1. How are soils different from rocks? What soils prevail in your area?
2. What natural complexes are called a natural zone?

Soil map. Soils are one of the components of a natural zone. The location of the main soil types on the earth's surface and on each continent is shown on a thematic map (see the soil map of the world in the atlas).

In order to understand well the peculiarities of the distribution of soils on the earth's surface, it is important to know their dependence on other components of nature. The formation of soils depends on many factors: rocks, topography, fauna, but mainly on climate and vegetation. Where there is little rainfall and sparse vegetation, the soil layer is thin and contains little humus. On the contrary, in places with a sufficient amount of heat, precipitation and rich, especially herbaceous, vegetation, more powerful and fertile soils are formed.

Depending on the parent rock, the amount of humus and other reasons, the color of the soil is different. It is customary to name many soils by their color, for example, chestnut, brown, red-brown, etc. On the school soil map, only the predominant soils of a particular territory are marked with different colors.

Using the soil map of the world, determine which soils prevail:

1. in the equatorial belt of all continents;
2. in subequatorial belts;
3. in tropical zones;
4. in the subtropical zone;
5. in the Antarctic belt.

Features of the location of natural zones. The composition of natural zones and their location are directly dependent on climatic conditions. On the territory of the southern continents there are all natural zones of low latitudes and the Antarctic belt. The temperate zones are poorly represented. As a rule, natural zones correspond to climatic regions (see the map on the flyleaf and the atlas). Latitudinal zonality is clearly expressed in the placement of zones. This is due to the predominance of plains on the continents. The altitudinal zonality is also clearly visible. It is especially pronounced in South America.

Equatorial forests are rich in valuable tree species. The largest tracts of these forests are found in South America and Africa. Soil parent rocks, as in other places of low latitudes of the Earth, are rich in iron compounds, and therefore have a red color. The soils formed on these rocks also acquire a reddish hue. They are called red-yellow ferralitic (from the Latin "ferrum" - iron). Organic matter that enters the soil in large quantities decomposes to the end, and does not accumulate in it. Plants quickly absorb these nutrients. The abundance of moisture leads to continuous washing of the soil to a great depth, sometimes causing it to become waterlogged.

The hot climate and abundance of rains favor the development of dense evergreen woody vegetation. Trees grow in several tiers. Light-loving trees stretch towards the sun, forming an upper tier 35-50 m high. Tree trunks rise like columns and only at the top spread a dense crown. Under these giants, trees of smaller height and less demanding of light grow in several tiers.

Equatorial forests are evergreen. There are many lianas in the forest (climbing plants, sometimes with a woody stem). Lianas densely wrap around tree trunks, climb high on them and hang from there in garlands, making the forest thicket impassable in places. Sunlight barely penetrates through the dense foliage. In such a forest, even during the day it is gloomy. Therefore, shrubs and grass cover are poorly developed.

The fauna of the equatorial forests is rich and varied. Its characteristic feature is that many animals live in trees. The world of monkeys, birds, insects, ants, etc. is rich here.

Savannah. The zone of equatorial forests on the continents is gradually replaced by variable-humid forests, and then by savannahs. This natural zone is characterized by the change of dry and wet seasons of the year, the predominance of grassy cover with individual trees or groups of trees and bushes of the hot zone. Savannah can be called a tropical forest-steppe. Its formation, as you might guess, is due to the appearance of the dry season. There is not enough moisture for the forest here.

The process of soil formation in savannahs occurs in conditions of seasonal precipitation. During the rainy season, organic matter decays and soil is washed out. In the dry (winter) period, due to lack of moisture, the vital activity of microorganisms slows down and the plant litter of the rich herbaceous cover does not decompose completely. Therefore, humus accumulates in the soil. Red-brown soils predominate here. The general appearance of the savannas changes dramatically with the seasons. During the dry season, the grasses burn out, many trees shed their leaves and the savannahs turn yellow. The heat dries up everything. But as soon as the first rains fall, nature comes to life, juicy grasses grow with amazing speed, trees are covered with foliage.

