Nature Chelyabinsk region 4
Economic characteristics of nature in the Chelyabinsk region 12
Conclusion 16
Literature 16
Introduction
The Chelyabinsk region is located at the junction of two parts of the world - Europe and Asia.
Two sections of the conventional border “Europe - Asia” pass through the territory of the Chelyabinsk region: mountainous - about 150 km along the eastern slope of the Ural ridge and water - about 220 km along the Ural River. The main part of the region's territory lies in Asia, and only a small part of it in Europe.
The Chelyabinsk region extends from south to north for 490 km, from west to east - 400 km. The region is located mainly on the eastern slopes of the Southern Urals. In the north-west - in the mountain-forest zone of the Urals.
In accordance with the time zone, time in the Chelyabinsk region is 2 hours ahead of Moscow time.
Nature of the Chelyabinsk region
The region has rich and varied natural resources.
Among them, iron, titanomagnetite and copper ores, nickel, gold, and bauxite should be noted. More than 300 industrial deposits have been explored. Among them there is a significant number of promising prospects that have been explored but not yet developed. There is a large raw material base for the building materials industry, facing stones, complex processing of mining raw materials.
More than 20 deposits contain iron ore. First of all, this is the Magnitogorsk field
The Chelyabinsk region is a region of intensive industrial development. There are about 15 thousand industrial enterprises and organizations operating in the region that constantly pollute the environment.
The industrial centers of Chelyabinsk, Magnitogorsk and Karabash have long been on the black list of the most polluted Russian cities. In recent years, the cities of Chelyabinsk and Karabash have been excluded from it, more on formal grounds than on the real environmental situation. As before, these cities are extremely unfavorable in environmental terms for comfortable and safe living in them. These cities especially suffer from heavy metal pollution. In addition to these cities, areas contaminated with heavy metals are located around the cities of Satka, Bakal, Korkino, Yemanzhelinsk. In general, 52% of the region's territory is contaminated with industrial waste.
In some areas of the region there is an extremely unfavorable situation with air cleanliness. On average, for each resident of the Chelyabinsk region, from 200 to 2000 kg falls from the atmosphere. harmful substances per year. In Karabash this figure sometimes reaches up to 25 kg. in a day! The pollutants also contain particularly dangerous ones: benzopyrene, mercury, lead, chromium, manganese and a whole “bouquet” of carcinogenic gaseous substances. Motor transport also makes its “feasible” contribution, poisoning the air of cities with nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, soot, lead and other toxic substances.
The discharge of wastewater into suburban water bodies amounts to up to 900 million cubic meters per year. The most polluted waters are the basins of the Miass, Ai, Ural, and Techa rivers. In these rivers there is an accumulation of nitrates, phosphates, ammonia, petroleum products, and metals. This has led to the fact that in several areas of the region, groundwater is characterized by increased mineralization and iron content. The lack of clear environmental practices has led to significant pollution of most of the region's water bodies and a shortage of water resources. The problem of water quality is especially acute in Oktyabrsky, Troitsky, Chesme, Varna, Kartalinsky, Bredinsky, Agapovsky districts. An additional source of pollution of natural waters is the irrational use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture.
Radioactive pollution has been added to the industrial pollution of the environment in the Chelyabinsk region, as a result of the activities of the Mayak production association. UN experts have called the multi-kilometer zone around the Mayak nuclear complex the most radioactive place on the planet. Once clean bodies of water have been turned into reservoirs for discharging radioactive waste. Only in Lake Karachay the level of radiation is 100 times higher than Chernobyl. The picture was aggravated by the largest man-made accident in September 1957 at Mayak. As a result of a failure in the cooling and control equipment, a container containing 20 million curies of radioactivity exploded there. In a few hours, the radioactive cloud passed over the Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk, and Tyumen regions, forming the so-called East Ural radioactive trace with an area of 23 thousand square kilometers. In a matter of days, more than 100 thousand hectares of fertile land in this territory were contaminated, and all coniferous forests died. From 300 to 500 thousand people were exposed to increased radiation exposure.
The local population, including women and children, was involved in eliminating the consequences of the accident.
