Determine the distance separating the European center from Eastern Siberia, evaluate the transport conditions, the distribution of the population, and evaluate the physical and economic-geographical position of Eastern Siberia.
Moscow is separated from Krasnoyarsk by 3375 km, the western borders of the East Siberian economic region from the eastern borders of Central Russia - 3100 km. By rail from Samara to Krasnoyarsk - also about 3000 km.
These distances can be determined from a geographic zoning map or a transport map of Russia by measuring the distance in centimeters with a ruler, and then using a scale.
The economic and geographical position of Eastern Siberia is considered one of the most disadvantageous. The territory is remote from almost all possible consumers of raw materials and products, and in addition, Western Siberia and the Far East, which have approximately the same resources, lie on the way to these consumers. It is more profitable to develop the resources of these regions. Involvement of the region in the intra-Russian division of labor is hindered by low transport development. Only in the south are the main automobile and railway routes, and the central parts of the region and the north are oriented towards water transport.
Among the huge, but still unclaimed resources of Eastern Siberia, there are the world's largest Tunguska coal basin, small, but very important (due to the favorable location in the developed areas) Minusinsk and Irkutsk-Cheremkhovo basins. A lot of low-cost coal is mined at KATEK. The region is rich in copper-nickel-cobalt, iron, polymetallic ores, as well as gold, ores of other precious metals, and uranium ores. Deposits of aluminum raw materials (bauxites and non-phelins) have been explored.
The natural conditions of the territory allow the development of agriculture only in the southern parts of the region, where the agro-climatic potential is quite large. In the north, conditions are favorable for the development of reindeer herding.
The hydropower potential of Eastern Siberia is great. On the Yenisei and its tributaries, it is possible to build power plants with a total potential of more than 60 million kW. The largest reservoir of the purest fresh water is Lake Baikal.
However, many of the riches of Eastern Siberia have not yet been developed, and this is hindered by both remoteness and lack of demand.
"The Yenisei Valley is the boundary of natural features between Western and Eastern Siberia." Using atlas maps, provide evidence for this statement.
Indeed, the Yenisei valley separates the West Siberian lowland and the Central Siberian plateau; a young slab with a thick cover of sedimentary rocks and an ancient platform with traps and shields. Along the Yenisei, the border of permafrost descends to the south. Behind the Yenisei, the kingdom of larch begins - the only tree species that carries permafrost in the soil.
What climatic features of the region make it difficult for economic activity and people's lives?
Especially difficult economic activity and life of the population are cold winters and harsh winds, especially on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. Unfavorable for life and permafrost.
Siberian rivers are characterized by their special regime. Do they lose their originality as a result of the construction of hydroelectric power stations? What environmental problems arise from this?
The construction of a hydroelectric power station to a large extent regulates the flow, making it smoother and calmer. In mountainous areas, the area of flooding is small. However, there are other troubles in Siberia. A specific local climate is created around large reservoirs. For example, in the Krasnoyarsk reservoir, water does not freeze even in the coldest winters (at temperatures down to -40 ° C), which significantly worsens the ecological situation. material from the site
In Eastern Siberia, which extends in the same latitudes as the East European Plain and Western Siberia, there is no pronounced latitudinal zonality of soil-vegetation zones. Why?
This is due to the elevation of the territory and the widespread distribution of permafrost.
In your opinion, is it right to single out the Far North region from the entire territory of Western and Eastern Siberia? How would you draw its southern border? What are the distinctive features of nature and population named?
The Far North naturally stands out from the entire territory of Western and Eastern Siberia.
The natural boundary of this territory could be drawn along the southern border of the forest-tundra. In administrative terms, it would include the Yamalo-Nenets and Taimyr Autonomous Regions. The main distinguishing feature of the region of the Far North is the dominance of the tundra and forest-tundra, the "focal" distribution of the population, and the inaccessibility of the territories.