Animals, like plants, adapt to the dry season. Some of them, such as invertebrates and amphibians, during a drought take refuge in shelters and hibernate. Many animals migrate to places with water bodies. The savannah zone occupies a large area on all three continents. Each continent is distinguished by a significant originality of flora and fauna.

Tropical deserts are also widespread on the southern continents. (Why?) The zone is distinguished by sparse vegetation, and in some places it is devoid of it, by large daily and significant annual temperature amplitudes. There is very little humus in the soil of deserts; desert tropical soils are formed here. Desert plants have a highly developed root system, which allows them to collect water from great depths and from vast spaces (for example, camel thorn). In many plants, to reduce evaporation, the leaves are very small, often replaced by thorns. Some plants appear only after the rains and grow unusually fast, bloom and bear fruit, and then dry up. Animals also adapt to the conditions of the desert climate.

1. What are the features of the geographical position of the southern continents?
2. What are the common features of the relief of the southern continents. How are they explained?
3. In what climatic zones is most of the southern continents located, in which - less?
4. What are the characteristics of the rivers of the southern continents? On the example of any river, show the dependence of rivers on relief and climate.
5. Which natural areas occupy the largest area and why?
6. On which continents is the latitudinal zonality most pronounced, on which - altitudinal zonality? Why?
7. Using the text of the textbook, climatic maps of Africa, Australia and South America, determine the main features of each natural zone.

What determines the formation of natural zones? What natural areas stand out on our planet? You can answer these and some other questions by reading this article.

Natural zoning: the formation of natural zones on the territory

The so-called our planet is the largest natural complex. It is very heterogeneous, both in the vertical section (which is expressed in vertical zonality) and in the horizontal (latitudinal), which is expressed in the presence of various natural zones on Earth. The formation of natural zones depends on several factors. And in this article we will talk about the latitudinal heterogeneity of the geographic envelope.

This is a component of the geographical shell, which is distinguished by a certain set of natural components with its own characteristics. These components include the following:

• climatic conditions;
• the nature of the relief;
• hydrological network of the territory;
• soil structure;
• organic world.

It should be noted that the formation of natural zones depends on the first component. However, natural areas receive their names, as a rule, according to the nature of their vegetation. After all, flora is the brightest component of any landscape. In other words, vegetation acts as a kind of indicator that reflects the deep (those that are hidden from our eyes) processes of the formation of a natural complex.

It should be noted that the natural zone is the highest step in the hierarchy of the physical and geographical zoning of the planet.

Factors of natural zoning

We list all the factors in the formation of natural zones on Earth. So, the formation of natural zones depends on the following factors:

1. Climatic features of the territory (this group of factors should include the temperature regime, the nature of moisture, as well as the properties of the air masses that dominate the territory).
2. The general nature of the relief (this criterion, as a rule, affects only the configuration, the boundaries of a particular natural zone).

The formation of natural zones can also be influenced by proximity to the ocean, or the presence of powerful ocean currents off the coast. However, all these factors are secondary. The main root cause of natural zonality is that different parts (belts) of our planet receive unequal amounts of solar heat and moisture.

Natural areas of the world

What natural zones are distinguished today by geographers on the body of our planet? Let's list them from the poles - to the equator:

• Arctic (and Antarctic) deserts.
• Tundra and forest tundra.
• Taiga.
• Broadleaved forest zone.
• Forest-steppe.
• Steppe (or prairie).
• Semi-desert and desert zone.
• Savannah zone.
• Tropical rainforest zone.
• Humid zone (hylaea).
• The zone of rain (monsoon) forests.

If we look at the map of the natural zonality of the planet, we will see that all natural zones are located on it in the form of sublatitudinal belts. That is, these zones, as a rule, extend from west to east. Sometimes this sublatitudinal direction can be violated. The reason for this, as we have already said, is the features of the relief of a particular territory.

It is also worth noting that there are simply no clear boundaries between natural areas (as shown on the map). So, almost each of the zones smoothly "flows" into the neighboring one. At the same time, border "zones" can very often form at the junction. For example, such are semi-desert or forest-steppe zones.

