are:

1. extreme territories (polar regions, alpine regions of high latitudes, etc.);

2. uncomfortable areas - areas with severe natural conditions, unsuitable for life of non-indigenous, non-adapted population; subdivided into cold humid (arctic deserts, tundra), arid territories (deserts and semi-deserts), as well as mountainous areas;

3. hypercomfortable territories - areas with limited favorable natural conditions for the resettlement population; subdivided into boreal (forests of the temperate zone) and semiarid (steppes of the temperate zone);

4. precomfortable territories - areas with minor deviations from the natural optimum for the formation of a permanent population;

5. comfortable territories - areas with almost ideal environmental conditions for the life of the population; characteristic of the southern part of the temperate zone, in Russia they are represented by small areas.

Natural conditions are of paramount importance for those branches of the national economy that operate in the open. These are agriculture, forestry and water management. Almost all types of construction are in great dependence on natural conditions. The natural parameters of the territory have a significant impact on the organization of urban utilities.

In the north and in other regions with extreme natural conditions, there is a need to create special technical means adapted to these conditions, for example, with an increased margin of safety.

A specific form of natural conditions are inherently unfavorable and dangerous phenomena nature (NOA) or natural disasters

Earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes and storms, tornadoes, typhoons, landslides, landslides, mudflows, avalanches, forest and peat fires are among the most common and at the same time dangerous for humans. Typical examples adverse events nature are droughts, frosts, severe frosts, thunderstorms, heavy or prolonged rains, hail and some others.

Vital in many cases, protection from NOA inevitably leads to a significant increase in the cost of building and maintaining cities and communications; technologies adapted to increased loads or capable of preventing dangerous impacts.

Natural resources are represented by those elements of the natural environment that can be used in the process of material production at a given stage in the development of society. They are used to obtain industrial and food raw materials, electricity generation, etc.

As the basis of any production, they are divided into:

1. subsoil resources (these include all types of mineral raw materials and fuel);

2. biological, land and water resources;

3. resources of the World Ocean;

4. recreational resources.

On the basis of exhaustibility, natural resources are divided into exhaustible and inexhaustible.

Exhaustible resources are divided into non-renewable and renewable. Inexhaustible natural resources include water, climatic and space resources, the resources of the World Ocean.

Mineral resources remain an indispensable basis for the development of any society. According to the nature of industrial and sectoral use, they are divided into three large groups:

- fuel or combustible - liquid fuel (oil), gaseous (usable gas), solid (coal, oil shale, peat), nuclear fuel (uranium and thorium). These are the main sources of energy for most types of transport, thermal and nuclear power plants, blast furnaces. All of them, except for nuclear fuel, are used in the chemical industry;

- metal ore - ores of ferrous, non-ferrous, rare, precious metals, rare and rare earth metals. They form the basis for the development of modern engineering;

- non-metallic - mining and chemical raw materials (asbestos, graphite,

- mica, talc), building materials (clays, sands, limestones),

— agrochemical raw materials (sulphur, salts, phosphorites, and apatites), etc.

Economic-geographical assessment mineral resources is a complex concept and includes three types of assessments.

It includes: a quantitative assessment of individual resources (for example, coal in tons, gas, wood in cubic meters, etc.), its value increases as the exploration of the resource increases and decreases j as it is exploited; technological, technical (reveals the suitability of resources for economic purposes, their condition and knowledge, the degree of exploration and availability) and cost (in monetary terms).

The total value of explored and estimated mineral resources is 28.6 (or 30.0) trillion US dollars, of which one third is gas (32.2%), 23.3 is coal, 15.7 is oil, and the forecast potential is at 140.2 trillion US dollars (structure: 79.5% - solid fuel, 6.9 - gas, 6.5 - oil).

The natural resource potential of Russia is distributed unevenly across the territory. The main and most promising sources of natural wealth are located mainly in the East and North of the country and are removed from the developed areas at very considerable distances. The eastern regions account for 90% of the reserves of all fuel resources, more than 80% of hydropower, a high proportion of non-ferrous and rare metal ores.

Nature has a huge impact on human economic activity. Climatic features, relief, inland waters, permafrost, soils largely predetermine the specialization of agriculture. Natural conditions influence the development of many industries (mining, forestry, hydropower, etc.).

Human economic activity

For non-traditional types of energy - wind, tidal, geothermal, solar, natural factor generally decisive. The natural specificity of the territory affects the features of construction, the development of transport and the resort economy.

