Foothills of Crimea description. Abstract of the lesson on Crimean studies "Crimean foothills (Internal and External ridges)" (grade 8)

Therefore, it combines many original features and features characteristic of the south and north of the peninsula. The mountains are not high, the forest alternates with the steppe, valleys, orchards... One involuntarily recalls the words of A. S. Pushkin:

... The valleys are a cozy beauty,
And jets, and poplars cool ...
All the feeling of a traveler beckons ...

Wide stripe (12–40 km) foothills stretched from the southwest from Cape Chersonesos to the northeast to the Kerch Peninsula. Its total length in this direction reaches 180 km. The area of the Crimean foothills - 3895 km². In the process of long arched uplifts of the Crimean Mountains on the northern, initially uniform gentle slope, water erosion formed longitudinal valleys and foothill ridges. These ridges are composed mainly of limestones and marls (of Cretaceous and Tertiary age) dipping to the northwest at a slight angle. Thus arose the Inner (until 739 m above sea level.) and External (up to 350 m above sea level) ridges. They are characterized by steep southern and gently dipping northern slopes. This type of relief in geography is called cuesta, and the ridges are called cuesta. The heterogeneous nature of the deposits in terms of density and structure inner ridge and, of course, unequal stability when exposed to external forces in conjunction with climatic features and the scarcity of the territory - all this contributes to the intense weathering of the outcrops of the cuesta. Dense “armoring” limestones crowning the cuesta create ledges-cornices clearly expressed in the relief: at the top there is a limestone-nummulite ledge, below it there is a limestone-bryozoan ledge. However, nummulite limestone is destroyed faster than bryozoan, and therefore the upper cornice recedes from the cliff of the cuesta faster than the lower one, as a result of which peculiar terraces appear between the two cornices. In the eastern part of the Inner Ridge, where only one nummulite cornice is observed, no such terraces are formed. The process of weathering of the limestone cornices of the Inner Ridge leads to the formation of amazingly beautiful sculptural relief forms on its slopes. Here are wide rounded peaks, reminiscent of giant lurking monsters, and lamellar ribbed parts, squeezed like furs of harmony, and deep niches-caves, which often served as a dwelling for primitive man. In addition to cave weathering, honeycomb, lacy and point weathering is often found in these places; saucers, gullies and even small caves of karst origin can be found. Limestones, heterogeneous in density, from their denser varieties form columns of bizarre shape, prepared by weathering. Many of them are declared natural monuments.

Along the southern slopes of the Inner Ridge stretched a chain of so-called "cave cities" of the Crimea. The caves are mostly carved by man. Some of them are protected monuments visited by thousands of nature and history lovers.

The outer ridge is geologically younger than the inner one. It is composed of marls, clays, sands, sandstones, conglomerates and limestones of the Tertiary period, forming the armoring surface of the cuesta. And here we see a motley alternation of deposits of different density, unequally amenable to weathering. However, the age, density and thickness of the strata, the height of the cuesta ridges are all inferior to those of the Inner ridge. Smaller, less original are the forms of weathering of the outer cuest landscapes. Sarmatian limestone outcrops are dominated by small niches, troughs, pockets, and weathering honeycombs; screes are developed along the slopes.

In some places in the foothills, outcrops of volcanic rocks are exposed (near the villages of Lozovoe, Trudolyubovka, etc.). They form low hills in the relief; some have quarries for the extraction of durable and valuable building stone - diabase. But cement marls, nummulite and especially bryozoan limestones are of the greatest economic interest. The quarries of the Inner Ridge, where these limestones are mined, look like huge circuses, on the slopes of which large stone blocks are cut in a mechanized way. It is from them that many buildings were built in Simferopol, Sevastopol and others. settlements Crimea.

The Crimean foothills is the most important area for horticulture and essential oil crops on the peninsula. In longitudinal inter-ridge depressions and transverse to them river valleys there are beautiful apple and pear orchards, plantations of roses, lavender, sage, and tobacco. Foothill landscapes account for a significant part of all Crimean vineyards and grain crops. Mild winters and warm summers create optimal conditions for the development of southern fruit and berry crops. Only atmospheric precipitation is not enough: it falls here from 303 to 596 per year mm.

At the same time, for the waters accumulated on the Main Ridge, the foothills serve as the main route for surface and underground runoff. For the most water-bearing river systems of the Biyuk-Karasu, Salgir, Alma, Kacha, Belbek, Chernaya and other rivers, this is the area of transit and dispersion of surface runoff. In addition, the main part of the river runoff (up to 48%) falls on the spring period, when irrigation of agricultural crops is limited. That is why river flow regulation is necessary. By 1971, 15 large reservoirs with a total volume of about 200 million m³. This is half of the surface runoff of the entire Crimea in an average dry year!

The forest-steppe vegetation in the landscapes of the foothills takes about 1900 km². On the gentle northern and northwestern slopes of the Outer and partly Inner Ridges, there is a mosaic combination of steppe areas and small forest tracts - groves dominated by stunted oak. These groves in the Crimea are called

Spring in the Foothills is more pleasant than on the South Coast, and even more so - better than on the coast of the steppe zone. There are no damp penetrating winds from the sea, numerous mountain lakes warm up quickly, flowering, greenery and space are everywhere. Well, autumn is good with an abundance of fruits and grapes and their excitingly low price.

Guarded parking lots are available at all hotels, as well as near roadside restaurants, many of which have already equipped rooms and saunas or are building it right now. All highways from Simferopol to Alushta, to Sevastopol and Feodosiya abound with excellent establishments of Crimean Tatar, Ukrainian, Armenian and European cuisine of various levels - from simple barbecues to VIP establishments. The roads themselves are very picturesque, and you can visit cave cities and monasteries, the ruins of ancient temples and functioning monasteries, modern places of worship all kinds of psychics and informals, caves, waterfalls, natural monuments, such as the White Rock near Belogorsk or the Weeping Rock between Simferopol and Nikolaevka. Local residents go fishing, hunting, picking herbs, mushrooms, berries, wild fruits. However, much of this is sold right next to the highway, next to the famous local springs - especially interesting with. Rich, Grushevka, Rodnikovoe, Topolevka between Belogorsk and Stary Krym.

So even if you go to the sea in the summer, do not rush to skip the Foothills at full speed.

Attractions
Bakhchisaray and its environs are the most convenient and habitable part of the Crimean Foothills. Mountain tourism here is not difficult at all, but any trail pleases with clean springs, picturesque mountain lakes and friendly villages. Everything interesting is located in the valleys of the Belbek, Kacha, Bodrak and Alma rivers, which run off the spurs of the Main Range of the Crimean Mountains and, cutting through the Foothills, flow into the Black Sea in rather modest streams on west coast. The valleys are very wide and unusually picturesque, good roads are laid along them.

Between the river valleys there is a dense network of ancient pack trails, which are used by jeepers.

The most popular for excursions are: the Khan's Palace, the Assumption Monastery and the cave city of Chufut-Kale near Bakhchisaray. Between the monastery and the city gates of Chufut-Kale, a separate excursion object- a siege well with hundreds of meters of underground passages. Excavations and sensational finds (including a treasure trove of gold and silver Roman coins) continue every summer season! Here, parking is paid everywhere during the tourist season. There are no campsites.

To the south-west from Bakhchisaray, you can drive to the cave monastery Kachi-Kalyon, the cliffs of which with several hundred cave cells hang right over the highway.

Famous throughout the region ancient spring Tash-Air. All the guests here are in a hurry to get water in flasks, bottles, etc., in order to climb to the left of the source to the foot of the cliff. If you douse it with water, then magical drawings made in reddish ocher will appear.

Upstream of the Kacha, near the village of Kudrino, the road turns north to Tepe-Kermen, there are up to 250 caves, including an early Christian church Germanic tribe ready. You can only go up to the city on foot, and to its foot (where there is a spring and a large table with benches) you can drive along a rather steep and difficult dirt road.

The valley of the Bodrak River to the east of Bakhchisaray is notable for the cave city of Bakla, an ancient center of winemaking. Most of all Bakla attracts visitors with exposures rocks, which became the object of the official tour of the World Geological Congress in 1984. For more than half a century, future geologists from leading universities in Russia and Ukraine have been practicing here.

A popular place for educational excursions is the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in the upper reaches of the valley, the largest in Europe. You have to come here in the evening. There is a guarded parking lot and a hotel.

The road to the Observatory (Scientific settlement) starts at km 17 of the Simferopol-Bakhchisaray highway. At first, you can get to Bakla, as well as to an equipped resting place near the ancient spring of Athinis. You can drive here only by cars with good traffic, and they go to the Observatory along the most beautiful highway and on sightseeing buses.

One of the most popular places south of Bakhchisaray is the cave city of Mangup. In front of Mangup, at the exit to the Karalez valley of the beam with the Tatar village of Khoja-sala, there is a large meadow and a pretty artificial lake. There is a parking lot, a tourist shelter, cafes, retail outlets, a two-story restaurant with rooms.

In the vicinity of Bakhchisarai and Sevastopol, there are many mountain lakes for fishing, some of them are rented, recreation areas are equipped with paid parking and campsites, woodcock hunting is very popular, accepted by many Italian hunters. Comfortable hunting villas have been built.

Recreation of autotourists in luxurious villas is perfectly set in the Baydar Valley.

The environs of Simferopol are very picturesque and abound with forest restaurants near the highway both to the west, to Sevastopol, and to the south, to Alushta and Yalta. To the south of Simferopol, the Red Caves and caves of the Chatyrdag Plateau are very popular: Marble, Emine-bair-Khosar and others. Speleocenter "Onyx" has also equipped comfortable houses for tourists, and in winter there are ski slopes with lifts and equipment rental.

On the way to the caves of Chatyrdag, at the famous Krinichka cordon, foresters have recently set up enclosures for animals of the Crimean Reserve: wild boars, deer and others. You can go fishing on the picturesque pond for a fee.