The Chelyabinsk region, located in the depths of the European continent, is characterized by a continental climate with a long cold winter, relatively short but warm summers and very short transitional autumn and spring seasons. Since the Chelyabinsk region is located in three natural zones - mountain-forest, forest and steppe, each of them has its own climatic characteristics. The peculiarities of the continental climate are associated with the location of the region in the depths of Eurasia, at a great distance from the seas and oceans. The formation of the climate is significantly influenced by the Ural Mountains, which create an obstacle to the movement of western air masses from the Atlantic.
The winter season in the Chelyabinsk region lasts five months - mainly from November to March, but in mountainous areas it begins 1-2 weeks earlier and ends 1-2 weeks later than in the forest-steppe zone, and on the main and watershed ridges , having a height of up to 1000-1300 meters, the snow cover disappears only in May. In mountainous regions, winter is snowy and milder than in the steppe regions, where less snow falls.
In summer, low pressure prevails in the Chelyabinsk region. With the entry of air masses from Kazakhstan and Central Asia The weather is hot and dry.
The average temperature in January is from minus 15 to minus 17 ° C, in July - from plus 16 to plus 18 ° C. The average annual precipitation is -350 mm per year on the plain and 600 mm per year in the mountains. The duration of the growing season is 130-150 days.
The relief of the Southern Urals is very diverse. It was formed over millions of years. Here you can find all the natural, climatic and geographical zones of Russia. Within the Chelyabinsk region there are various shapes relief - from lowlands and hilly plains to ridges, the peaks of which exceed 1000 m. The western foothills of the Ural Mountains gradually turn into the East European Plain, while the eastern slopes descend steeply, adjacent to the flat West Siberian Plain-lowland.
The northwestern territory of the region is crossed by the Ural Mountains, the highest peak is 1406 meters above sea level. In the east, hilly terrain alternates with valleys. In the mountainous area, surrounded by forests and lakes, there are many picturesque natural landscapes. On the tops of mountains there are zones of tundra and forest-tundra. The profile of the mountainous part is varied - from steep eastern slopes to the relatively flat western part. The main ridges: Taganay, Zigalga, Urenga, Nurgush, Bolshaya Satka. They are covered with stone deposits. There are 113 karst fields in the region, in the depths of which caves lurk and underground rivers roar. The most extensive karst plateaus are Shalashovsko-Minyarskoye (Asha district) and Shemakha (Nyazepetrovsky district). On the Sim River, near the village of Serpievka, there is the famous Ignatievskaya Cave, it is also called the “art gallery of the Stone Age.” There are a total of 320 caves in the region, almost all of them are unique and declared natural monuments.
Then there are zones of taiga, mixed and deciduous forests. The taiga zone has a cool, relatively humid climate. The vegetation cover is dominated by coniferous forests. Large swampiness. The relief of mixed forests is predominantly erosive, the river valleys are asymmetrical, and there are numerous gullies and ravines. Deciduous forests are represented by birch and aspen forests. At higher elevations, bushy spruce forests usually grow, and sandy plains are occupied by pine forests. Swamps are developed in depressions and lowlands with limited drainage. On sandy soils Along the river valleys there are pine forests. The zone of broad-leaved forests is densely populated, and a significant part of its territory is plowed.
Further south extend the forest-steppe, steppe and semi-desert zones. The steppe zone with a continental temperate climate, the predominance of the natural vegetation cover of cereal steppes on chernozems and dark chestnut soils, is mainly plowed within the region. Leached and typical chernozems formed under mixed-grass steppes are distinguished by a high humus content, great thickness, fine-grained structure and are among the most fertile soils in the world. In the very south of the Chelyabinsk region there is a semi-desert zone with a dry, sharply continental climate.
The Chelyabinsk region has a rich network of rivers and especially lakes. Within its borders there are 360 rivers more than 10 km long, 1340 lakes, and with all the very small ones 3170. There are many reservoirs in the region created by human hands - 15 large reservoirs. There are more than 500 swamps in the region.