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On this page, material on the topics:
- natural conditions of western and eastern Siberia
- assessment of the natural conditions of the north of eastern siberia
- natural conditions and resources of eastern siberia
- lesson summary Natural resources of Eastern Siberia. Etc. No. 13. Assessment of natural conditions and resources of Eastern Siberia. Far East: land of contrasts.
- north of eastern siberia - economic activity
How is the regional economy developing?
Geography
Before learning about the natural resources of Western Siberia, let's talk about its geographical boundaries. The region is located on the territory between the Yenisei River in the east and the Ural Mountains in the west. From the north, the border is determined by the bays of the Kara Sea, and in the south - by the Altai Mountains and Kazakhstan.
With an area of 2.5 million square kilometers, Western Siberia makes up almost 15% of the total territory of the state. Kemerovo, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Tyumen regions, the Republic of Altai and the Altai Territory - all this is Western Siberia. The region's natural resources are an important part of the country's economy.
Most of the territory is located on the West Siberian Plain, within which there are two large depressions separated by Siberian ridges. In the southeastern part, foothill areas begin, going to the foot of the Altai Mountains.
Climatic conditions
The natural conditions and resources of Western Siberia are interconnected with each other. The nature of some influences the formation of others. The region is located in the depths of the mainland, so a continental climate has formed here. The proximity of the Arctic Ocean made it more rigid and harsh. The mountain ranges of the southeast prevent the penetration of warm and humid air masses from the Asian side.
Western Siberia is characterized by a cold winter period with a maximum temperature of up to -60 degrees. The soil here quickly freezes, contributing to the spread of permafrost. Summer is hot, especially in the south, the temperature can reach 30-35 degrees.
Steppe, forest-steppe, forest, forest-tundra and tundra zones were formed according to the features. The climatic natural resources of Western Siberia are quite suitable for agriculture. In the steppe regions, there are enough warm days and precipitation, most of which falls in summer, for growing grain and industrial crops.
Water resources
The hydrological natural resources of Western Siberia are represented by a variety of groundwater. The region is located in the area of the artesian basin, in different areas the mineralization of water can differ significantly.
The main wealth is the rivers, there are about two thousand of them. The river network is not dense and fluctuates depending on the features of the relief and climate. The largest are the Ob, Yenisei, Irtysh. They are characterized by snow feeding in spring, rain feeding in autumn and summer. Due to the flat terrain and slight slopes, the speed of rivers is usually low.
Of course, rivers are not all that Western Siberia has. Natural resources also include lakes, of which there are more than a million in the region, and swamps. By origin, thermokarst and moraine-glacial lakes are distinguished. The Ural part of the region is characterized by the presence of fog lakes. Their main feature is a sharp decrease in the water level in summer, up to complete disappearance.
forest resources
Natural areas from north to south smoothly flow into one another. In accordance with this, the natural resources of Western Siberia are also changing. In the southern regions, due to the large amount of sand, pine trees predominate. Relic black taiga is widespread in Altai.
The forest-steppe is characterized by meadow, herbaceous and cereal vegetation, birch and aspen. The forest zone stretches for 1000 kilometers. It combines taiga and swampy vegetation. Dark coniferous trees grow here, such as pine, fir, as well as birch and aspen.
The forest-tundra zone is the boundary between the taiga and the tundra itself. Alternately, marshy areas, light forests and shrubs are found in it. Forest areas are located mainly in river valleys. They are predominantly represented by larches. The tundra is characterized by the presence of mosses and lichens, shrubs, and low grasses. Here you can find blueberries, princesses, cloudberries, dwarf species of willow and birch.
Soils
Fertile chernozems are also widespread in the steppe and foothill regions of Western Siberia, which make it possible to use this area for growing various crops. In the south there are solods and solonetzes.
Above the steppe regions there are areas with podzolic and sod-podzolic soils. The forest zone is characterized by poor drainage of soils, which leads to the formation of swamps and new forests. In swampy areas, semi-hydromorphic forms are formed, and in floodplains -
Tundra-gley and peaty areas are characteristic of the northern regions of Western Siberia. Soil fertility is strongly affected by permafrost. Unlike other, mostly wooded areas, gleying is not very pronounced.