A good highway leads to Chatyrdag from the trolleybus route through the village of Marble, on the very plateau the primers provide excellent opportunities for jeeps.

30 km from Simferopol and 12 km from Alushta, the Angarsk Pass cuts through the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains (752 m above sea level). The snow here is good for winter sports and recreation from January to early March. Parking lots on the circle of the trolleybus track and in front of the camp site, there are several houses for overnight stays.

To the west of Simferopol, in the village of Kashtanovoye, in the shade of a luxurious chestnut alley, the estate of the Borozdins-Davydovs, relatives of the poet-hussar Denis Davydov, has been preserved. In 1825, writer and diplomat A.S. Griboyedov. In general, the valley from the village of Kurtsy to the village of Sably (Partizany) is extremely picturesque, there is excellent fishing, including in rented reservoirs, and in the adjacent mountain forests there is wonderful hunting, especially for woodcock. For hunters equipped with recreation areas.

Between Simferopol and Feodosia is Belogorsk, and near it is the famous and beautiful White Rock - Ak-kaya. Archaeological excavations are always carried out here in the summer and adventure or sci-fi films are often shot.

Karabi-yayla is the most deserted place in the Crimea and Ukraine, probably in general. This is a hilly plateau, elevated more than 1000 meters to the very sky. It is dotted with sinkholes and riddled with a myriad of caves, wells and shafts. There are 128 of them described in the Cadastre of Crimean caves!

Karabi also hides the mysteries of ancient contacts with aliens: huge figures resembling butterflies are laid out on the grass with limestone blocks - but the drawings can only be recognized from a flight altitude (and from space!), But the second image is rock, a person controls a mechanism with three regular-shaped wheels , or gears, on the contrary, it is hidden in one of the caves.

Nature itself created Karabi as a secret landing site. In any case, during the years of the Great patriotic war here was the main partisan airfield.

According to the composition of landscape types within the province of the mountainous Crimea, three "regions are distinguished (Fig. 8): Foothill forest-steppe, Main mountain-meadow-forest ridge, Crimean southern coastal sub-Mediterranean.

foothill forest-steppe

The foothill area includes the Inner and Outer cuesta ridges and the Outer interridge depression separating them. The foothills are located on the raised edge of the Scythian platform. In its middle part is the Simferopol uplift, in the west it is limited by the Alma, and in the north - by the Indol depression. On the border with depressions, the number and thickness of rock layers increase, including those that armor the surface of the ku-est and located on their continuation of inclined plains. In this regard, the cuest ridges are best expressed in the Bakhchisarai and Belogorsk districts, and in the middle

parts of the foothills, they are almost interrupted in places. The inner ridge is formed by Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene interbedded limestones, marls and clays, and the outer ridge is formed by Eocene and Pliocene marls, clays and limestones. The outer inter-ridge depression consists of monotonous Upper Eocene marls, susceptible to erosion by surface waters. Weathering products of bedrock are soil-forming rocks. On the large areas In the cuesta ridges, loamy-grass-rubbly-stony or clayey-loamy deposits are widespread, differing from the bedrocks in color, density, etc. Predominantly soddy-calcareous and underdeveloped soil types are formed on them. On the Outer Cuesta, sloping plains, and partly in the Outer inter-ridge depression, red-brown clays with interlayers of pebbles and sandy loams are common. In the valleys of rivers and dry rivers, soils are formed on deposits of loams, clays, pebbles, crushed stone, and sand.

The climate of the foothills is semi-arid, warm with mild winters. The sum of effective air temperatures for plants above 10° is 3545-3110°, and over 15°-2830-2320° (Table 9).

The soil cover is very variegated. Piedmont chernozems and sod-calcareous soils are the most common, and brown soils in the southwest. They formed under the meadow-steppe communities in combination with oak, dry shibliak and mesophytic (average level of moisture) shrub thickets.

The most common areas in the region are: cuesto-steppe with foothill chernozems formed on red-brown clays or weathered limestones of the Outer Cuesta. In the past, in the western part of the region, there were forb-fescue-borrowy communities here, and in the eastern part - feather grass-fescue-forb communities with the participation of asphodelina. Now the lands of the area are occupied by grain, tilled and industrial crops, as well as vineyards. Kuesto-forest-steppe with chernozems and partly brown forest steppe soils. Forest cuesta with undersized oak lions of the highest sections of the Inner Cuesta with soddy-calcareous soils. Cuestovo-Shibliakovy with brown soils, typical of the Heracleian Peninsula, the Mekenzian Upland and the Outer Cuesta on the interfluve of Belbek and Kacha. Inter-ridge gently undulating shrub-steppe with foothill chernozems,

washed in places. These are the most developed areas in the foothills. Most of the settlements are located here, including the cities of Simferopol, Bakhchisarai, the railway and the highway. low mountain forest, typical for a number of elevations of the Inner Interridge Depression near the Inner Cuesta, with brown mountain forest soils, and brown soils in the southwestern part of the foothills. Forest and shrub communities of all localities are now protected for soil and water protection and recreational purposes. Widespread in the foothills valley-ter-red terrain, especially in inter-ridge depressions. The largest area in them is occupied by the stows of the first above-floodplain (garden) terrace, where, due to the shallow occurrence of groundwater, meadow-chernozem soils were formed. The narrow floodplains of the rivers are occupied by high forbs, and in some places - by alder-hazel ribbon thickets. The slopes of the river valleys are often cut by ravines and gullies with sparse herbaceous and shrub cover, which makes them mudflow hazardous. The lands of the river valleys are the most developed in the Crimea from ancient times to the present - this is the cradle of man on the peninsula.

There are four physical-geographical regions in the region: Chernorechensky, Northern foothill kuest, Southern foothill valley-kuest and Indolsk ku-est-remnant.

In the foothills, 27 natural monuments have been declared protected. Among them are 12 groves of steppe oak forests "oaks"; the forested city of Kubalach with specimens of the endemic cyclamen Kuznetsov; mountains-outliers Mangup-Kale, Tepe-Kermen, Sheludivaya; natural sphinxes of the Karalesskaya and Chu-ruk-Su valleys; Belbeksky and Kachinsky canyons; caves - habitats of the Paleolithic man - Chokurcha, Wolf Grotto, Kiik-Koba; Salgirka park, Pozharsky forest reserve, etc.

MAIN MOUNTAIN MEADOW FOREST RIDGE

The main range of mountains begins with the Balaklava heights (316 m) in the west and ends with hilly elevations (310 m) of Cape Ilya near Feodosia. Its landscape features are associated primarily with the structure of large landforms and the composition of their constituent rocks. The ridge has a relatively long and relatively gentle northern and short, steep southern macroslopes, and

also uniting them is a two-level top surface with wavy steps. At the base of the ridge lie heavily folded shales and sandstones of the Taurian series, overlain by Middle Jurassic conglomerates, sandstones and clays. On them, and in some places directly on the shales, lie the Upper Jurassic limestones crowning the Main Ridge. The ridge, in addition, is fragmented by tectonic faults and deep river valleys into separate smaller ridges, massifs, blocks, and basins. There are up to six levels of sloping surfaces of the remnant mountains, stepwise descending towards the outskirts of the Main Mountain Range 12 . Moreover, the surfaces of the remnants, like the yayl, like islands in the sea, are scattered among the slopes and bottoms of the river valleys, gullies, and ravines, which are to varying degrees forested. On the slopes, due to differences in their steepness, exposure and composition of rocks, forest communities of different composition, height and completeness are located. They reflect the great variety of ecological properties of their locations. The products of the destruction of sediments are soil-forming rocks.

The properties of climates in different parts of the Main Ridge are very diverse (Table 9). In general, climates vary from moderately hot, semi-humid in the low mountains to cool, excessively humid in the western Yailas. On the northern macroslope, they change with height. In the low mountains of the Baidarskaya basin, the climate is sub-Mediterranean, semi-humid, warm with very mild winters. To the east, it changes to semi-humid, moderately warm with moderately mild winters. In the middle mountains, the climate is humid, moderately cool with moderately mild winters. In the western yayls it is excessively wet, with a cool growing season and moderately cool winters, while in the eastern yayls it is simply wet. In the middle mountains of the southern macroslope, the climate varies from semi-arid in the lower part to humid in the upper part, from moderately hot to moderately cool, with very mild to moderately mild winters. The sums of active temperatures fluctuate within a very large range - from 3050 to 1800° above 10° and from 2230 in the Baidar basin to 600° above 15° on Ai-Petri 23 .

On the slopes of the Main Ridge, the most common soils are brown mountain forests of different thickness and graveliness, formed under low-growing oak, beech, mixed broad-leaved and pine forests in the low mountains and tall in the middle mountains. On the

mountain meadow and petrophytic steppes on chernozem-like soils predominate in yayla.

On the northern macroslope of the Main Mountain Range two landscape tiers appear - low-mountain and medium-mountain with the composition of the areas that form them.

Landscape areas are most common in low mountains. Blocky low mountains with juniper-oak, oak and pine forests, shiblyaks on mountain forest and brown brown soils. This area is most common in the southwestern part of the mountainous Crimea. Stepped lowlands with fluffy oak and rocky oak forests on brown mountain forest soils, it occupies the largest areas in the tier in the basins of the Belbek, Kacha, Alma rivers to the Salgir basin. sloping plateaus with rock-oak, rock-oak-hornbeam forests and shrub thickets on brown forest soils. These areas are most common in the north of the Dolgorukovsky and Karabi-yayly massifs. remnant lowgrief in combination with small intermountain basins with fluffy oak and rocky oak forests, as well as shrub thickets on brown mountain forest thin and steppe soils in combination with foothill chernozems. These areas are typical for the eastern part of the belt, its mountains Chombai, Kara-Tepe, Kara-Agach, Agar-mysh, as well as the Molbai, Kurtluk and other basins. sloping lowlands in combination with intermountain basins with rock-oak and fluffy oak forests, shrub thickets and typical forb-fescue-feather grass steppes in basins with brown mountain forest, soddy-calcareous and foothill chernozem soils. These areas are most widespread in the easternmost part of the belt. Intermountain-hollow with shilyaks in combination with low-stemmed forests and steppe communities on brown, brown mountain forest steppe and foothill chernozem soils. The largest of the basins: Baydarskaya, Varnutskaya, Golubinskaya, Salgirskaya, etc. Valley terraced with small-leaved forests and meadows on meadow soils.