The rivers of the Chelyabinsk region are picturesque. All rivers are divided between three basins - the Volga, Ural and Ob, which indicates the position of the Chelyabinsk region in the main watershed zone of Eurasia. Most of the region's territory belongs to the Ob basin. To the east, to the Tobol and its left tributaries, most of the rivers of the Trans-Urals flow: Sinara, Techa, Miass, Uvelka, Uy, Toguzak, Karataly-Ayat, Sintashta and some others. The Miass River, on which the city of Chelyabinsk stands, bears the main burden - Miass gives four-fifths of its water to the needs of the national economy and everyday life. But the need for water is growing every year, and the river flow remains approximately the same all the time. A scheme has recently been developed that provides for the transfer of water from rivers in other basins, in particular from the Ufa River, to the Miass River basin. After the project is completed in Miass, the amount of water will double. Steppe rivers Sintashta, Karataly-Ayat, Toguzak, Uy freeze in the most severe winters. Rivers of the mountain-forest zone: Ufa, Ai, Yuryuzan, Sim and others, flowing in the north-west direction, belong to the Volga-Kama basin. Starting on the slopes of mountains, they cut deeply into intermountain valleys or cut through ridges.
Natural areas of the Chelyabinsk region
Rocky shores, fast currents, rocky riverbeds and clear water attract many tourists in spring and summer. In the south of the Chelyabinsk region flows the Ural River with such significant left tributaries within the region as Gumbey-ka, Bolshaya Karaganka and others.
The Urals are called the land of blue lakes. Geographers consider the Chelyabinsk region to be a lake region. There are more than 3 thousand of them here. Surrounded by dense forests, they have retained their original appearance. The lakes are rich in fish, the forests are rich in mushrooms and berries. These are real paradises away from the bustle of the city. The deepest lakes are Uvildy, Irtyash, Turgoyak, Chebarkul, Zyuratkul and Bolshoi Kisegach. Their depths reach 30-40 m. Lake Turgoyak is called younger brother Lake Baikal, the water in it is just like Baikal’s - clean and transparent, the bottom can be seen for two dozen meters. This lake is included in the list of the most valuable reservoirs in the world. Created around the mountain lake Zyuratkul national park. On the border of the Middle and Southern Urals there is the “cup of health and longevity” Lake Uvildy. Vacationers bestowed this epithet on it for its priceless recreational and medicinal properties. Many lakes in the Chelyabinsk region have balneological properties. In terms of the variety of therapeutic muds (from organic to sapropel silts), the Chelyabinsk region ranks 1st in Russia. Lakes in the foothills (Svetlenkoe, Agachkul, Sabanay) are organic; their muds are widely used in the resorts of Uvildy and Bol. Kissegach, Elovoe. Lakes Tauzatkul, Gorkoye, Podbornoe (Uvelsky district) are famous for their mineral muds; Salty, Sweet (Oktyabrsky district); Big and Small Shantropay (Etkul district).
The region is home to more than 60 species of mammals and 232 species of birds. The most common species are wolves, foxes, moose, roe deer, squirrels, moles, hedgehogs, beavers, marten, mink, ferret, badger, rodents, ducks, geese, cranes, woodpeckers, seagulls, finches, less often - bear, lynx, roe deer, sika deer , wood grouse, swans. Hunting is organized for game species of animals and birds.
There are over two hundred protected areas in the region. On the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains there is a mineralogical - Ilmensky, in which more than 260 minerals and 70 rocks were found, a natural-landscape and historical-archaeological museum-reserve Arkaim - one of the settlements of the "Country of Cities", the discovery of which is recognized as the most important archaeological event of the twentieth century, national parks "Taganay" and "Zyuratkul". The network of ski sports complexes - Abzakovo, Zavyalikha, Adzhigardak - is actively developing.
Economic characteristics of nature in the Chelyabinsk region
The Chelyabinsk region is one of the largest economic entities of the Russian Federation. 1701.0 thousand people or 48.4% of the region’s population are employed in various sectors of the economy. The modern structure of production has developed taking into account the historically powerful production potential of the region, convenient geographical location, and the availability of qualified personnel. More than 94 thousand enterprises and organizations of all forms of ownership are registered in the region. The region has adopted and is implementing a socio-economic development strategy until 2020.
In December 2006, the Chelyabinsk region was assigned, and in 2007 and 2008, a long-term credit rating of the Aa1.ru category was confirmed. The region's positive rating is determined by the high level of industrial development, growing investment attractiveness, rapid growth of consolidated budget revenues, low accumulated debt, good credit history, and increasing quality of management.