To prove this, let us cite as an example the types of human agricultural activities in the tundra and steppe zones.

In the tundra zone, located in the subarctic climatic zone, where the average July temperature barely reaches + 8 ° C and the entire territory is covered with permafrost with an abundance of swamps and absolutely infertile waterlogged and frozen tundra-gley soils, crop production in open field impossible.

The most important branches of agricultural specialization here are the traditional occupations of the inhabitants of the Far North - reindeer herding, hunting and fishing.

In the steppe zone, located in the southern regions of the temperate climate zone, where the average July temperatures are + 22°С, with insufficient moisture, fertile black earth soils, crop production becomes the leading branch of agricultural specialization.

Agriculture here is a developed and diversified form of activity. In the steppe zone, wheat, corn, sugar beet, sunflower, essential oil crops are grown, vegetable growing, melon growing, horticulture and partly viticulture are developed.

Among the branches of animal husbandry, dairy and meat and meat and dairy cattle breeding, horse breeding, pig breeding, sheep breeding and poultry farming have been developed here.

Nature has an impact on human economic activity.

Prove this by comparing the types of economic activities in different natural areas. For what types of economic activity is the importance of natural conditions especially great? wikipedia
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With the advent and improvement of man, the evolutionary processes of the biosphere have undergone a significant change. At the dawn of its appearance, man had a predominantly local impact on the environment. This was expressed, first of all, in meeting the minimum needs for food and housing.

Ancient hunters, with a decrease in the number of game animals, moved to hunt in other places. Ancient farmers and pastoralists, if the soil was depleted or there was less food, they developed new lands. At the same time, the population of the planet was small. Almost completely absent any industrial production. A small amount of waste and pollution generated at that time as a result of human activities did not pose a danger.

Everything could be utilized due to the destructive function of living matter.

The growth of the world's population, the successful development of animal husbandry, agriculture and scientific and technological progress determined the further development of mankind.

More than 7 billion people now live on Earth, by 2030

this number will grow to 10 billion, and by 2050 - up to 12.5 billion people. Providing the population of the Earth with food and energy resources is already now acute problem. Today, about 70% of the world's population lives in countries where there is a constant shortage of food. Non-renewable natural resources are declining catastrophically.

For example, according to scientists' forecasts, humanity will use up all the reserves of metals over the next 200 years.

Human economic activity at the present stage is increasingly demonstrating negative examples impact on the biosphere. These include: environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, land desertification, soil erosion. Natural communities are also violated, forests are cut down, rare species of plants and animals disappear.

Environmental pollution

Environmental pollution- the entry into the environment of new, uncharacteristic for it solid, liquid and gaseous substances or the excess of their natural level in the environment, which has Negative influence to the biosphere.

Air pollution

Clean air is essential for the life of all living organisms.

In many countries, the problem of maintaining its purity is a state priority. main reason air pollution is the combustion of fossil fuels. Of course, he still plays a leading role in providing energy to all sectors of the economy. To date, the vegetation of the planet is no longer able to fully assimilate the combustion products of liquid and solid fuels.

Carbon oxides (CO and CO2) released into the atmosphere as a result of fuel combustion are the cause of the greenhouse effect.

Sulfur oxides (SO2 and SO3), formed as a result of the combustion of fuel containing sulfur, interact in the atmosphere with water vapor. The end products of such a reaction are solutions of sulfurous (H2SO3) and sulfuric (H2SO4) acids.

These acids fall on the surface of the earth with precipitation, cause acidification of the soil, and lead to human diseases. Most from acid rain forest ecosystems, especially conifers, suffer. They have the destruction of chlorophyll, the underdevelopment of pollen grains, the drying and falling off of the needles.

Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2), being exposed to ultraviolet rays, are involved in the formation of free radicals in the atmosphere.

Nitrogen oxides lead to the development of a number of pathological conditions in humans and animals. These gases, for example, irritate Airways cause pulmonary edema, etc.

Chlorine compounds make a significant contribution to the destruction of the planet's ozone layer.

For example, one free chlorine radical can destroy up to 100,000 ozone molecules, which is the cause of the formation of ozone holes in the atmosphere.

The causes of radioactive contamination of the atmosphere are accidents at nuclear power plants (for example, at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986).

Testing also contributes to this process. nuclear weapons and improper disposal of nuclear waste. Radioactive particles that enter the atmosphere are dispersed over long distances, polluting the soil, air, and water bodies.