In the mid-mountain tier, landscape areas are common. The slopes of the middle mountains with beams under beech, rock-oak, beech-hornbeam and pine forests on mountain brown forest soils. These areas are typical for the upper parts of the western and northern slopes of the Yaylin massifs. mountain valleys with beech and

mixed broad-leaved forests on brown mountain forest soils

Some areas of the Yayli are developed on the plateau-like top surfaces of the lower and upper levels, consisting of fractured karst limestones. This is mountain meadow forest-steppe on heavily dissected karst plateaus of the lower level with mountain-meadow black-zem-like soils (this area is best expressed on the lower Chatyrdag plateau); mountain meadow stepi both on the lower and upper levels of the Yaylin karst plateaus; mountain meadow and petrophyte stepi flat-convex high plateaus yail.

A lot of scientific works are devoted to explaining the reasons for treelessness. Most scientists attribute the absence of forests to long-term immoderate grazing. A number of scientists believe that the mountain forest-steppe has always been on the Yayla, but due to grazing and burning of the forest, widespread mountain steppes. Undoubtedly, in the past, beech, beech-hornbeam and other groves were incomparably more common in karst funnels, ancient hollows of runoff on the lower plateaus of the yayles. A continuous forest, especially on high yayla, could not be because very strong storms occur here with heavy snowfalls, and now they lead to mass death of already accustomed species in forest plantations made there. Soil and soil conditions prevent continuous afforestation. In general, the low thickness of the soils, combined with the very high infiltration properties of the underlying heavily prokarst limestones, determines that here, despite the relatively large amount of precipitation, extremely low soil moisture periodically occurs on a large area of the yayla in summer. For this reason, stable conditions for the growth of even established trees and shrubs are not provided everywhere here. Man, through his activities, contributes to soil erosion, which enhances the effect of the edaphic (soil) factor.

On the southern macroslope of the Main Mountain Range, two landscape tiers are also common - low-mountain in its eastern part and medium-mountain in the rest of the territory. Local landscapes already have well-defined sub-Mediterranean features.

The low-mountain tier is formed by the following areas: co-bud-ridge low mountains with intermountain basins under fluffy and rock-oak, as well as mixed wide

deciduous forests and thickets of shrubs, meadow and petrophytic park steppes on brown mountain forest medium-thick, soddy-calcareous and foothill chernozem soils; ridged with valleys and gullies under beech-hornbeam forests on brown mountain forest soils.

Areas of the mid-mountain tier. This is stufoamy-slope priyayla middle mountains with undersized fluffy oak and partly rocky oak forests with areas of petrophytic steppes on brown mountain forest medium-thick and steppe soils. These areas are most common on the slopes of the Babugan massifs ( East End), Chatyrdag, Demerdzhi and Karabi (southwestern part). Step-slope and rocky priyaylinskoe middle mountains with fluffy oak and pine forests on brown mountain forest soils. They occupy the largest areas on the slopes of the Babugan massif. Slope midlands with beech and mixed broad-leaved forests on brown mountain medium-thick soils. These areas are most common in the western part of the belt. Slope and rocky near-Yailinsk middle mountains with Crimean-pine and hornbeam-beech forests on brown mountain forest soils. They are distributed on the slopes of the Ai-Petrinsky, Yalta and Nikitsky yayla massifs.

Within the region, Western, Central and Eastern physical-geographical regions are distinguished.

The landscapes of the Main Ridge of the Crimean Mountains play an important soil and water conservation, health-improving and sanitary-hygienic role.

The main ridge is saturated with a large number of landscape attractions. Many of them are distinguished by scientific value, beauty and originality of landscapes. A number of such geographical objects have been declared protected areas.

The landscape standard of the Main Range of Mountains is the nature of the Crimean reserve and hunting economy, the Yalta State Mountain and Forest Reserve, the reserves of the Grand Canyon of Crimea and the Black River Canyon. Of great scientific value are the protected beech groves on Ai-Petri, yew trees on the Tyrke massif, Agarmysh forest, wolfberry thickets in the upper reaches of the Burulchi valley, 21 karst caves and 14 karst mines, etc.

Crimean state reserve and hunting hostthe property was founded as the Crimean Reserve in 1923 on the

spare 33,397 ha. Landscapes of forests and meadows are protected on an area of 27,957 and 2,451 ha, respectively, where game animals are produced. Flora is 1165 species of higher plants, of which 45 species are endemic. In total, there are 115 species of rare and protected plants in the forest, in which sessile, pedunculate and downy oaks predominate, occupy 14,731 ha, and 6,971 ha of oriental and common beech. Crimean and Scotch pine forests account for ZON ha, and hornbeam, elm, alder, aspen and other species - 2463 ha. In relatively original form, only tall beech and pine forests have been preserved here.

The fauna of the protected forests is made up of 39 species of mammals, 120 species of birds, 4 species of reptiles, 4 species of amphibians and 5 native species of freshwater fish. The pride of the forests is represented by red deer, graceful European roe deer, as well as successfully acclimatized mouflon from Corsica, squirrel from Altai and wild boar from the Far East.

The Yalta Reserve was founded in 1973 on an area of 14,589 hectares. A picturesque green necklace is protected - the factory of clean air and water of the South Shore resorts, which is located mainly above 350 m above sea level. m. On 20% of the area of the reserve there are forests mainly (35%) of the Crimean pine, forming a kind of picturesque landscapes. On 17% of the area there are forests of downy oak. Curtains of beech, hornbeam, sessile oak, high juniper and other species are interspersed in these solid forests. The flora of the reserve includes 1363 species of vascular plants, which is about 55% of the flora of the mountainous Crimea. Most of its flora are Mediterranean species. In the reserve there are representatives of 37 species of mammals, 150 birds, 10 reptiles and 4 species of amphibians. The fauna is approximately the same composition as in the protected area.

CRIMEAN SOUTH COAST SUB-MEDITERRANEAN

The area is combined with the coastal landscape belt of the southern slope of the Main Ridge, with the boundaries of the original natural greenhouse for the most heat-loving plants of the European territory of the USSR. The upper edge of the belt is located at an altitude of 350-400 m, and the belt extends from Cape Aya to the city of Feodosia. To these heights in the west

In some part of the South Coast, evergreen plants of the Crimean flora spread, which brings the nature of the South Coast closer to the nature of the Mediterranean countries.

The territory of the region consists mainly of shales of the Tauride formation, in some places of Upper Jurassic limestones, intrusive igneous rocks, as well as from limestone-blocky-rubbly-argillaceous deposits of the Massandra Formation. Soils are formed on the weathering products of these rocks, as well as on pebble-rubble-hundred-loam deposits of river valleys, numerous gullies and ravines.

The width, relief and other components of the nature of the belt largely depend on both the tectonic structure and the Main Ridge that bounds the South Coast from the west and north. In the middle part of the South Coast there is a vast Tuak anticlinorium, which in the west is replaced by the Nikitskaya synclinal, expressed in the relief of the Nikitskaya yayla, and in the east by a complex system of Sudak-Karadag folds. In the western part of the region there are the Limensko-Yalta, Forosskaya, Laspinskaya anticlines, complicated by smaller folds and faults, and the Kastropolskaya and Tesseliya synclines separating them. The surface of these geological structures, formed by impervious shales of the Taurian Formation and Middle Jurassic rocks, gradually lowers to the west. So, if in the area of the Gurzuf saddle within the Main Ridge this surface is located at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level. m., then at Cape Aya it is already below sea level. Together with it, the Upper Jurassic limestones overlaying it, which crown the Main Ridge, sink. In this regard, the southern coast in the extreme west is narrow, steeply sloping and occupied by limestone rubble accumulations and large block outliers from the Main Ridge. To the east, it expands and becomes flatter. Along with this, the western part of the South Coast also has a more indented coastline; deep bays and capes separating them are denser here.

Under the conditions, as a rule, of the steeply sloping surface of the region, relief-forming processes actively proceed here. This is facilitated by the fact that the Main Ridge is experiencing uplift, and the coastal zone of the belt is subsidence, as a result of which huge masses of loose rocks accumulate here. Saturated with water, they move down the slope, causing numerous landslides. Depending on

bridges from the factor that enhances the slippage of rocks, in the event of their washing away by the waters of the sea, rivers or as a result of

artificial pruning of slopes, respectively times." aYu1

abrasion, erosion, anthropogenic and mixed landslides. In the western part of the South Bank, I count! over 430 landslides. In terms of number, landslides are erosional (47%) and artificial (36%), and in terms of area - abrasion (34%). Unfortunately, they strike relatively gentle (12-14°) slopes composed of fine earth, which are the best in the area for human development. Immoderate watering of lands, loss of tap or sewer water activate landslides.

The region is a sloping lowland, heavily indented by deep river valleys, gullies and ravines. Its notable feature is the presence of inclined tectonic, landslide, river terraces. In the valleys they are inclined to the riverbed and to the sea, and in the watershed spaces - to the sea. The terracing of the surface somewhat softens the steepness of the low mountains and makes it more favorable for economic development.

The climate of the region is sub-Mediterranean hot, in the west - arid, with moderately warm winters, and in the east - very arid, with very mild winters 7 . The sums of active air temperatures above 10°C are the largest in Crimea, they are 3940° in the west of the region and 3680° in the east, and above 15° - 3245° and 3030°, respectively (Table 9). Humidity of parts of the region depends both on differences in the amounts of precipitation, and on the number and debits local sources. In turn, on them to a large extent tectonic fragmentation, fissuring of the limestones of the yail and the slopes of the impermeable surface underlying the limestones influence. Due to the combination of these reasons, there are large local differences in the formation of spring waters. So, for example, in Batiliman-Laspinsky district, on an area of 15 km 2, there are 12 sources, and in Simeiz-Miskhorsky, on an area of 37 km 2 - 225. The number and activity of local landslides depend on the degree of watering.