Conclusion

So, we found out that the formation of natural zones depends on many factors. The main ones are the ratio of heat and moisture in a particular area, the properties of the prevailing air masses, the nature of the relief, and so on. The set of these factors is the same for any territory: mainland, country or small area.

Geographers distinguish over a dozen large natural zones on the surface of our planet, which are elongated in the form of belts and replace each other from the equator to the polar latitudes.

This is the largest natural complex, the surface of the globe, with nature characteristic of the planet.
It is possible to distinguish a huge number of smaller natural complexes - territories with a similar nature, different from other complexes. Oceans, seas, continents, mountain systems, rivers, lakes, swamps and much more are all separate.

natural areas- very large natural complexes with similar landscape, flora and fauna. Natural zones are formed as a result of the distribution of heat and moisture on the planet: high temperature and low humidity are characteristic of equatorial deserts, high temperature and high humidity - for equatorial and tropical forests, etc.
Natural zones are located predominantly sublatitudinally, but the relief, the distance from the ocean affect the location of the zones and their width. In the mountains there is also a change of natural zones, depending on the height, the change of zones occurs in the same order as the change of land zones from the equator to the poles. The lower natural zone corresponds to the natural zone of the territory, the upper one depends on the height of the mountain range.

Natural land areas

Equatorial and tropical forests

This zone is located in the equatorial and tropical zones, and. Tropical forests are evergreen, the temperature and humidity are always high here. These forests are characterized by multilayered: low shrubs, trees of medium height and huge forest giants grow on the same area. Red-yellow soils are formed here, pale in nutrients. The topsoil is very fertile, but it quickly forms, and just as quickly the nutrients are “drawn out” by numerous.

Deserts and semi-deserts

This zone is formed in the temperate zone with an average amount of precipitation, it is characterized by cold winters and moderately warm summers. In the forests, there are usually two or three tiers, the lower ones are formed by shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. Forest ungulates, predators, rodents, and insectivorous birds are common here. The soils in this zone are brown and gray forest.

This zone is formed in the northern hemisphere in the temperate zone with cold winters, short warm summers and a fairly large amount of precipitation. The forests are multi-tiered, there are many coniferous trees. The animal world is represented by many predators, including some that hibernate in the winter. Soils are poor in nutrients, podzolic.

Tundra and forest tundra

This natural zone is located in the subpolar and polar zone, where it is quite low. The flora is represented mainly by low-growing plants with a poorly developed root system - mosses, lichens, shrubs, dwarf trees. Ungulates, small predators, many migratory birds live in the tundra. Soils in the tundra are peat-gley, a large territory is located in the zone.

Arctic deserts

Arctic deserts are found on islands close to the poles. From the vegetation there are mosses, lichens, or there is no vegetation at all. Animals found in this zone live most of the time in the water, birds arrive for several months.

The earth's surface and moistening conditions in different parts of the continents natural zones do not form continuous bands parallel to the equator. Only in and on some large plains do they extend in a latitudinal direction, replacing each other from north to south. More often they change in the direction from the coasts of the oceans to the depths of the continents, and sometimes they stretch almost along the meridians.

The location of natural zones on the continents is disturbed by mountains. In the mountains, natural zones replace each other from the foot to the peaks, here altitudinal zonation is manifested.

Natural zones are also formed in: from the equator to the poles, the properties of surface waters, the composition of vegetation and wildlife change. There is also vertical zoning. However, oceanic natural complexes do not have pronounced external differences.

There is a great variety of natural complexes on Earth. However, against the background of this diversity, large parts stand out - natural zones and. This is due to the different ratio of heat and moisture that the earth's surface receives.

Formation of natural zones

The uneven distribution of solar heat over the Earth's surface is the main reason for the heterogeneity of the geographic envelope. In almost every land area, the oceanic parts are better moistened than the inland, continental regions. Humidification depends not only on the amount of precipitation, but also on the ratio of heat and moisture. The warmer it is, the more moisture that has fallen with precipitation evaporates. The same amount of precipitation can lead to excessive moisture in one zone and insufficient moisture in another. Thus, the annual precipitation of 200 mm in the cold subarctic zone is excessive (bogs are formed), while in the hot tropical zones it is sharply insufficient (there are deserts).