Transport should also be mentioned as a source of air pollution. The exhaust gases of internal combustion engines contain a wide range of contaminants.

Among them are oxides of carbon and nitrogen, soot, as well as heavy metals and compounds that have a carcinogenic effect.

Hydrosphere pollution

deficit fresh water is a global environmental problem. Along with the consumption and shortage of water, the growing pollution of the hydrosphere is a concern.

The main cause of water pollution is the direct discharge of industrial waste and municipal wastewater into aquatic ecosystems.

AT this case biological contaminants (for example, pathogenic bacteria) enter the aquatic environment with chemicals.

When heated wastewater is discharged, physical (thermal) pollution of the hydrosphere occurs. Such discharges reduce the amount of oxygen in the water, increase the toxicity of impurities and often lead to slaughter (death of aquatic organisms).

Soil pollution

In connection with human economic activity, chemical substances that disrupt soil-forming processes and reduce fertility.

Soil pollution occurs with excessive use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. Together with organic fertilizers (manure), biological pollutants can penetrate the soil.

What human economic activity has changed the face of the steppes

Depletion of natural resources

Natural resources are people's means of subsistence, which are not created by their labor, but are found in nature.

The main problem of their current state is the reduction in the number of exhaustible and the deterioration in the quality of inexhaustible natural resources. This is especially true for animal and plant resources.

Habitat destruction, environmental pollution, overuse of natural resources, poaching significantly reduce the species diversity of plants and animals.

During the existence of mankind, about 70% of forest land has been cut down and destroyed. This caused the extinction of plant species that lived in herbaceous and shrub layers. They could not exist in direct sunlight.

As a result of deforestation, the animal world has also changed. Animal species that were closely related to the tree layers either disappeared or migrated to other places.

It is believed that since 1600, as a result of human activity, about 250 animal species and 1000 plant species have completely disappeared from the face of the Earth. About 1,000 animal species and 25,000 plant species are currently threatened with extinction.

Animals and plant resources capable of permanent recovery.

If the rate of their use does not exceed the rate of natural renewal, then these resources can exist for a very long time.

However, the speed of their renewal is different. Animal populations can recover in a few years. Forests grow in several decades. And soils that have lost their fertility restore it very slowly - over several millennia.

A very important resource problem of the planet is the preservation of the quality of fresh water.

As is known, general reserves water on the planet is inexhaustible. However, fresh water accounts for only about 3% of the entire hydrosphere. Moreover, only 1% of fresh water is suitable for direct human consumption without prior purification. Approximately 1 billion people on Earth do not have constant access to fresh drinking water. Therefore, humanity should consider fresh water as an exhaustible natural resource. The problem of fresh water is aggravated every year due to the shallowing of rivers and lakes as a result of reclamation measures.

The consumption of water for the needs of agriculture and industry is increasing, water bodies are being polluted by industrial and household waste.

The lack of fresh water and its poor quality also affects people's health.

It is known that the most dangerous infectious diseases (cholera, dysentery, etc.) occur in places where access to clean water is difficult.

desertification

desertification- a set of processes that lead to the loss of a continuous vegetation cover by a natural community with the impossibility of its restoration without human participation.

The causes of desertification are mainly anthropogenic factors. These are deforestation, irrational use of water resources for land irrigation, etc. For example, excessive felling of woody mountain vegetation causes natural disasters - mudflows, landslides, snow avalanches.

Excessive pressure on pastures with an increase in livestock farming can also lead to desertification. Vegetation cover eaten by animals does not have time to recover, and
soil is subject to various types of erosion.

Soil erosion is the destruction of the fertile soil layer under the influence of wind and water.

Soil erosion occurs due to the mass inclusion of more and more new lands in active land use by man.

To the greatest extent, desertification is typical for areas with an arid climate (deserts, semi-deserts) - the countries of Africa and Asia (especially China).

Today this problem is international in nature.

Therefore, the UN adopted the International Convention to Combat Desertification, which was signed by almost 200 states.

The main consequences of human economic activity are environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources and desertification of lands.

Preventing the destructive influence of the anthropogenic factor on the biosphere is today an important universal problem, in the solution of which every inhabitant of the Earth should participate.

Steppe- a plain in temperate and subtropical zones, overgrown with grassy vegetation.

The steppes play an important role in the life of nature in Russia. They are located in the south of the country, in particular, near the Black Sea and the Caucasus, as well as in the Ob valley and in Transbaikalia.