Federal highways and the South Ural Railway, which is a branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway, pass through the region. The region has significant production, labor and scientific potential, a diverse resource base, developed infrastructure and a favorable transport and geographical location, unique natural and climatic conditions.
The Chelyabinsk region ranks 4th in the country in terms of industrial production, 9th in housing construction and agricultural products, 10th in retail trade turnover. At the end of 2008, the GRP volume amounted to 659 billion rubles - this is the 11th result in the Russian Federation. The Chelyabinsk region produced industrial products worth almost 800 billion rubles. Labor productivity growth amounted to 11.7%, production of machinery and equipment increased by 8%, vehicles – by 2%. In general, there are positive dynamics in communication services, construction, light industry, retail and foreign trade turnover, and the provision of paid services.
The Chelyabinsk region lies on the slopes of the Ural Mountains and in the West Siberian Lowland. The region crosses the border between Europe and Asia. It passes along the watershed ridges of the Ural Mountains. The highest mountain in the Chelyabinsk region is Nurlat, its height is 1406 m.
Subject characteristics
The climate here is continental. Winter is cold, frosts up to -17 degrees. Summer is warm, temperature plus 16-18 degrees. The territory of the Chelyabinsk region lies in the Ob basin. The Trans-Ural rivers flow into Tobol: Techa, Sinara, Uy, Uvelka, Kartaly-Ayat, Toguzak. In the region there are salt and fresh lakes: Chebarkul, Irtyash, Uvildy, Bolshie Kisly.
Flora of the Chelyabinsk region.
All types of plants from the temperate and arctic zones of the Russian Federation are present in the region. It can be divided into three zones: steppe, forest-steppe and mountain-forest zone. The plant species here are very diverse. Mixed and coniferous forests grow in the mountain forest zone. There are deciduous trees, spruce and fir. There are open forests, subalpine meadows and char (mountain tundra).
In the forest-steppe zone, from the Uy River to the north, aspen and birch trees grow. Below the Uy River, a steppe zone begins with meadow forb-feather grass steppes. Shrubs grow along the beams and lowlands. There are pine islands and rocky steppes in this area. Many plants in the region (377 species) are included in the Red Book and require protection. Among them: carnation lily, European swimmer, Siberian phlox, Altai anemone, needle-leaved carnation, bifolia, lady's slipper and others.
2 European swimsuit
3 Phlox Siberian
4 Altai anemone
5 Dianthus aquifolia
6 lyubka bifolia
7 lady's slipper
Fauna of the Chelyabinsk region.
These areas have good living conditions for animals. The forest provides them with food and shelter from the cold. Moose live in the forest-steppe. In the mountain-steppe zone there are brown bears and lynxes. Lynx hunts hares, partridges and wood grouse. Fur-bearing animals also live here: otter, weasel, marten, mink, ermine, fox and furry weasel. Squirrels and striped chipmunks live in the trees.
There are many birds in the area. The taiga forests are inhabited by wood grouse, hazel grouse, waxwings, woodpeckers, owls, nutcrackers and crossbills. There are a lot of finches here. In mixed forests there are gray partridges and black grouse.
In the forests of the steppe zone you can see Siberian roe deer and elk, wolves and foxes. There are many rodents in the steppe zone. Different types of mice, gophers, bobbacks, hamsters, jerboas, and water rats have chosen these places. Birds of prey also live in the steppe: eagles, hawks and kites. Their prey often includes quails, larks, partridges and bustards.
176 species of animals are included in the Red Book of the Chelyabinsk Region. Among them: Steppe pika, jerboa, lemming, flying squirrel, Russian muskrat, European mink, Nathusius's pipistrelle (bat), sika deer and others.
8 steppe pika
12 Russian muskrat
13 European mink
14 Nathusius's bat (bat)
15 sika deer
Video: BEAUTIFUL nature Chelyabinsk region
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Full electronic version Red Book of the Chelyabinsk Region - http://www.redbook.ru/books.html
Characteristics of the natural conditions of the Chelyabinsk region
Climate and weather conditions
The foothill part of the steppe zone of the Chelyabinsk region has a fairly warm and moderately dry climate. The duration of the active growing season of plants ranges from 125 days in the north of the zone (Verkhneuralsky region) to 135 days. It starts on May 5-11 and ends on September 14-18. During this time, the sum of effective temperatures is 2200-2300°C. In the same time characteristic feature The weather conditions in this zone are the return of cold and frost. In the spring they occur until May 27-30, in the fall - until September 9-10, so the duration of the frost-free period here is the same as in the foothill forest-steppe regions - 105-110 days.