The most common soils in the region are brown soils with local differences in the degrees of carbonate content, rubble, thickness and humus content, as well as, to some extent, brown mountain forest soils. The vegetation cover is formed mainly by shibley and juniper-oak light forests. Thickets of drought-resistant

herbs and semi-shrubs, communities typical of the eastern Mediterranean - frigans. They occupy dry open rocky slopes and consist mainly of species of milkweed, dubrovnik, thyme, medicinal sage, hooked astragalus, asphodelina, mad cucumber, capers, etc.

Low-stemmed juniper-oak forests with evergreen undergrowth are characteristic of the western part of the South Shore. To the east of Alushta, thickets of shibliaks and freegans are more widespread, mostly of anthropogenic origin. Oak shilyaks are typical for the entire belt, juniper-oak - for places consisting mostly of Massandra deposits, and oak-pistachio - for coastal habitats. Shibljaks of the western part of the belt have a relatively well-closed layer of trees and shrubs and include evergreen plants of the Crimean flora, which makes them remotely close to the maquis communities of the Mediterranean countries. To the east of Alushta there is a gradual transition (especially in the area between the villages of Privetnoye and Morskoye) from tree and shrub vegetation to grassy. The significantly changed vegetation cover of the region has been preserved only in places that are relatively difficult to develop, and the rest of the territory has plantations of grapes, tobacco, gardens, parks, settlements, and resort complexes.

The specific differences in the modern landscapes of the region are due to the composition and ratio of the areas of the areas that form them. Within the belt, the most common areas are:

rocky lowlands with relict juniper-pine woodlands, oak-pistachio shibleykas and maquisoid communities on brown gravelly soils. This is typical for the rocks of Cape Aya and the Laspi region, Stepped landslide lowlands, complicated by large blocks of limestones with juniper-oak forests, oak-hornbeam shiblyaks with an undergrowth of evergreens on brown soils. Such properties of nature are characteristic of watershed ridges from the rocks of the Massandra Formation and limestone massifs-outliers: Koshka, Ai-Todor, Ai-Nikola, Krestovaya, G also stone chaos forming capes Martyan, Kuchuk-Lambat, Nikolay, Kornilov and others. Gently sloping-terraced landslide coastal lowlands with oak, oak-pistachio shibljaks and friganoid thickets

leami on brown soils. It is typical for the coastal belt of amphitheatres, bays composed of clayey SLNS and products of their destruction.

Laccolith mountains with broad-leaved forests and oak shiblyaks with an undergrowth of evergreens. These are Ayudag, Kuchuk-Ayu, Kastel and others. Inclined low mountains strongly dissected by valleys, gullies and ravines with juniper sparse forests, oak-pistachio shiblyaks, friganoid and steppe communities on brown soils. Such areas are most common in the belt from the village. Semidvore to the city of Perchem. Massively-reef-limestone lowlands with relic pine-juniper woodlands, phryganoid and petrophytic steppe communities on brown soils. These are the areas of the Sudak region and the New World. Inclined terred plains and low mountains ridges with sagebrush-cereal and feather-grass-fescue steppes, as well as with oak-hornbeam shiblyaks on brown, sometimes saline soils. Such areas are most characteristic of the section of the belt to the east of the city of Sudak. Ancient Lkanian Seaside Lowlands with oak-hornbeam light forests, oak shibleaks and steppes on brown and brown mountain forest soils. Such properties of nature are typical for Karadag.

Valley-terraced areas with oak and mixed forests, as well as shrubs on brown and meadow soils.

Within the region, two physical-geographical regions are distinguished: Western and Eastern.

On the southern slope of the Main Ridge and the seashore there are many remarkable unique natural objects, 82 of which are declared protected places and natural monuments, which is more than half of the number of natural monuments of Crimea.

The most remarkable and valuable manifestations of the standards of nature of the lower belt of the ridge, which is part of the South Coast region, are protected in two reserves - "Cape Martyan" and "Karadag". There are also 27 protected landscape and 15 coastal aquatic tracts, which, like nature reserves, are centers of conservation and sources of settlement of valuable relict and endemic species of plants and animals and are unique)! biological communities in general. The largest I1 of them are the rocks of Cape Aya with a grove of Pitsundskop pine and high juniper, Laspi rocks, Baidaro-Kastro-

Polish, Iphigenia, mountains Ai-Nikola, Krestovaya, Plush comb, Strawberry comb, Koshka, Ayudag, Kastel, Karaul-Oba, as well as the Novosvetsky coast with thickets of Pitsunda pine. Many unique man-made items are protected in 17 landscape and park monuments.

The reserve "Cape Martyan" occupies 240 hectares, of which 120 hectares are in the Martyan and Ai-Danil tracts, and the rest - in the sea zone. A site of a relic forest landscape of the Mediterranean type is protected (there are almost no such forests in the Mediterranean countries). Over 500 species of higher flowering plants grow here in a small area, 14 of them are endemic. The site of the former juniper forest is especially protected. Three of its relic species - high juniper, small-fruited strawberry and goat's thong are listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A number of species are included in the Red Books of the USSR and the Ukrainian SSR. Its typical southern coastal fauna is also subject to protection. The reserve is a valuable reserve of a unique Mediterranean landscape in the very center of a vast resort area.

The Karadag nature reserve occupies 2855 hectares, of which 809 hectares are in the Black Sea. The nature of the mountain group is protected, which is a unique well-preserved fragment of a giant volcanic massif jurassic, much of which is now below sea level. Within the limits of the reserve, located in the border zone of a number of landscape regions of the Crimea, forest, forest-steppe and steppe landscape complexes are uniquely combined. This original museum stores over 100 types of minerals and rocks, and 1023 species of vascular plants grow on its territory, of which 58 are endemic. Diverse too animal world, consisting of 27 species of mammals, 76 birds, 3 amphibians and 7 species of reptiles. The world of insects is especially rich, numbering several thousand species - more than 1,000 species of butterflies alone live here 19 .

South coast parks occupying more than 1067 hectares of the area are wonderful monuments of co-creation of man and nature. 17 of them are declared monuments of landscape art. About 200 species and forms of woody and shrubby plants grow in Forossky and Alupkinsky; in Miskhorsky - 100, Livadiy-

skom - 400, Massandrovsky - 250, Gurzufsky - 110, Kiparisny - 180, Utes-Karasansky - over 220. The arboretum of the Nikitsky Garden, a scientific center for breeding new and introducing useful plants, stands out in particular. It has 1866 species, varieties and forms of trees and shrubs.

Crimea is a health resort of all-Union and international importance, a land of highly developed industries, agriculture, health resorts, which continues to develop and intensively develop more and more new landscape complexes of the peninsula. In this regard, further scientific research and energetic actions are needed to constantly regulate the combination of production, recreation and nature protection functions of each landscape.

REPORT

ON TRAINING PRACTICE

FOREST ZOOLOGY

GROUP LH-21 STUDENTS

SAKHNO TATYANA MIKHAILOVNA

SIMFEROPOL 2011

Goal and tasks:

Target: is to consolidate the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom. Obtaining research skills; expanding the student's understanding of faunal complexes.

Tasks:

1- prepare the student for a deeper assimilation of knowledge about animals, about their life, habitats, significance in nature;

2- consolidate and expand knowledge of forest zoology;

3- to acquaint the student with animals in their natural habitat; learn the basic methods of field study of animals;

4- improve the ability and skills of research work;

5- form an active, environmental consciousness and careful attitude to living nature.

General characteristics of the fauna of the Crimean Foothills.

Crimea stretches from north to south for 195 km. The northern point of Crimea is the Perekop Isthmus; southern - Cape Sarych.

And from west to east for 325 km. western point– Cape Kara-Mrun; eastern point- Cape Lantern.

Crimea consists of two interconnected parts. Most of the Crimea is flat, and the smaller part is mountainous. These parts differ in their origin, in their geological history, historical development and natural features.

Mountain Crimea consists of:

From the Crimean foothills;

From the main ridge of the Crimean mountains;

From the south coast.

Within the Crimean foothills, the inner ridge (height 738 m) and the outer ridge (height 344 m)

The Crimean foothills occupies an area of 3945 km.

The uniqueness of this territory lies in the fact that it combines the features of the plain and mountainous Crimea. The forest alternates with the steppe, and landscape diversity increases from north to south, and decreases from east to west.

The average July temperature is +21-22; the average January temperature is -5-1.5 The annual rainfall is 300-450 mm. Zonal soil types are chernozems, piedmont calcareous and soddy calcareous soils under loesses.

The Crimean foothills stretches in a wide strip from 12 to 40 km, and the length of this territory is 180 km.

The Crimean foothills have been mastered by man. From a geobotanical point of view, the Crimean foothills belong to the Mediterranean forest region.

The gently sloping northern and northwestern slopes of the outer ridge are characterized by a mosaic combination of steppe areas and small groves dominated by undersized oak. There are 37 such groves in the foothills. Forests dominate in the Crimean foothills. According to the fauna in the Crimean foothills, a number of biotopes are distinguished, they are closely related to landscape features.

1- open biotope

2- forest biotopes

3- forest-steppe biotopes

4 - rock deposits and cliffs

5- dungeons

6 - near-water biotopes.

Open biotope - areas of plains or mountains devoid of trees and shrubs. Vegetation is represented by desert, steppe and meadow associations.

Forest-steppe biotopes include foothill forest-steppe. In nature, it is expressed in mosaic areas that surround forests. They are characterized by such birds as pheasant, magpie, and blackbird, starling, finch, field sparrow.