The soil is chernozem, lying most often on a layer of loess-like clays with a significant lime content.

This chernozem in the northern strip of the steppe reaches the greatest thickness and obesity, as it sometimes contains up to 16% of humus. To the south, the chernozem becomes poorer in humus, becomes lighter and turns into chestnut soils, and then completely disappears.

Steppe climate

In the steppe regions, the climate is temperate continental, winters are cold, sunny and snowy, and summers are hot and dry. average temperature January - -19 °C, July - +19 °C, with typical deviations up to -35 °C and +35 °C. The climate of the steppes is also different long duration frost-free period, high average annual and average monthly temperatures.

Human activity in the steppes

There is little precipitation here - from 300 to 450 mm.

Vegetable world

The vegetation consists mainly of grasses growing in small tufts, between which bare soil is visible. The most common are various types of feather grass, especially pinnate feather grass with silky white feathery awns. It often covers large areas. On very fat steppes, species of feather grass develop, differing in much larger sizes.

Smaller feather grass grows on dry barren steppes. After feather grass, the most important role is played by various species of the genus Tonkonog ( Koeleria). They are found everywhere in the steppe, but play a special role east of the Ural Mountains, some species are excellent food for sheep.

The stock of plant mass in the steppes is much less than in the forest zone.

See also: steppe plants

Animal world

Both in terms of species composition and some ecological features, the fauna of the steppe has much in common with the fauna of the desert.

Just like in the desert, the steppe is characterized by high aridity, only slightly less than in the desert. Animals are active in summer, mostly at night. Many of them are drought-resistant or active in spring, when there is still moisture left after winter. Of the ungulates, species are typical that are distinguished by sharp eyesight and the ability to run quickly and for a long time; from rodents - building complex holes (ground squirrels, marmots, mole rats) and jumping species (jerboas).

Most of the birds fly away for the winter. The steppe eagle, bustard, steppe harrier, steppe kestrel, and lark are common for the steppe. Reptiles and insects are numerous.

Soils

The climate of the steppes is very dry, so the steppe lands suffer from a lack of moisture. Due to the fertility of the land, there are many arable lands and places for grazing livestock, so the steppes suffer.

The soil in the steppe is chernozem, lying most often on a thickness of loess-like clays, with a significant content of lime. This chernozem in the northern strip of the steppe reaches the greatest thickness and obesity, as it sometimes contains up to 16% of humus. To the south, the chernozem becomes smaller, it becomes lighter and turns into chestnut soils, and then completely disappears.

Economic activity

Human economic activity in the steppe zone is limited by natural conditions.

Common cattle breeding and agriculture. Mainly grown cereals, vegetables, melons culture. But, often, irrigation is required.

bred cattle of meat and dairy breeds, sheep and horses. Settlements are common along water bodies - rivers or artificial ponds.

The steppe is an excellent area for agriculture, both for crop production, growing crops such as wheat, corn, sunflower, and for grazing, thanks to the presence of grasses.

Agricultural activity is traditionally developed in the steppe regions.

Role in literature

N. V. Gogol described the steppe very vividly and picturesquely in his story "Taras Bulba":

Never has a plow passed over immeasurable waves of wild plants; only the horses, hiding in them, as in a forest, trampled them. Nothing in nature could be better: the entire surface of the earth seemed to be a green-gold ocean, over which millions of different colors splashed.

Through the thin, tall stalks of grass, blue, blue and purple hairs showed through; yellow gorse jumped up with its pyramidal top; white porridge umbrella-shaped caps were full of on the surface; brought in, God knows where, an ear of wheat poured into the thick. Partridges darted under their thin roots, stretching out their necks.

The air was filled with a thousand different bird whistles. The hawks stood motionless in the sky, spreading their wings and motionlessly fixing their eyes on the grass. The cry of a cloud of wild geese moving to the side resounded in God knows what distant lake.

A gull rose from the grass with measured waves and luxuriously bathed in the blue waves of the air; there she disappeared in the sky and only flickers like one black dot! There she turned her wings and flashed before the sun! Damn you, steppes, how good you are!”

Khomutovskaya steppe.

A herd of horses grazes in freedom

CC © wikiredia.ru

Economic use of the steppe zone

The steppe zone, together with the forest-steppe, is the main granary of the country, the area of ​​cultivation of wheat, corn, sunflower, millet, gourds, and in the west - industrial horticulture and viticulture.