— Agrometeorologists believe that in the steppe zone of the region, all varieties of crops in the middle zone and early ripening varieties of heat-loving crops are provided with heat.
— The amount of precipitation for a period with average daily temperatures of more than 10°C is 220-230 mm, the hydrothermal coefficient, as a rule, does not exceed one. The reserves of productive moisture in a meter layer of soil at the beginning of field work range from 15044a in the north of the zone to 100-110 mm in the south, so the moisture supply of main agricultural crops is 50-60% of the optimal requirement.
— Stable snow cover in the foothill steppe zone is established in mid-November and lasts 140-150 days. It is characterized by insignificant thickness (25-30 cm), uneven distribution, and therefore does not provide favorable conditions for overwintering winter crops.
Terrain
The terrain, in interaction with other factors, plays a significant role in the development of soil-forming processes and in the formation of certain agronomic characteristics of the soil. In the Trans-Urals, it determines many patterns in the distribution of soils. Chernozems, solonetzes and other types of soils are confined to certain forms of relief.
The relief of the steppe zone is flat. There is also grassy vegetation and water features.
The floodplains of the left banks of the Tobol, Iset, Miass and other rivers have well-developed plains, and their numerous small tributaries in the floodplain part drain the territory well, so that on the floodplains of the rivers in the northeastern part of the forest-steppe Trans-Urals there are no saline lowlands, which are so characteristic of the Tobol floodplain and Uya of the southeastern region.
The absolute elevations of the flat territory of the Trans-Urals have significant differences.
Geography of the Chelyabinsk region
According to topographic survey data, on the Tobol floodplain they fluctuate between 140-150 m, on watershed areas within the Kurgan region they increase to 170-180 m, and on the territory of the Chelyabinsk region they reach 200-210 m or more.
Soil-forming rocks
The modern lithological composition of loose surface rocks and the development of the hydrographic network in the Trans-Ural region are largely determined by the geological past. In the Mesozoic, the territory of Western Siberia was subject to tectonic depression; as a result of the activity of dislocation processes, the West Siberian Lowland was formed. The Mesozoic sea advancing from the north filled the resulting depression and, together with the Paleogene sea that followed it, greatly peneplained the surface. In the Neogene, the sea separated from the Northern Ocean and formed a closed basin, which then broke up into a number of large lakes that disappeared by the end of this time. So the Trans-Ural region, covering part of the West Siberian plate, has a Paleozoic base, covered with a cover of Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments.
The Eocene Sea and the lake basins that replaced it in the Paleogene filled the West Siberian depression with a thick layer of loose sediments, which remained on the surface to this day in the Tobol-Miass and Iset-Miass watersheds and had a great influence on the formation of the soil cover. They are represented predominantly by bluish-gray clays of the montmorillonite group, as they contain more than 2% alkalis, 3% alkali-earth metals and 7% iron.
Sediments of the Neogene system are represented by greenish-gray, dirty green or dense non-layered bluish-green clays of the Aral Formation (Lower-Middle Miocene), which contain nodules, druses, crystals, less often gypsum plates, and clays of the Zhiland Formation with calcareous inclusions in the form of cranes. The sediments of this formation apparently formed in saline lakes and are often associated with saline-solonetz soils.
At the end of the Pliocene, a hydrographic network with well-developed valleys was formed. Paleogene and Neogene deposits were subjected to intense erosion, during which the Quaternary system was formed. During the dry post-glacial period, deposits of layered sands formed in the riverine areas of the Tobol, Iset and other rivers of the Trans-Urals.
The lithologic-facial composition of Quaternary sediments, formed as a result of the erosion of the original Paleogene and Neogene predominantly clayey rocks, is relatively consistent and is represented by silts and clays of polygenetic, lacustrine and illuvial origin. Their thickness varies from one meter in watershed areas to tens of meters in riverine plains. The watershed elevated plain contains polygenetic and lacustrine sediments, while the lowland plain contains sediments of alluvial and lacustrine origin.