Minerals
Minerals form the basis of the region's resource base. Oil and gas production is what Western Siberia is famous for. Natural resources and the economy based on them are an important part of the overall economy of the country. There are six oil and gas regions in the West Siberian territory. The largest oil fields are Priobskoye, Mamontovskoye, Samotlorskoye. Gas fields are located in the Yamal-Nenets region.
The largest coal deposit in the region is located in the southern part. There are deposits of magnetite ores in the Altai Territory, the Kemerovo Region and Gornaya Shoria. Nepheline and alumina are mined in Western Siberia.
The Altai Territory is rich in reserves of polymetallic, tungsten, molybdenum, iron, zirconium ores, gold, mercury, marble; steppe lakes contain salt and soda. In the Kemerovo region there are deposits of dolomites, limestones, refractory clays. The Omsk region has reserves of titanium ores.
Natural resources of Western Siberia (table)
The natural wealth of the region has long served as the basis for the development of various sectors of the economy (see table).
Conditions and resources | Peculiarities | Application |
|
climatic | Sharply continental, harsh in the north, milder in the south | Tundra, forest-tundra, steppe, forest-steppe, forest natural zones | Animal husbandry, cultivation of wheat, industrial crops in the south |
Rivers, lakes, groundwater | River network density and full flow vary from north to south | Fisheries, cargo transportation, hydropower |
|
Meadows, pine forests, coniferous and small-leaved forests | More than 80 million hectares of forest, 10% of the country's forest fund | Pastures, woodworking industry |
|
Soil | Tundra-gley, podzolic, soddy-podzolic, chernozems and chestnut soils | In the central regions are favorable for the appearance of forests, in the south - for agriculture | Pastures, cultivation of various crops |
mineral | Gas, oil, coal, manganese, tungsten, molybdenum, iron, magnetite ores, salt, soda, limestone, gold, mercury | Fuel and energy resources | Energy, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy |
Natural resources and ecological safety of Western Siberia
The provision of the region with various resources is quite high. The length from north to south contributed to the formation of several natural zones, which differ from each other in vegetation and soil cover, river regimes and the density of the river network, and climatic conditions.
Western Siberia has a huge industrial and agricultural potential. The fertile southern soils are excellent for growing crops. Meadows rich in herbs serve as pastures, thanks to which animal husbandry develops. In industry, the most developed areas are the extraction of oil, coal and gas, as well as woodworking. More than 70% of all Russian oil is produced in the region.
The development of the oil and gas and woodworking sectors contributes to economic growth, but at the same time is the main factor in environmental pollution. The consequence of active industrial activity is water pollution, which in turn leads to a lack of water resources.
The use of pesticides also has a negative effect. This is directly reflected in the air and soil. The land is gradually becoming less suitable for agriculture. In addition, it is important to remember that excessive and incorrect extraction of natural resources can irreversibly reduce their reserves.
The area is dominated by mountainous terrain with heights of over 500 m. The mountain ranges here descend like an amphitheater to the Siberian Platform, occupied by the Central Siberian Plateau, which accounts for about 40% of the entire territory of the region.
Somewhat younger mountain systems - the Western and Eastern Sayans - occupy the southern and southwestern outskirts of the region. Finally, even younger mountains are located in the southeastern part.
In large areas of Eastern Siberia, sedimentary rocks are also widespread, to which deposits of such minerals as coal, rock salt, etc. are confined.
The main wealth of the bowels of Eastern Siberia is non-ferrous metals, as well as coal. Of the ores of non-ferrous metals, the copper-nickel, polymetallic and copper deposits of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Chita Region, molybdenum deposits in Buryatia, the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Chita Region, and the resources of aluminum raw materials in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Buryatia are of the greatest importance. In addition, Eastern Siberia is a gold, tin and tungsten mining area. The importance of non-ferrous metal ores in Eastern Siberia is further enhanced by the fact that there are also large deposits of thermal coals that provide energy-intensive processes for smelting ores with cheap fuel.