Due to differences in the amount of solar heat and moisture within geographic zones, natural zones are formed - large areas with uniform temperature and moisture conditions, surface and groundwater features, similar soils, and wildlife.

Features of the natural zones of the continents

In the same natural areas on different continents, vegetation and fauna have similar features.

At the same time, other factors, in addition to climate, also influence the features of the distribution of plants and animals: the geological history of the continents, the relief and features of rocks, and people. The unification and separation of the continents, the change in their relief and climate in the geological past have caused different types of plants and animals to live in similar natural conditions, but on different continents. The African savannahs, for example, are characterized by antelopes, buffaloes, zebras, African ostriches, and in the South American savannahs, several species of deer, armadillos and an ostrich-like flightless nandu bird are common. On each continent there are endemic species (endemics) that are characteristic only of this continent.

Under the influence of human activity, the geographic envelope is undergoing significant changes. To preserve representatives of the organic world and typical natural complexes in all natural zones of the world, specially protected areas are created - nature reserves, etc. In national parks, unlike nature reserves, nature protection is combined with tourism and people's recreation.

General features of the location of natural areas. soil map

Objectives: to create a general idea of ​​the features of the placement of natural zones and soils; Name and show natural areas and soil types; Introduce a new concept "Soil map." Equipment: map "Natural zones of the world", "Soil map", diagram "Dependence of fertility on climate and vegetation", "Physical map of the world".

During the classes

Lesson question: Gather the facts! Thought will develop from them. J. Buffon, French naturalist

1 Verification of the material covered Oral survey 1 Features of the climate of the southern continents (showing climatic zones) 2 Features of inland waters (showing large river systems and lakes on the map)

2Learning new material

1 Working with the Soil Map Soils are one of the components of a natural area. The main soil types are shown on a special thematic "Soil Map".

Name the types of soils.

Please note that not all soil types are indicated on the map, but only those prevailing in a particular natural zone. Additionally, non-zonal soils are indicated: soils of the river floodplain, sands, swamps, solonchaks, soils of mountainous territories.

Task: using the soil map of the world, determine

What soils prevail: A) in the equatorial belt of all continents; B) in subequatorial belts; B) in tropical zones; D) in the subtropical zone; D) in the Antarctic belt.

Soil formation depends on many factors. What do you think, from what? (rocks, relief, wildlife, climate and vegetation.)

Which ones do you think are the most important, and why? (climate and vegetation)

What needs to be added in order for the diagram to be correct?

2 Working with maps "Natural zones", "Physical map of the world"

What is a natural area? What are the patterns of distribution of natural zones on the globe?

Exercise. Determine which natural zones deviate from the latitudinal strike and find out the reason for the deviation.

(The greatest deviations are in the tropical climatic zone in the west of southern Africa and South America, since cold currents pass along these parts of the continents. They lower the temperature and air humidity and contribute to the formation of deserts.)

3 Working with the table Climatic Natural zone The main type of soil. The reasons for their formation Belts of the Region Equatorial - Equatorial Forest. Feature:____ ________________ _________________. _________________. A lot of heat and moisture all year Subequatorial - Savannah. Feature: ___ ___________________ __________________. __________________. Change of dry and wet season Tropical Tropical desert climate Tropical desert. Feature: ___ ___________________ __________________. __________________. High temperatures, little rainfall Tropical humid climate Tropical rainforest Lots of heat and moisture all year round Antarctic - Antarctic Desert Very cold temperatures. Conclusion. Basically, natural zones correspond to climatic regions or belts, if they are not divided into regions.

During the lesson, the table is filled in by students. During the lesson, a brief description of the natural zones of the southern continents is given: 1. Moist equatorial forests are multi-tiered;

The upper one (from 35 to 50 m) is ceiba, the diameter of its trunk reaches two meters, and wide disc-shaped roots rise to a height of four meters. Sequoias Various palms, such as oil palms, make up the middle tier. In the lower tier grows the raffia palm, which Africans are especially touching. The secret of this relationship is in 10 -12 meter leaves. Ficuses and bananas also grow - perennial grass grows to a height of 7-8 m in just 8-10 months. The forests are evergreen, very rich in valuable plants, extremely diverse in composition.