Tree-shrub biotope - located along the river valleys, in the fauna it has a large composition. Birds - common kestrel, cuckoo, roller, hoopoe, oriole, common starling. Mammals - hedgehog, bats, hare, various rodents.

Forest biotopes - have a characteristic fauna. Various types of pigeons, great spotted woodpecker, song thrushes, chaffinch, siskin, grosbeak, various types of tits. Mammals - small giant evening, badger, squirrel, wild boar, roe deer, deer, mouflon.

Dungeon: fauna introduced different kind bats: ciliated bat, mustachioed. Not far from the entrance there are: a hedgehog, a fox, a badger.

Near-water biotope - these include animal species that are associated with the aquatic environment. Birds - little grebe, bittern, mallard, marsh harrier, warblers. Mammals - gray rat.

Characteristics of the fauna of the park named after Yu.A. Gagarin"

Park of Culture and Leisure named after Yu.A. Gagarin" is located in the city of Simferopol in the area of Gagarin and Kievskaya streets. In the early 60s, mass construction of new five-story houses began in Simferopol. When designing new districts, it was planned to create a huge landscape park with an area of 50 hectares at the confluence of the Small Salgir and Salgir. A pond with an island has been created in the center of the park.

The Salgir River flows through the park. It is not deep, but very picturesque with small cascades along its entire length. In the center of the park there are two wonderful artificial lakes. They are not deep and are interconnected. In the middle of one of the lakes is an island, which is impossible to reach without swimming. The island is a nesting place for wild ducks that live here. Mark the itinerary in red ink.

On the territory of the park there were many species of tree and shrub species, including oriental plane tree, Norway maple, sycamore maple, Lebanese cedar, prickly spruce, walnut, Babylon willow, white willow, Tatar honeysuckle, beautiful catalpa, common privet, small-leaved linden, common ash, horse chestnut, prickly juniper, Cossack juniper.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos is a bird from the family of ducks (Anatidae) of the order Anseriformes. The most famous and widespread wild duck. The body length of the male is about 62 cm, the female is about 57 cm, the weight reaches 1-1.5 kg (in autumn, just before the flight, after fattening, the weight of the bird can reach 2 kg). The head and neck of the male are green, the crop and chest are brownish-brown, the back and ventral side of the body are gray with thin transverse spots. The color of the female is brown with darker spots, the ventral side is brownish-gray with longitudinal streaks. On the wing of the male and female there is a blue-violet “mirror”. Partially a migratory bird. Inhabits fresh and slightly brackish waters. In recent years, many birds overwinter on non-freezing reservoirs in large cities and their environs. Mallard is one of the main objects of sport, and in some places - commercial hunting. Most modern breeds of domestic ducks are bred from the mallard by selection, except for those that were bred from the musky duck. Rice. one

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Pigeon Columba livia The appearance of the rock pigeon is well known from domestic and feral specimens of this species. It is easy to distinguish it from other relatives by the white loin and two dark stripes running across the wing. It weighs from 240 to 360 g. It is a social bird, nesting, as a rule, in colonies, flying in flocks for food and watering, while in autumn and winter there are often up to several hundred birds in flocks. The head is small, the neck is short, the beak is straight, covered with wax at the base, the nostrils are covered with caps. The toes of the short legs are attached at the same height; the wings are quite long and pointed, with 10 large and 11-15 small flight feathers; tail of 12 (rarely 14 or 16) feathers.

They feed on seeds, tropical species feed on fruits, but they also eat animal food. They fly very well, migratory in temperate countries. They live in pairs, build simple nests and usually lay 2 eggs 2 or more times a year. The walls of a highly developed goiter secrete a substance similar to cottage cheese, with which pigeons feed the chicks for the first time after leaving the egg. Pigeons are found in all zoogeographic regions; most of them in the Australian region. The number of pigeon species is about 360.

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house sparrow, or city sparrow Passer domesticus Body length up to 16 cm, weight 23–35 g. The general color of the plumage of a sparrow is brownish-brown above, whitish below. The cheeks are white, the ear region is pale gray. Wings with a yellowish-white transverse stripe. The male differs from the female in a large black spot covering the chin, throat, goiter and upper part chest. The female has a gray head and throat, and a pale gray-yellow stripe above the eye.

It is found everywhere where people settle and the soil is cultivated for fields, gardens and other plantings. In wooded areas, far from human settlements, it does not exist - it settles only near human habitation.

The sparrow places nests in a wide variety of places - in the crevices of various buildings, in the burrows of clay and chalk ravines, in the walls of the nests of large birds (herons, storks, eagles), in hollows of trees, occupies birdhouses, burrows of coastal swallows. In clutch 5–6 dull white, pale yellow.

Fig.3

Rook Corvus frugilegus is a bird of the raven genus widespread in Eurasia. Length 45-47 cm. Feathers are black, with a purple tint. In adult birds, the base of the beak is bare; young birds have feathers at the base of the beak, but later they fall out.

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Rooks are omnivorous, but mainly feed on worms and insect larvae, which they find by digging in the ground with their strong beak. They like to follow the tractors plowing the land in large flocks.

In the northern part of the range, rooks are migratory birds, in the southern part they are sedentary.

They nest in trees in large colonies. A common wintering bird in large settlements. Inhabitant of open landscapes. In settlements near old roads, “rookeries” are often found on trees - colonial settlements consisting of dozens of nests that have been used for many years or pale blue eggs with brownish-yellow spots and grayish-brown speckles

It feeds on all kinds of seeds, as well as berries and fruits, but does not refuse insects, including May beetles. The chicks are fed first with caterpillars, and then with large insects. Rice. 4

Black Crow Corvus coron is a bird from the genus of ravens.

The plumage of a black crow is black with green or purple reflections, much greener than the brilliance of a rook. Beak, paws and feet are also black. Black crows differ from the common crow in size (48-52 cm or 18 to 21 inches in length), and from the gray crow in their black plumage, but they are often confused with the rook. The beak of the crow is larger, therefore, it looks shorter, in addition, in adult rooks, the nostrils are bare, while the nostrils of the black crow are covered with bristle-like feathers at any age. Fig. 5

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Common squirrel(lat. Sciurus) - a genus of rodents of the squirrel family. In addition to the genus Sciurus itself, squirrels are also called a number of representatives of the squirrel family from the genera chipmunk squirrels (Tamiasciurus), palm squirrels (Funambulus) and many others. As for the genus Sciurus itself, it combines about 30 species distributed in Europe, North and South America and in temperate zone Asia.

It has an elongated body with a fluffy long tail, long ears, dark brown color with a white belly, sometimes gray (especially in winter). Found everywhere except Australia. The squirrel is a source of valuable fur. A squirrel in the Crimea is a migrant. In 1940 they were brought from Altai Territory, releasing on the territory of the Crimean Natural Reserve, and, having found favorable conditions, they settled throughout the peninsula, including parks and green areas of cities.

One of the well-known distinguishing features of many squirrels is their ability to store nuts for the winter. Some types of nuts are buried in the ground, others hide them in the hollows of trees. Scientists believe that the poor memory of some species of squirrels, in particular gray squirrels, helps to preserve forests, as they bury nuts in the ground and forget about them, and new trees appear from germinated seeds, which is very important for natural renewal. Rice. 6

Fig.6

Ticks Acari, Acarina - a superclass of arthropods from the class of arachnids (Arachnida). The largest group in the class: over 48 thousand species are currently described. Ticks have reached such a flourishing due to the fact that in their historical development they have acquired microscopically small sizes, which allowed them to master the upper layers of the soil, rich in decaying plant residues.

Fig.7

The number of ticks in the Crimea was insignificant. The disease was introduced during the migration of squirrels from Siberia. In general, 5 genera and 12 species of ticks were registered in the Republic of Crimea, of which 4 species are carriers of tick-borne encephalitis. Since 1985, the foothill-mountain zone of Crimea has been defined as a natural focus of tick-borne encephalitis. The period of activity of ticks in the Crimea lasts 250 days. Fig.7. There are 2 peaks of activity:

Ants Formicidae is a family of insects from the ant superfamily of the order Hymenoptera. They are social insects, forming 3 castes: females, males and working individuals. Females and males are winged, working individuals are wingless. Antennae geniculate, in females and working specimens 11-12-segmented, in males 12-13-segmented, in some species 4-, 6- or 10-segmented. The main segment of the antenna (scape) is usually much longer than all the others. The posterior thorax (epinotum) is the first segment of the abdomen fused with the metathorax. The abdomen proper is attached to the epinotum by a stalk formed by the first or second segments. Ants of some subfamilies (myrmicina, ponerina and others) have a developed stinger. Wings with reduced venation.

Fig.8

They feed mainly on plant sap, aphids and other sucking insects, during the feeding period of larvae - mainly insects. Fig.8

bees Anthophila is a section in the superfamily Apoidea of flying insects of the suborder Stucco-bellied order Hymenoptera, related to wasps and ants. The science of bees is called apiology (apidology). Bees have a long proboscis that they use to suck plant nectar. They also have antennae (or antennae, harnesses), each of which consists of 13 segments in males and 12 segments in females. There are exceptions in males: 11 (or 12) segments in the antennae have some Systropha, 12 segments - some Euryglossina, Pasites, Biastes, etc.