In Eastern Siberia, the total geological reserves of coal exceed 3 trillion tons, but 2/3 of them are in the Tunguska and Taimyr basins and the Ust-Yenisei coal-bearing region. Due to their remoteness from the economic centers of the country, they practically cannot be used in the short term.
In the southern part of Eastern Siberia, the coal deposits of the Kansk-Achinsk basin, whose geological reserves are estimated at 600 billion tons, are of particular importance. The coal here is brown, relatively low-calorie, and is capable of spontaneous combustion during long-term storage. However, these shortcomings are compensated by extremely favorable mining and geological conditions - the large thickness of the layers (up to 80 m), which lie close to the earth's surface. This allows you to create powerful open pits (cuts) with low costs for construction and coal mining (per 1 ton of standard fuel).
A number of relatively large coal deposits are located in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Irkutsk and Chita regions, Buryatia and Tuva. The development of many of these deposits is possible by the cheapest open-pit method. The wealth of Eastern Siberia in coal is determined not only by its total reserves, but by the fact that more than 80% of the all-Russian coal reserves suitable for open-pit mining are concentrated in this region. It is thanks to these resources that Eastern Siberia has the cheapest fuel in the country. eastern siberia production potential
To assess the fuel base of the region, the availability of oil and natural gas is important. Currently, oil and natural gas deposits have been found in Eastern Siberia (Irkutsk region), but their industrial production is not yet underway.
For a general assessment of the mineral resource base of the region, its provision with raw materials and fuel for the development of ferrous metallurgy is of great importance. The total reserves of iron ore in the region are quite large. There are large basins here - the Angara-Ilim and Angara-Pitsky.
The provision of Eastern Siberia with coking coal is not favorable enough. Their deposits are located in the undeveloped Tunguska and Ulugkhemsky basins. True, the possibility of obtaining coke from the coals of the Irkutsk basin has been proven.
In Eastern Siberia there are no deposits of manganese and chromium - the most widespread types of additives to steel.
Of the entire complex of metallurgical raw materials, Eastern Siberia is very well supplied with limestone and especially magnesite, which is used in the production of refractory materials. The main magnesite deposits are located in the Irkutsk Region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory.
Of other types of mineral raw materials, it should be noted large deposits of graphite, which, except for Eastern Siberia, are almost never found in our country, fluorspar (fluorite) in the Chita region, mica in the Irkutsk region, asbestos in Buryatia and Tuva, rock salt in the Irkutsk region, Krasnoyarsk Territory and Tuva.
Important features of the physical and geographical position of Eastern Siberia are its remoteness from the Atlantic Ocean and isolation from the influence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans by numerous mountain ranges. Only in the southeastern part of the region is the influence of the Pacific Ocean felt. Therefore, Eastern Siberia is characterized by an exceptional continental climate, which is manifested in a significant difference in the average temperatures of the summer and winter periods, as well as during the day. The continentality of the climate is exacerbated by the proximity of the Arctic Ocean, whose cooling effect is especially pronounced during the transitional periods from spring to summer and from summer to autumn (late spring and early autumn frosts). The combination of general continental climate with mountainous relief and the wide development of basins in the conditions of a vast continent contributes to intense cooling of the air in winter, when a high-pressure area (Siberian anticyclone) forms here, a reduction in winter precipitation in the central zone of the anticyclone and the development of temperature inversion - with an increase to of a certain height along the slopes of the basins, the air temperature in winter does not decrease, but rises. The southeastern parts of the region receive especially low rainfall. Here the height of the snow cover averages 5-10 cm, and often winters are generally snowless.
These climate features determine the general increased severity of natural conditions for the life of the population and leave their mark on agriculture - the absence of winter crops, a shorter growing season and the need for sowing and harvesting crops in a short time.