Agriculture in the steppe zone is combined with a developed animal husbandry (cattle, horse breeding, sheep breeding and poultry farming). In the west of the zone, the development of land for arable farming can be considered complete: the plowing of the territory has reached 70-80% here. In Kazakhstan and Siberia, the percentage of plowing is much lower. And although here not all the land funds suitable for plowing have been exhausted, the percentage of plowing of the Kazakh and Siberian steppes will continue to be lower compared to the European steppes due to increased salinity and stony soils.

The reserves of arable land in the steppe zone are insignificant.

In the northern, chernozem subzone, they make up about 1.5 million hectares (development of solonetsous chernozems, meadow-chernozem and floodplain soils). In the southern subzone, plowing of 4-6 million hectares of solonetzic chestnut soils is possible, but this will require complex anti-saline measures, and irrigation to obtain sustainable crops.

In the steppe zone, the problem of combating droughts and wind erosion of soils is more acute than in the forest-steppe. For this reason, snow retention, field-protective afforestation, and artificial irrigation are of particular importance here.

The rich soil and climatic resources of the zone are complemented by a variety of minerals.

Among them are deposits of iron ores (Krivoy Rog, Sokolovsko-Sarbaiskoye, Lisakovskoye, Ayatskoye, Ekibastuz), manganese (Nikopol), coal (Karaganda), natural gas (Stavropol, Orenburg), chromites (Mugodzhary), rock salt (Sol- Iletsk), phosphorites (Aktyubinsk).

Located on the territory of one of the natural zones most developed by man, many mineral deposits are quite well studied and widely developed, contributing to industrial development steppe regions of the USSR.

Literature.

Economic activity of people in the steppe. Help!

Milkov F.N. Natural zones of the USSR / F.N. Milkov. - M .: Thought, 1977. - 296 p.

More articles about the steppe

Steppe types. Mountain (cryoxerophilous) Mountain (cryoxerophilous) Meadow or forb (mesoxerophilous) Meadow or forb (mesoxerophilous) True (xerophilic) True (xerophilic) Sazovy (haloxerophilic) Sazovy (haloxerophilic) Desert (superxerophilic) Desert (superxerophilic)

SteppeSteppeForest-steppeForest-steppe The steppe is the most natural zone transformed by man. The steppe is the most natural zone transformed by man. Continental climate Continental climate Moisture coefficient in the north 0.6; in the south 0.3. Moisture coefficient in the north 0.6; in the south 0.3. Precipitation is from 250 to 450 mm per year. Precipitation is from 250 to 450 mm per year. Treelessness, but there are wetlands 1. Treelessness, but there are wetlands 1. Increased number of dry years. Increased number of dry years. Dark chestnut soils. Dark chestnut soils. The degree of plowing does not reach 70-80%. The degree of plowing does not reach 70-80%. Average winter temperature: from -0 0 С to С; summer: from C to C. Average winter temperature: from -0 0 C to C; summer: from C to C. Forest-steppe is a natural zone characterized by a combination of forest and steppe areas. Forest-steppe is a natural zone characterized by a combination of forest and steppe areas. Temperate climate. Temperate climate. Humidity coefficient in the north 1; in the south 0.6. Humidity coefficient in the north 1; in the south 0.6. Rainfall from 300 to 450 mm. Rainfall from 300 to 450 mm. The presence of fields and forest belts. The presence of fields and forest belts. Brown forest and soddy-podzolic soils. Brown forest and soddy-podzolic soils. Degree of plowing 80%. Degree of plowing 80%. Average winter temperature: from C to C; summer: C to C. Average winter temperature: C to C; summer: from C to C. How do steppes differ from forest-steppes?

Inland waters. Own river network of steppes and forest-steppes is rare and shallow. Own river network of steppes and forest-steppes is rare and shallow. Ground waters lie deep, so they practically do not participate in the feeding of rivers. Ground waters lie deep, so they practically do not participate in the feeding of rivers. In summer, the rivers become shallow, which greatly complicates the water supply of the population and navigation even on major rivers. In summer, the rivers become shallow, which greatly complicates the water supply of the population and navigation even on large rivers. The population is rare, due to the fact that groundwater is deep. The population is rare, due to the fact that groundwater is deep. Wells are dug to a depth of m, because water supply is difficult in watershed areas. Wells are dug to a depth of m, because water supply is difficult in watershed areas.