All bees have two pairs of wings, the back pair is smaller than the front; only a few species in the same sex or caste have very short wings, making it difficult or impossible for the bee to fly. Fig.9

Cabbage butterfly, or cabbage whitefish Pieris brassicae - a diurnal butterfly from the whitefly family (Pieridae). The binominal name comes from lat. Brassica - cabbage, one of the food plants for caterpillars. Fig.10

Fig.10

The length of the fore wing of the adult is 25-33 mm. The wingspan of the male is 49-62 mm, the female is 51-63 mm. The wings are white with a few black spots. On the front wing from above: the outer corner almost to the middle of the rim and a spot on the inner edge, and in females there are two more median spots, black; two similar spots on the underside. Hind wing with a black spot at the middle leading edge; below yellow, with black pollen.

true flies- insects Order Diptera (translated from Greek: di = two, and pteron = wing) has a single pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres transformed from hindwings on the metathorax. The well-known housefly is a true fly and is one of the most widely distributed living things. The main life cycle of a fly is egg, larva, pupa and adult (winged stage), called development with complete metamorphosis (holometabolism). Often there are differences in food sources for larvae and adults of Diptera of the same species. For example, mosquito larvae constantly live in water and feed on bottom sediments, while adults feed on nectar, and females use blood as an energy source to produce eggs. Fig.11

Fig.11

Bronzovka beetle 22-29 mm long, shiny, golden-green, sometimes with a copper-red tint. The underside of the body and legs are green, with a bluish tint. Elytra uniformly convex, without longitudinal impression behind middle near suture. Elytra without white spots, with slight impressions of dotted line type. Anterior process of mesothorax flattened at apex and somewhat widened, smooth, with scattered punctures, without hairs. Fig.12

Fig.12

Stems 30-100 cm long, green or brownish-green in the lower part, forked-branched, woody, jointed, bare, easily broken at the nodes, forming a spherical bush with a diameter of 20-40 (120) cm.

The leaves are sessile, opposite, arranged in pairs at the ends of the branches, leathery, thick, pale green, oblong-lanceolate or elliptical, narrowed towards the base, obtuse at the apex, entire, 5-7 cm long and 0.3-1 cm wide with a parallel venation. They fall in the fall in the second year of their existence.

The plant is dioecious; flowers are unisexual, inconspicuous, yellowish-green, with a simple four-parted perianth, clustered in 3 (rarely 5-6) at the ends of the shoots, in the forks of the stem. Staminate flowers about 4 mm long, sessile; their perianth with a short tube and ovoid limb lobes; stamens 4, without filaments; anthers on the outer side completely adhered to the perianth lobes, on the inner side with numerous holes, giving the surface of the tepal a sieve appearance. Pistillate flowers are smaller, about 2 mm long; lateral - seated; medium - on a short leg; perianth with 4 obtuse ovate lobes; the pistil is short, with a semi-inferior single-celled ovary, with one ovule and a sessile, thick, cushion-shaped stigma. The fruit is a false spherical or slightly oblong, juicy, one-seeded berry, sometimes with a notch at the top, about 10 mm in diameter, green when immature, white, translucent when ripe. parts of the receptacle, greyish-white, heart-shaped or oval-heart-shaped, rich in endosperm, about 8 mm in diameter, covered with a thin membranous peel with flat or convex edges. Seeds may contain 1-3 embryos. Blossoms in March - April; fruits ripen in August - September. Fig 13

Rice.

Conclusions and offers:

With the help of practice, we consolidated the theoretical knowledge gained throughout school year. We examined animals that had not been seen before in the laboratory, studied their behavior in real biotopes and interactions with humans. During the internship, we acquired the skills of research work, expanded our understanding of faunal complexes.

We studied the fauna of the park named after Yu.A. Gagarin” in the city of Simferopol, saw the living conditions of some species of animals and birds, as well as their behavior.

At the moment, the park is distinguished by a large variety of species, because. it has all the necessary conditions for the life of animals and birds. But to date, a project has been developed for the reconstruction of the park, the implementation of which can lead to the extinction of many species, so that this does not happen, it is necessary to take into account the fauna of this park. It is necessary to install feeders to attract birds, not to disturb the natural habitat of animals, to limit visits to the island by people, because. many birds nest there.

biological rhythms. In 2 vols. T. 1. Per. from English. - M.: Mir, 1984.- 414 p. _______ Circadian systems: a general perspective_________________ 37^

biological rhythms. In 2 vols. T. 1. Per. from English. - M.: Mir, 1984.- 414 p. ____________ Circadian Systems: A General Perspective_______ 53

Crimean foothills

The Crimean foothills are a natural link connecting the mountains and plains of Crimea. Therefore, it combines many original features and features characteristic of the south and north of the peninsula. The mountains are not high, the forest alternates with the steppe, valleys, gardens ... One involuntarily recalls the words of A. S. Pushkin:

The valleys are a cozy beauty,

And jets, and poplars coolness ...

All the feeling of a traveler beckons...

A wide strip (12-40 km.) The foothills stretched from the southwest from the Cape of Chersonesos to the northeast to the Kerch Peninsula. Its total length in this direction reaches 180 km. The area of the Crimean foothills is 3895 km2. In the process of long arched uplifts of the Crimean Mountains on the northern, initially uniform gentle slope, water erosion formed longitudinal valleys and foothill ridges. These ridges are composed mainly of limestones and marls (of Cretaceous and Tertiary age) dipping to the northwest at a slight angle. This is how the Inner (up to 739 m above sea level) and Outer (up to 350 m above sea level) ridges arose. They are characterized by steep southern and gently dipping northern slopes. This type of relief in geography is called cuest, and the ridges are called cues. The heterogeneous density and structure of the sediments of the Inner Ridge and, naturally, unequal stability under the influence of external forces, combined with climatic features and low forest coverage of the territory - all this contributes to intensive weathering of the cuesta outcrops. Dense "armoring" limestone crowning the cuesta creates ledges-cornices clearly expressed in relief: at the top - limestone-nummulite ledge, below it - limestone-bryozoan. However, nummulite limestone is destroyed faster than bryozoan, and therefore the upper cornice recedes from the cliff of the cuesta faster than the lower one, as a result of which peculiar terraces appear between the two cornices. In the eastern part of the Inner Ridge, where only one nummulite cornice is observed, no such terraces are formed. The process of weathering of the limestone cornices of the Inner Ridge leads to the formation of amazingly beautiful sculptural relief forms on its slopes. Here are wide rounded peaks, reminiscent of giant lurking monsters, and lamellar ribbed parts, squeezed like furs of harmony, and deep niches-caves, which often served as a dwelling for primitive man. In addition to cave weathering, honeycomb, lacy and point weathering is often found in these places; saucers, gullies and even small caves of karst origin can be found. Limestones, heterogeneous in density, from their denser varieties form columns of bizarre shape, prepared by weathering. Many of them are declared natural monuments.

In order to further rational use of the natural resources of the foothills, along with the extraction of stone, it is planned to widely expand work to restore the landscape of worked out quarries. It would be expedient to widely introduce underground developments, which would allow preserving the forest-steppe landscapes of the cuesta peaks - wonderful places for recreation and tourism. At the same time, the underground galleries and halls formed in this way could serve economic purposes.

Along the southern slopes of the Inner Ridge stretched a chain of so-called "cave towns" of the Crimea. The caves are mostly carved by man. Some of them are protected monuments visited by thousands of nature and history lovers.

The Crimean foothills is the most important area for horticulture and essential oil crops on the peninsula. In the longitudinal depressions between the ridges and the river valleys transverse to them, there are beautiful apple and pear orchards, plantations of roses, lavender, sage, and tobacco. Foothill landscapes account for a significant part of all Crimean vineyards and grain crops. Mild winters and warm summers create optimal conditions for the development of southern fruit and berry crops. Only atmospheric precipitation is not enough: it falls here from 303 to 596 mm a year.

At the same time, for the waters accumulated on the Main Ridge, the foothills serve as the main route for surface and underground runoff. For the most water-bearing river systems, Biyuk-Karasu, Salgir, Alma, Kacha, Belbek, Chernaya and other rivers, this is the area of transit and dispersion of surface runoff. In addition, the main part of the river runoff (up to 48%) falls on the spring period, when irrigation of agricultural crops is limited. That is why river flow regulation is necessary.

The transformation of nature on a broad front unfolded in the foothills of the Crimea only after the victory of the Great October Socialist Revolution. Particularly large water-reclamation works have been carried out here in recent years. By 1971, 15 large reservoirs with a total volume of about 200 million m3 had been built in the river valleys. This is half of the surface runoff of the entire Crimea in an average dry year!

The forest-steppe vegetation in the landscapes of the foothills occupies about 1900 km2. On the gentle northern and northwestern slopes of the Outer and partially Inner Ridges, there is a mosaic combination of steppe areas and small forests - groves dominated by undersized oak. These groves in the Crimea are called "oaks". Within the boundaries of the foothills, 37 isolated island "oaks" were found, ranging in area from several hectares to several square kilometers (Near and Far Simferopol "oaks" Osminsky and others). Along with coppice downy oak, pedunculate and sessile oaks are occasionally found in groves. Of the other tree and shrub species, hornbeam, skumpia, hawthorn, derzhiderevo, wild rose, common pear and sallow-leaved pear, svidina, barberry, buckthorn, blackthorn, etc. are common. , spurge, peony, feather grass, etc.). Many researchers, extending the term "forest-steppe" to the entire territory of the Crimean foothills, believe that this type of vegetation here has a primary, original character. However, recently this view of the Crimean forest-steppe has been revised. This question is not only scientific: knowledge of the root causes of the formation of the forest-steppe will make it possible to better and more correctly determine the ways of forest plantations and erosion control. First of all, the "oaks" of the Outer Ridge and the "oaks" occupying the gentle slopes of the Inner Ridge and in some places the southern longitudinal depression cannot be considered as identical formations. An assessment of the vegetation cover of foothill landscapes is unthinkable without taking into account the entire complex of natural and geographical conditions. It should be borne in mind that the Inner Ridge is 200-300 m higher than the Outer Ridge, receives more precipitation, and its vegetation cover is a direct continuation of the forests of the lower belt of the Main Ridge and merges with it in the southern longitudinal depression, while the "oaks" of the Outer the ridges are in direct contact with the steppes of the flat Crimea.

In this regard, there are also differences in the vegetation cover of the ridges. The "oaks" of the Outer Ridge have the character of low-growing trees and shrubs and occupy a total of no more than 15-20% of its area. Such representatives of forests as field maple, heart-shaped linden and ivy, common in the "oaks" of the Inner Ridge, are not found on the Outer Ridge. Significant spaces between the "oaks" here are occupied by typical steppe vegetation developed on medium-thick calcareous chernozems characteristic of the steppes. Thus, the original nature of the forest-steppe of the Outer Ridge is beyond doubt.