A feature of the physical and geographical position of Eastern Siberia is its location in the zone of permafrost. Continuous permafrost is distributed only in the extreme north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, but its islands are found almost everywhere, with the exception of a relatively small area on the left bank of the Yenisei. The presence of frozen soils (even in the region of Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude their thickness reaches 5-10 m) significantly affects agriculture in the central and southern parts of the region. In the spring, they delay the sowing time due to the slow heating of the soil, but in the summer, thawing, they replenish moisture reserves. In combination with the summer maximum precipitation, this circumstance is the reason why some agricultural regions of Eastern Siberia, despite the small annual and summer precipitation, practically do not know what a drought is.
The features of the relief and climate of Eastern Siberia affected the nature of the natural zones. The vast majority of the region south of the 70th parallel is occupied by taiga. With the exception of the southeastern part of the West Siberian Plain (on the left bank of the Yenisei), the forest-steppe in Eastern Siberia does not form a continuous strip, but is presented in the form of "islands", which are confined to numerous, sometimes quite extensive, basins. In the most arid of them, instead of the forest-steppe, there are steppe areas (in Khakassia, Tuva, Buryatia and the Chita region).
Eastern Siberia stands out among the economic regions of the country with huge forest resources. The forests of Eastern Siberia are characterized by the dominance of coniferous species, the share of deciduous species - birch and aspen - accounts for less than 15% of the total timber reserves. In turn, among conifers, the proportion of spruce and fir is small (they are confined to more humid areas in the western part of the Central Siberian Plateau and Khakassia). In permafrost regions, Dahurian larch is essentially the only forest-forming species. In the central and eastern parts of the Central Siberian Plateau, as well as in a number of regions of Transbaikalia (where there is no permafrost), the dominant species is pine.
A significant territory, the predominance of mountainous terrain and the presence of powerful mountain systems that are accumulators of moisture, as well as high forest cover - all this contributes to the widespread development of the river network. Eastern Siberia accounts for more than 30% of the total river flow in Russia, which determines the huge reserves of hydropower resources. In terms of the wealth of hydropower resources, Eastern Siberia ranks first in Russia. The great importance of the hydropower resources of Eastern Siberia in the national economy is explained by their high concentration - nowhere in other regions of the country, except for the Far East (Sakha), it is impossible to build such large hydropower plants as in Eastern Siberia - up to 6 million kW or more. Thanks to this concentration, it is possible to obtain very cheap electricity. The construction of East Siberian hydroelectric power stations was cheaper for two more reasons: the relatively small volumes of land flooding (since most rivers flow in deep valleys) and because the dams were built on rocky pounds.
Particularly favorable conditions for hydro construction are in the Angara-Yenisei basin, the potential resources of which are estimated at 480 billion kWh (more than half of the potential resources of Eastern Siberia), including 250 billion kWh of cost-effective resources in the Yenisei and Angara.
In the conditions of the vast territory of Eastern Siberia and the weak development of the railway network, rivers are an important means of communication, and settlements gravitate towards them, especially in the hinterland. However, due to the mountainous nature of the relief, there are many rapids on the rivers that make navigation difficult.
Eastern Siberia has a rich and extensive hydrographic network and large lakes. Rivers are distinguished by an abundance of water, a wealth of hydropower and are used as transport routes. The role of the Yenisei is especially great. The largest lake Baikal is the deepest freshwater lake in the world. Its maximum depth reaches 1620 m, and the area is 31.5 thousand km 2. The lake lies in a deep depression, bordered by mountain ranges - Primorsky, Baikal, Khamar-Daban, Ulan-Burgasy, Barguzinsky. The water of the lake is very clear and clean.
Great commercial value of rivers and lakes. Baikal. More than 40 species of fish live in Baikal, of which whitefish, grayling, omul, ide, salmon, sturgeon, etc. are especially valuable. The Baikal seal, the seal, is also found in its waters. The exceptional beauty of nature, the presence of healing springs near the shores of the lake make it possible to create here a large sanatorium-resort and tourist base. In order to protect the nature and waters of Lake Baikal from pollution, a number of measures are being taken. Measures have been outlined to protect the waters of the lake, the natural resources of its basin, as well as the implementation of agroforestry, agrotechnical and hydrotechnical work in the basin, including measures to protect soil from water and wind erosion. The commissioning of industrial, municipal and other enterprises is also prohibited until the construction of treatment facilities is completed.