Problems of the steppe and forest-steppe. Wet years in the forest-steppe alternate with dry ones. Wet years in the forest-steppe alternate with dry ones. In summer, hot and dry winds blow - dry winds, which are most detrimental to cultivated plants. wind erosion. In summer, hot and dry winds blow - dry winds, which are most detrimental to cultivated plants. wind erosion. Soil-forming loess and loess-like loams are easily eroded. Soil erosion. Prolonged plowing of soils has led to their depletion. Soil-forming loess and loess-like loams are easily eroded. Soil erosion. Prolonged plowing of soils has led to their depletion. The relief is dominated by erosional forms: river valleys, gullies and ravines. The relief is dominated by erosional forms: river valleys, gullies and ravines. The river network is rare and shallow. water erosion. The river network is rare and shallow. water erosion. Deep groundwater. Deep groundwater. In the steppes, rodents cause great harm to agriculture. They destroy a significant part of the crop, harm forest plantations. In the steppes, rodents cause great harm to agriculture. They destroy a significant part of the crop, harm forest plantations. Deforestation. Deforestation.

Solution of problems. Carry out agrotechnical measures to combat drought and soil erosion. Carry out agrotechnical measures to combat drought and soil erosion. Soils respond well to fertilization due to their depletion. Soils respond well to fertilization due to their depletion. Steppe saucers play a positive role: after snowmelt and rains, they replenish groundwater reserves and weaken soil erosion. Steppe saucers play a positive role: after snowmelt and rains, they replenish groundwater reserves and weaken soil erosion. There is a fight against gophers. There is a fight against gophers.

Conclusions. Forest-steppes and steppes are the most human-modified natural zones. Almost all natural landscapes have been transformed, and areas untouched nature can only be found in nature reserves. Favorable climate, fertile soils have led to active agriculture. However, the strongest anthropogenic pressure on nature also has a negative side. Ravines and gullies, these ulcers on the body of the Earth, have become inevitable integral part steppe landscapes. Forest-steppes and steppes are the most human-modified natural zones. Almost all natural landscapes have been transformed, and areas of untouched nature can only be found in reserves. Favorable climate, fertile soils have led to active agriculture. However, the strongest anthropogenic pressure on nature also has a negative side. Ravines and gullies, these ulcers on the body of the Earth, have become an inevitable part of the steppe landscapes.

NATURE OF UKRAINE

§ 54. HUMAN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN THE STEPPE ZONE

What kind natural resources Is there a steppe zone in our country?

1. On the map of natural zones of Ukraine, find and read the names of major cities within the steppe zone. 2. On the physical map of Ukraine (see flyleaf 2), determine what minerals are on the territory of the steppe natural zone.

What economic activities can people engage in in the steppe zone?

Deposits of coal, iron and manganese ore, fertile chernozems are the main natural resources of the steppe.

Most coal deposits are concentrated in Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

Coal lies here at a considerable depth, so mines are built for its extraction (Fig. 184, 185).

Rice. 184. Coal mine

Rice. 185. Coal mining

At metallurgical plants from iron ore smelt iron and steel for the engineering industry.

In all large cities of the steppe zone, machine-building plants operate, which produce machine tools, diesel locomotives, ships, tractors, combines, and cars.

Throughout the steppe zone, people are engaged in agriculture, in particular farming. Since ancient times, people have been cultivating fertile black soil. So that the plants do not die from drought, the fields are irrigated (Fig. 186).

Rice. 186. Watering the field with a doshing machine

Irrigation makes it possible to grow not only wheat, barley, corn, sunflower, but also such a heat-loving and water-loving plant as rice.

Rice. 187. Sunflower field

Rice. 188. Rice field

Only in the steppe zone, where there is a lot of light and heat, gourds are grown: watermelons and melons (Fig. 189).

Large areas in the steppe zone are set aside for vineyards (Fig. 190) and orchards in which cherries, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, and grapes are grown.

Rice. 189. Bakhcha

Rice. 190. Vineyard

The vegetation of the steppes is a good food for pets. Therefore, cows, pigs, sheep, birds are kept here. In reservoirs, fish and waterfowl are bred.

Fertile chernozems, deposits of coal, iron and manganese ores are the natural wealth of the steppe zone. Here they are engaged in the extraction of coal and iron ore, the smelting of iron and steel, the production of machines and machine tools. Cultivated plants are grown on fertile chernozems, and domestic animals are bred.

1. What natural resources are there in the steppe zone? 2. What is produced at the industrial enterprises of the steppe zone? 3. What cultivated plants are grown in the steppe zone? 4. What domestic animals are bred in the steppe?