The situation is different with the origin of the forest-steppe vegetation of the gentle slopes of the Inner Ridge and partly of the southern longitudinal depression. Oak groves are also widespread here (Chumakar "oaks", Karakush "oaks", etc.). But they occupy more than half of the area in these landscapes, and their resemblance to the "oak trees" of the Outer Ridge is purely external. In the plant communities of the Inner Ridge, there is a significant increase in the proportion of herbaceous plants characteristic of mountain forests. Of the trees in the "oaks" of the Inner Ridge, such satellites of the Crimean oak forests as field maple, hornbeam, and heart-shaped linden are common. As for the nesting growth of oak, which is widespread here, in which supporters of the originality of forest-steppes throughout the foothills see unfavorable growing conditions, this phenomenon is the result of past felling and grazing. Nowadays, not only the foothills, but in general all the oak forests of the Crimea, 80% belong to low-stemmed and coppice forests. In this sense, the forest-steppe of the Crimean foothills is an analogue of the upland forest-steppe of the Crimean yayla.

In the past, forests dominated the gentle slopes of the Inner Ridge and partly of the northern longitudinal valley. This is evidenced, in particular, by the first plan of Simferopol, drawn up in 1786: on the territory where the children's park is now located, and on the entire right bank of the Salgir, "forest" is written. Its relics are the giant oaks still growing in the children's park. One of them (Bogatyr of Taurida) is 650 years old, its height is 25 m, trunk circumference is 5.25 m. These facts convincingly testify to the secondary forest-steppe nature of the vegetation of the landscapes of the Inner Ridge and adjacent forest-steppe areas of the southern and northern longitudinal inter-ridge depressions of the Crimean foothills.

Peculiar forest-steppe areas of the Crimean foothills need constant protection. In 1947, "oaks" were included in the register of natural monuments of regional significance. They reliably protect slopes from erosion, accumulate moisture. "Oaks" of the Crimean foothills - interesting objects geographical excursions.

If we take all the sites of "oaks" as one natural monument, then together with it in the Crimean foothills 18 unique objects with a total area of more than 520 hectares are declared protected.

We invite you to travel. By let's go tradition from southwest to northeast.

Along the southern slopes of the Inner Ridge, in some places small remnant mountains rise as isolated bastions. Water erosion in the distant past cut them off from the main crest of the cuesta. Apparently, the isolation and relative inaccessibility of these mountains, flattened from above, attracted the attention of the ancient inhabitants of the foothills, who created their fortresses and cave cities here for defense. One of these fortified cities - Mangup (commanded in 1960) rises on the highest remnant of the southwestern foothills near the village. Zalesny. The height of this rocky table massif is 581 m. It is clear that it was not an easy task to take possession of such a natural fortress, which was also protected at the top by high walls and battle towers. In the 40-meter cliffs of Mangup, formed by bryozoan limestones of the Upper Cretaceous age, there are many artificial caves - crypts, which had various economic or religious purposes. In the 13th-15th centuries, there was a large city for those times, the capital of the independent Principality of Theodoro.

The plateau-like peak of Mangup is pushed to the sides by original toes. From each of the capes you can admire the surrounding landscapes in plenty. From the foot of the mountain, a forest climbs up the slopes of the hoary citadel. Fluffy oak, hornbeam, hazel dominate here, ivy is abundant, and Crimean pine is found.

Almost next to Mangup, on the eastern slope of the narrow Karalez valley, there are natural sphinxes of the Karalez valley (commissioned in 1960). Here, 3 km. south of the Red Poppy, on the right bank of the valley, formed by one of the left tributaries of the Belbek River, rises a group of huge stone idols. There are 14 sphinxes in this family. The height of one of the stone giants reaches 8 m. These unique formations arose as a result of weathering of Cretaceous and Tertiary limestones of heterogeneous density.

Passing from the Karalezsky sphinxes to the northeast and passing through a low ridge into the Belbek valley, we get to the Syurensky grotto-canopy (commanded in 1964). An extensive form of weathering of limestones on the right slope of the valley of the river. Belbek attracted the attention of primitive people 15-20 thousand years ago by the convenience of housing: the southwestern exposure of the canopy (abundance of sun), reliable protection from bad weather and the proximity of water. During the excavations of the site, archaeologists discovered numerous flint tools, as well as bone remains of extinct animals of the Crimean foothills: a cave bear, a giant deer, a reindeer, a wild horse, a bull and others.

Not far from here is the Belbek yew grove, declared a natural monument in 1968. It is the largest yew habitat in the Crimea. Here, on the steep shady left slope of the river valley. Belbek, near the village. Large Sadovoe, there are over 2000 trees of this tertiary relic. Yew in some places forms independent thickets or is represented by undergrowth in a beech forest over an area of more than 20 hectares. Pleasing to the eye big number young undergrowth is evidence of favorable living conditions for yew. Finally, the Belbek Canyon itself is the place where the river breaks through. Belbek through the Inner Ridge is also a natural monument (commanded in 1968). This is an original erosion gorge that cuts the cuest ridge, as geologists say, across its strike. The "Belbek gates" were formed in the process of gradual water erosion along the path, originally laid by a deep split-crack in the rocks of the cuesta. The depth of the canyon cut reaches 160 m, its width in the upper part is about 300 m. Bare sheer cliffs of limestone, like fortress bastions, guard the upper edges of the gorge. Down to the river, marl slopes descend at an angle of about 45°. This part of the slopes is dominated by forest thickets of sessile oak, hornbeam, dogwood, wild rose, derzhidereva and other broad-leaved trees and shrubs.

Approximately the same is the Kachinsky Canyon (commanded in 1968), located on the river neighboring to the east. Kache. True, this canyon, at approximately the same depth (140 m), is narrower (150 m) and difficult to access. This, like the Belbek Canyon, is a monument of the Quaternary development of the relief of the foothill Crimea. Traveling through these places, once again you are clearly convinced of the enormous destructive and creative work of flowing waters.

Passing from the Kacha valley along its right tributary Churuk-Su to Bakhchisarai, you can see two more interesting natural sights here. One of the monuments - natural sphinxes - is located on the right bank of the Churuk-Su. The river here cut a deep canyon-like gorge that cuts the Inner Range in the transverse direction. The upper horizons of the sides of the valley form bizarre stone sculptures up to 20 m high. These rocks are formed by the weathering of nummulite limestones of unequal strength.

The further way is along the valley to the southern cliffs of the cuesta. Here, opposite each other, several cave cities rise at once - Chufut-Kale, Kyz-Kule and Tepe-Kermen. The latter was declared a protected natural monument in 1947. Tepe-Kermen is located on a cone-shaped mountain at the southern edge of the Inner Ridge. In the past, Tepe-Kermen was an integral part of this ridge, but as a result of erosion, the mountain became isolated and turned into a classical remnant. The flat top with steep edges is made up of an armoring layer of limestones. More gentle slopes, subject to active erosional erosion, are composed of marls. Altitude Tepe-Kermena – 543 m.

In the past, as the name itself shows (Tepe-Kermen means hill-fortress), there was a medieval "cave city" (XII-XIV centuries). Since then, numerous (235) crypts have been preserved, carved by man in limestone in 6-7 tiers, both on the slopes and on the top of the mountain. Tepe-Kermen was one of the most populous "cave towns" of the Crimea.

The natural standard of the dynamics of the relief is the mountain-remnant Sheludivaya in the valley of the river. Bodrak, near the village. Scientific (commanded in 1964). Special Role in the river basin Bodraka belongs to the rocks of the Cretaceous period. The sequence of dense gray sandstones and ferruginous brown limestones, apparently, already during the period of accumulation of sediments in a shallow separated basin, acquired different thicknesses.

In the course of the erosional formation of the southern longitudinal depression of the foothills, thin sections of this sequence turned out to be eroded. Thickened lenses of sediments formed armoring surfaces, which contributed to the isolation of low flat-topped remnant mountains. Such is the origin of Sheludiva.

The absolute height of the Bodrak remnants reaches 400-500 m. The relative height does not exceed 100-200 m. The flat top of Mount Sheludivaya, for example, has an oval perimeter of about 300 m. contribute to the development of woody vegetation: grass-forb phytocenoses dominate here. From the summit, along steep (up to 45°) slopes, 36 similar ravine tracts diverge radially, isolated in the clayey-sandy strata. The ravines are almost bare, with sparse trees and shrubs. Mount Sheludivaya is an example of the "bad lands" of the foothills. It calls for a vigorous fight against water erosion through afforestation.

The Bakla tract is an amazingly beautiful, interesting natural and historical monument. The path to it leads from Rocky along the crest of the Inner Ridge. Beautiful places here. The steep, steep ridges of the kuesta ridge rise above a vast valley between the ridges, beyond which the peaks of the Main Ridge are visible in the south. In the opposite, northern, direction, the Inner Ridge descends very gently. On the way to the natural boundary of Bakla (and up to it from the village of Skalisty about 2.5 km.), through the layers of underlying rocks, one can trace the history of the development of this area for many millions of years. In the lower part of the steep slope there are ridges of different densities of Cretaceous deposits: marls and limestones. Limestone consists of numerous petrified inhabitants of the former (more than 70 million years ago) Cretaceous sea - bryozoans. It is very durable, beautiful and relatively easy to machine. It is no coincidence that one of the largest mechanized bryozoan limestone quarries has grown here. It looks quite impressive: giant steps surround the quarry arena like an amphitheatre. In 1971, this quarry gave the builders of the region more than 280 thousand m3 of wall blocks of stone.