The northern part of Eastern Siberia is occupied by tundra with its characteristic vegetation - mosses, lichens, low shrubs, marsh and meadow vegetation. The tundra of Taimyr and the North Siberian lowland is replete with lakes and swamps.
The main part of the territory of the region is occupied by taiga. Industrial exploitation of forests on a large scale is so far only in the valleys of the Yenisei and Angara and along their tributaries, as well as in areas gravitating towards railways. Taiga is characterized by podzolic soils. There are many fur-bearing animals in the taiga. Fur trade, especially for squirrel, sable, ermine, arctic fox, muskrat, fox, is an important branch of national economic specialization.
Forest-steppes and steppes do not have a continuous latitudinal distribution. They are located in the south in separate areas in intermountain basins and on high uplands. There are especially many steppe and forest-steppe areas in Transbaikalia, in the Minusinsk and Tuva basins.
Siberia is a huge geographic region that is located in Eurasia and is part of the Russian Federation. The territory of this area is heterogeneous, and is a complex of various ecosystems, therefore it is divided into such objects:
- Western Siberia;
- Eastern;
- South;
- middle;
- Northeast Siberia;
- Baikal region;
- Transbaikalia
Now the territory of Siberia covers approximately 9.8 million square meters. kilometers, where more than 24 million people live.
biological resources
The main natural resources of Siberia are the flora and fauna, as a unique nature has formed here, which is characterized by a variety of fauna and a variety of flora. Among the rare species of animals in Siberia, one can meet the Dahurian hedgehog and the Far Eastern leopard, the slender-billed curlew and the imperial eagle, the pointed-eared bat and the Amur tiger, the peregrine falcon and the black crane, the irbis and the river beaver, the griffon vulture and the bustard. In the "Red Book" of the Russian Federation there are some types of plants growing in Siberia. This is a large-flowered slipper, small megadenia and Baikal anemone. The territory of the region is covered with spruce, fir, larch and pine forests.
Water resources
Siberia has a fairly large number of water bodies. High-water rivers flow here, which is facilitated by the features of the relief and climate. The main reservoirs of Siberia:
- rivers - Yenisei and Amur, Irtysh and Angara, Ob and Lena;
- lakes - Ubsu-Nur, Taimyr and Baikal.
All Siberian reservoirs have a huge hydro potential, which depends on the speed of the rivers and the contrasts of the relief. This contributes to the fact that river valleys are suitable for the construction of hydroelectric power plants. In addition, significant reserves of groundwater have been discovered here.
Minerals
Siberia is rich in various minerals. A huge number of all-Russian reserves are concentrated here:
- fuel resources - oil and peat, hard and brown coal, natural gas;
- mineral - iron, copper-nickel ores, gold, tin, silver, lead, platinum;
- non-metallic - asbestos, graphite and table salt.
All this contributes to the fact that in Siberia there are a huge number of deposits where minerals are mined, and then raw materials are delivered to various Russian enterprises and abroad. As a result, the natural resources of the region are not only national wealth, but also strategic reserves of the planet of global importance.
Eastern Siberia is a part of Siberia that includes the Asian territory of Russia from the Yenisei in the west to the watershed ranges that run along the Pacific Ocean in the east. The region features a harsh climate, limited flora and fauna, and incredibly rich natural resources. Consider what belongs to Eastern Siberia, where its borders are located, what are the features of the climate and wildlife.
Geographical position of Eastern Siberia
Eastern and Western Siberia occupy almost two thirds of the territory of Russia. The area of Eastern Siberia is 7.2 million km. Most of it is occupied by the taiga Central Siberian Plateau, which is replaced in the north by tundra lowlands, in the south and east by the high mountain ranges of the Western and Eastern Sayans, the mountains of Transbaikalia and the Yano-Kolmyk Territory. Here flow the largest rivers of Russia - the Yenisei and the Lena.