There are many valuable plants in the equatorial forests. One of them is the oil palm. Each tree accumulates up to 15 kg in its seeds per year. Valuable fat, which is widely used in the soap and perfume industry. The local population eats it. Shrovetide Malma is also remarkable for its sweet juice. To extract juice, Africans climb onto a palm tree and make small cuts at the very top and on fruit shoots, from which juice flows abundantly. During the rainy season, the oil palm can produce up to 15 liters of juice per day. This juice is enjoyed by the locals as a refreshing drink. Palm wine is made from it. There is also a small evergreen coffee tree with white fragrant flowers. Coffee fruits are red in color and contain two seeds. These seeds are washed, dried, roasted. Coffee is exported to many countries of the world.

2. Savannas Eucalyptus and acacia are typical. In the Australian savannas, there is a “bottle tree” in its thickened trunk during the rainy season, moisture accumulates, which the tree consumes during the dry season. Among the dense grassy vegetation, baobabs rise - trees reaching 25 m in height. the baobab trunk is very thick in girth up to 45 m. baobab fruits, similar to cucumbers, contain juicy edible pulp. The young leaves are eaten by the local population. In dry times, the leaves of the baobab fall off and only fruits weigh on the branches. When the rains come, the tree is covered with large white flowers with a very strong smell. Flowers bloom in the evening and wither in the morning. On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, a baobab grows, whose age is more than 5 thousand years. This tree impresses with its huge size; several dozen people can hide in its hollow. Another tree common in the savannah is the umbrella acacia. Like huge umbrellas, branched acacias rise among tall grasses. But there is no shade above this umbrella. Small leaves of acacia are located with an edge to the sun, they let in sheer rays.

A sprawling tree with short twisted trunks grows in the savanna - sarcocyphalus, or as it is often called the "African pharmacy". Large sweet fruits with its taste and aroma resemble strawberries. This is a favorite delicacy of the locals. From the bark of trees, a yellow dye is obtained for dressing leather.

Shrubs: Euphorbia, aloe. In Ethiopia, there is spurge up to 8 m tall.

3. Tropical zone The highly sparse plant cover of the semi-desert often appears as a mosaic consisting of perennial xerophytic grasses, turf grasses, saltworts and wormwoods, as well as ephemers and ephemeroids. In America, succulents are common, mainly cacti. In Africa and Australia, thickets of xerophytic shrubs (see Scrub) and sparse low-growing trees (acacia, doum palm, baobab, etc.) are typical. SKREB (eng. scrub), thickets of evergreen hard-leaved drought-resistant shrubs, mainly of the legume family (acacia), myrtle (shrub eucalyptus); few herbaceous plants. Huge areas in southwestern and eastern Australia. Agriculture (date palm, cereals, vegetables) in oases. Nomadic and semi-nomadic animal husbandry.

4. Organic world of Antarctica.

The absence of trees and shrubs, almost no herbaceous flowering plants. Basically, the plant world is represented by lichens, mosses, algae, fungi and bacteria.

Test: 1 Why is Africa the hottest continent on Earth? 1. Most of Africa is located between the tropics 2. Africa is washed by the warmest ocean on Earth - the Indian 3. The largest deserts of the world are located here 4. Hot winds are born here - sand hurricanes - simum 2 typical plants of the equatorial forest of Africa: 1. eucalyptus, baobab, acacia . 2. Oil palm, iron tree, mahogany. 3 The southernmost continent? 1. Antarctica; 2. Africa; 3. South America. Answers: 1-1 2-2 3-1

What geographical names are missing in the lines of poetry? On the mysterious lake.... Among the age-old baobabs Carved feluccas aspire At the dawn of the majestic Arabs. /N. Gumilyov / Answer (Lake Chad)

Saying: Without the opposite, nothing is revealed. J. Boehme

Homework: paragraph 23, complete the table with a brief description of the natural zones and the name of the main soil types corresponding to this natural zone.