Higher up the steep slope of the Inner Ridge, above the bryozoan limestones, there are younger limestones formed in the Paleogene period. Even a person who is not experienced in geology can easily find numerous accumulations of petrified round shells of sea rhizomes in the break of these limestones, shaped like coins. That is why these limestones are called nummulite (from the Latin word nummulus - coin). In addition to fossil rhizopods, in limestone placers you can collect a collection of large fossilized oysters, sea urchins and other inhabitants of the sea that existed in these places more than 50 million years ago. In the Bakla tract, two huge independent cornices are well expressed in the relief, and between them a terrace, as it were carved into the rocks, here gave a clear example of a gradual change in the relief under the influence of external forces. What only sculptures are not created by her! Here on the ridge rises a huge 40-meter stone sphinx. Down the slope there are hundreds, thousands of natural pits-cells - samples of honeycomb weathering of rocks. Everywhere there are large and small niches, pockets, grottoes... The picture of the landscape monument is complemented by original trees and shrubs.

As if impregnable castles rise above the steep cornices of the ridge, its individual capes. It successfully used medieval population Crimean foothills. At an altitude of 310 m, people founded the "cave city" Bakla. This fortified settlement was created to fight against the nomads. It existed, as studies of historians have shown, in the 4th-13th centuries and died during the Tatar-Mongol invasion of the Crimea.

In the area with Livadki we will visit a protected plantation - a grove of Crimean pine (declared a natural monument in 1968). AT woodland Livadki is a favorite resting place of Simferopol residents - in addition to pine trees, fluffy oak, hornbeam, dogwood, hazel grow. And nearby, on the southern cliff of the ridge, is the Snake Cave (commanded in 1968). There are 11 karst caves in the Crimean foothills, but Zmeinaya is the largest of them: its length reaches 310 m. From the top of the cuesta above the entrance to the cave, a wonderful view opens up: fields, forests, villages. Everything is in full view. But we are waiting for the cave darkness. Near the block forest pillar 21-20 we begin the descent to the foot of the cliff. And here we have a 30-meter vertical crack.

Climb up the ledges to the entrance. Everywhere in the walls we see small coin-shaped fossilized remains of the ancient inhabitants of the seas - nummulites. In these limestones of a relatively young, tertiary age, the cavity of the cave has been developed by karst waters. It is divided by blocky blockages into three floors, connected by numerous vertical wells.

Turn on electric lights. Not far from the entrance is a well that connects to the lower floor. We go down into the well and continue moving deeper into the cave. From time to time we stop to inspect the side passages. Under the floor, the emptiness of the lower floor hums. Behind the beautiful, domed halls are narrow and uncomfortable manholes through which you have to crawl. In one place, the hole descends lower and lower and suddenly ends in a huge hall...

Unlike the caves of the Main Ridge, the Serpentine Ridge has neither stalactites nor stalagmites. In the limestone vault, inclusions of red clay are visible, and next to it is a crack, which, perhaps, is the beginning of a new move.

Narrow gaps follow one after another. In places, tree roots penetrating from the surface of the plateau hang from the ceiling. With difficulty squeezing, we reach big stone. Next to the stone is the entrance to the lowest floor. We go down and get into a small, but the most beautiful hall. Its walls are covered with original sinter formations. It seems that in the rays of the lantern they shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow.

But here is the dead end. Little halt. And we're on our way back. It seems to be shorter. Soon, daylight shines ahead like a beacon. A few more tens of meters, and we go out to the platform at the entrance to the cave. After being underground, the sun seems unusually bright. It hits the eyes, blinds... After the trip, the name of the cave became clear: it, like a giant snake, wriggles underground.

And now - to the Salgir valley near Simferopol. An island of Permian limestones on the Simferopol reservoir is a block of Permian limestones rare on the Crimean Peninsula. The deposits of the Permian Sea, which existed more than 230 million years ago, are interspersed only in small massifs in the thickness of the Taurian shales and are also known in the valleys of the Bodrak and Marta rivers. According to geologists, Permian blocks fell into the sea from mountain ranges that existed in the distant past on the site of the flat Crimea, and thus turned out to be foreign bodies among younger shale deposits. As this territory was further uplifted, the block, together with the enclosing Upper Triassic rocks, appeared on the land surface.

Simferopol rocky block - one of the most significant in the foothills. It was first described by scientists as early as 1901. This grayish limestone contains fossil Paleozoic rhizopod fauna: foraminifera, pseudofusulin and pseudoschwagerin. After filling the Simferopol reservoir with water in 1955, the Permian block formed an island 40x80 m in size. Traces of limestone weathering are observed on its surface. Vegetation cover is typical for the adjacent territory: forb steppe with preserved remains of xerophilic forest in the form of a smooth carcass (stone tree). This monument of nature (commissioned in 1960) is a witness to the complex multi-million geological history of the peninsula. The Perm block forms an island only when the Simferopol reservoir is completely filled, the bowl of which in this case holds about 36 million m3 of water, and the depth reaches 34 m. Small Salgir. Here 2 km. from Simferopol near the village. Lugovoy is the Chokurcha cave-grotto (commanded in 1947). It is located on the left rocky bank of the river. Small Salgir. Chokurcha faces its entrance to the north, which is actually an exceptional phenomenon for the cave sites of primitive man. The depth of the grotto is up to 15 m and the width is up to 7 m. In essence, the modern grotto is only a remnant of an ancient, more extensive karst cave, which in the past, apparently, reached a great length. The front part of it collapsed, revealing the interior.

The Chokurchinskaya cave became widely known as a site of Paleolithic man. The first excavations here were carried out in 1927 and then continued for many years. According to an eyewitness of the excavations in 1940-1941. zoologist S. L. Delyamure, flint tools and numerous tusks (10 pairs) of young mammoths were found under a two-meter layer. On the ceiling of the vault of the Chokurchinskaya cave, the most unique drawings, hollowed out by Paleolithic people in Tertiary limestones, were washed from soot. Among them are the Sun with rays (the diameter of the disk is about 0.5 m), images of a mammoth and fish (their size is 0.5 m each). In the cave, along with rough tools made of bone and flint (more than 500 of them were found) and mammoth bones, numerous bones and other animals were found. Judging by the bones, a cave bear, a giant deer, a saiga antelope, and a rhinoceros lived then in the Crimean foothills. Thus. Chokurchinskaya Cave is a monument that has preserved to this day numerous remains of extinct fauna that lived in the Crimean foothills 50 thousand years ago.

Another, almost similar monument of nature - the Kiik-Koba cave-grotto is located in the Zui valley, 8 km. south of the village Zuya. Actually, this is not a cave, but a canopy-grotto with an area of about 50 m2. Kiik-Koba is turned to the south: a deciduous forest approaches it from all sides. Excavations 1924-1925 discovered in the cave the oldest site of primitive man in the Crimea (late Acheul-Mousterian). About 500 flint tools (pointed, hacksaw, blades) were found here, which were used about 100 thousand years ago, and many bone remains of the extinct fauna of the Crimea. Among the animals that lived at that time in the vicinity of Kiik-Koba and served as a subject of hunting were a mammoth, a rhinoceros, a cave hyena, a primitive bull, a wild horse, a wild donkey (jigetai), a giant deer, a cave bear, a wild boar and others. Kiik-Koba is a monument of national and world significance, it was reserved in 1947.

Now let's take a tour of the area. Belogorsk, to where Biyuk-Karasu breaks through the Inner Cuesta of the foothill Crimea. Here, in the valley of the breakthrough, on its high right bank, the rocky mountain Ak-Kaya (White Rock, commanded in 1969) rises. As a formidable angular cliff, this peak rises above the valley by more than 100 m. Its absolute height is 325 m. Mount Ak-Kaya is an original object of erosion development and weathering of Lower Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous limestones and marls in the eastern part of the foothills. Half the slope of the mountain is steep. In this upper part of the rock, the limestone, weathered, forms interesting columnar formations. Between them, shaded eye sockets of inaccessible natural grottoes and oval niches are visible from afar against a white background. On the lower part of the slope, for about 800 m, erosion hollows, screes and piles of collapsed large blocks of limestone can be traced. Real stone chaos! Scattered along this part of the slope are rare shrubs (hornbeam, wild rose), which are trying to restrain slope erosion. But these shrubs are not enough yet - erosion is winning. Ak-Kaya is also interesting as an archaeological site. In 1969-1971. under canopies at its foot, near the village. White Rock, scientists have unearthed about 20 sites of primitive man of the Mousterian era (100-40 thousand years ago). Numerous (more than 10,000) flint points, knives, side-scrapers and other tools were found. Accumulations of bones of a mammoth, a wild horse, a wild bull and other, now extinct animals, were found near the ancient hearths. For the first time in the Crimea, a fragment of the skull of an adult Neanderthal man was found here. The Ak-Kaya area was convenient for the habitation of an ancient man: an abundance of grottoes and sheds, river water, deposits of silicon in local marls and, finally, the rock itself and its cliffs served as shelters from the weather and pens during the hunting of wild animals.

The inner ridge in these places forms the Burunduk-Kaya mountain range, reaching here greatest height(more than 700 m.). Such relief conditions cause an increased amount of precipitation, which contributes to the development of tall broad-leaved forests. In the protected forest grow fluffy and sessile oak, hornbeam, hazel, less often - mountain ash, privet, European euonymus. Hornbeam, hawthorn, dogwood, buckthorn, barberry, and skumpia are also abundantly represented here. Forest and shrub thickets are entwined with clematis. On deforested glades, one can observe a peculiar combination of xerophytic dwarf shrubs and herbs of the freegana type in combination with steppe vegetation. Asphodelina, sage, astragalus, onosma grow here in combination with wheatgrass, bonfires, dubrovnik, euphorbia and fescue ....

Preserving this amazing floristic combination, the forest near Topolevka serves as a source of settlement of valuable plant species. At the same time, this forest outpost of the foothills serves as a convincing example of the soil-protective and water-protective role of the forest. Source near the highway in the village. Topolevka quenches the thirst of many thousands of travelers.

V.G. Yena Simferopol Publishing house "Tavria"

Photos of beautiful mountainous places of Crimea

Portal for the student. Self-training

foothill forest-steppe

Crimean foothills

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