Rice. 1. Eastern Siberia covers an impressive area
Within Eastern Siberia are the Krasnoyarsk and Trans-Baikal Territories, the Irkutsk Region, the Republics of Buryatia, Yakutia, and Tuva.
The largest city in Eastern Siberia is Krasnoyarsk; large cities - Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Yakutsk, Norilsk.
Due to its great extent, Eastern Siberia includes several natural zones: arctic deserts, taiga, mixed forests and even dry steppes. Swampy tundra areas can also be included in this list, but there are very few of them, and they are found, as a rule, within the lowlands on flat, poorly drained interfluves.
Three time zones operate on the territory of Eastern Siberia - Krasnoyarsk time, Irkutsk time and Yakutsk time.
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Climate
Eastern Siberia lies in the temperate and cold zones. Depending on where this or that region of Eastern Siberia is located, the following types of climate are distinguished:
- the climate of the South of Eastern Siberia is extracontinental(Barguzinsky morphoclimatic region);
- temperate continental(Nazarovsky and Krasnoyarsk-Kansky morphoclimatic regions);
- sharply continental(Angara-Lena and Selenginsky morphoclimatic regions);
- foothill steppe, steppe(Koibal and Uda morphoclimatic regions).
Precipitation is less than in the western regions of Russia, the thickness of the snow cover is usually small, and permafrost is widespread in the north.
Winter in the northern regions is long and cold, the temperature reaches -40-50 °C. Summer is warm, hot in the south. July in Eastern Siberia is sometimes warmer than in the same latitudes of the European part of Russia, and there are more sunny days.
Rice. 2. Winter in Eastern Siberia
The amplitude of fluctuations in summer and winter temperatures reaches 40-65 °C, and in Eastern Yakutia - 100 °C.
Resources
One of the most important characteristics of Eastern Siberia is the presence of a huge amount of resources. About half of all forests in Russia are concentrated here. The main amount of wood reserves are valuable conifers: larch, spruce, Scots pine, fir, Siberian cedar.
About 70% of hard and brown coal reserves are located in Eastern Siberia. This region is rich in ore deposits:
- iron ores of the Korshunov and Abakan deposits, Angara-Pitsky district;
- copper-nickel ores of Norilsk;
- polymetals of Altai;
- bauxites of the Eastern Sayan.
In Eastern Siberia, there is the oldest Bodaibo gold deposit in the Irkutsk region. A significant amount of Russian oil is produced in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Eastern Siberia is rich in non-metallic minerals, including mica, graphite, building materials, and salts. There is also the largest diamond deposit on the border of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Yakutia.
Rice. 3. Diamonds of Yakutia
Live nature
The predominant type of vegetation is taiga. The East Siberian taiga stretches from the borders of the forest-tundra in the north to the border with Mongolia in the south, in an area of about 5,000 thousand square meters. km., of which 3,455 thousand square meters. km is occupied by coniferous forests.
The soils and vegetation of the taiga zone of Eastern Siberia develop under more favorable conditions than in the tundra and forest-tundra zones. The relief is more rugged than in neighboring Western Siberia; stony, often thin soils are formed on bedrock.
To preserve nature in its original form, many reserves, national and natural parks have been opened on the territory of Eastern Siberia.
The Barguzinsky Nature Reserve is the oldest nature reserve in Russia. It was founded before the revolution of 1917 to preserve and increase the number of sable. At the time of creation, there were only 20-30 sable individuals, at present - 1-2 individuals per 1 sq. km. km.
What have we learned?
In grade 8, geography reveals a topic dedicated to Eastern Siberia. It covers an incredibly large area, and its length from north to south is about 3 thousand km. Briefly about Eastern Siberia, we can say the following: it is a region with a harsh climate, not very diverse fauna and flora, and with large reserves of natural resources.
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