The development of relief and the formation of Quaternary soil-forming rocks did not proceed in the same way geologically. Thus, the erosion of Neogene and Paleogene clays in the watershed territories of the Trans-Urals was much greater than in the central part of the West Siberian Lowland, for example, in the Tobol-Ishim watershed. Variegated salt-bearing clays of the Neogene and Paleogene are preserved in the Dalmatovsky, Shadrinsky, Chashinsky, Shchuchansky, in the virgin regions of the Kurgan region, as well as in the Oktyabrsky, Etkulsky, Uvelsky, Krasnoarmeysky districts of the Chelyabinsk region. They became the cause of the development of solonchak and solonetz soil formation processes.
And yet, in the territory of the Trans-Urals up to the Tobol River, the source rocks are represented mainly by Quaternary alluvial, lacustrine-alluvial and colluvial loams. Their power and mechanical composition fluctuates. In the interfluve spaces they are represented by relatively thin heavy yellow-brown loams or light clay. The parent rocks of the upper terraces of the Tobol and its tributaries - Iset, Miass, Uya - are also composed of alluvial and lacustrine-alluvial deposits of heavy loamy granulometric composition, but of low thickness. Closer to river valleys, the thickness of sediments increases, the granulometric composition becomes lighter to medium and light loam, and in some cases changes to layered yellow-brown sands. In the areas of the Trans-Ural peneplain, colluvial, “often gravelly and sandy loams of the upper part of the relief are replaced by deposits of heavy loamy granulometric composition.
Heavy yellow-brown loams and clays in the interfluves are products of an alluvial nature, often contain gypsum crystals and are underlain by dense, waterproof Neogene clays at a depth of 120-150 cm. Deluvial and alluvial loams, as a rule, rich in calcium carbonate in the form of white eyes, nodules and veins, do not contain mobile salts of sulfates and chlorides, and if they do, it is as a result of secondary salinization. The loamy granulometric composition of these Quaternary soil-forming rocks and the high calcium content in them contributed to the formation of fertile chernozem soils. However, in places where salt-bearing tertiary clays occur closely on flat watershed spaces, it led to the formation of solonchak-solonetz soils on these rocks as well.
Natural vegetation and structure of crop areas
It is well known that vegetation is the main driving factor in soil formation. The emergence of modern vegetation, in addition to general physical factors (climate, geomorphological features of the territory, etc.), is associated with human activity. He created arable land, deposits that are widespread today, as well as the unique appearance of forest areas.
Humans have a number of indirect impacts on vegetation. For example, deforestation causes changes in the surrounding herbaceous vegetation, since the vegetation finds itself in different conditions of moisture, lighting, etc. And yet, the preserved natural forest, meadow, meadow-steppe and steppe plant groups sufficiently fully ensure the occurrence of natural soil formation processes and can serve as a standard for assessing soil processes on arable land.
Forest vegetation. Natural conditions The Trans-Urals are such that they allow forest and steppe vegetation to exist simultaneously.
Meadow-steppe and steppe vegetation is characterized by the abundant development of annual grasses and dicotyledonous plants. Some of them are able to withstand prolonged droughts and lack of moisture, others are less xerophytic and cannot tolerate severe drought. Plants with visually subtle signs of xeromorphism are found more often in the southern regions of the region, that is, where there is less precipitation and drought is longer. Plants that approach the so-called mesophytes are found more often in the northern regions, where even if there are dry periods, they are not characterized by specific and permanent climate features.
Agrophytocenoses.
The main user of the soil cover of the Trans-Urals is agricultural enterprises. A large number of agricultural crops are cultivated.
But the structure of sown areas is dominated by grains and annual forage crops.
The main source of replenishment of organic matter in the soil are roots and other plant remains. The replacement of natural phytocenoses by cultivated vegetation significantly affected the intensity of the accumulative process of soil formation. In annual cereals, forage and row crops, which dominate the structure of sown areas, root and other plant residues account for an average of 40% of the total biomass. And only after harvesting the sown perennial grasses, root and mowing residues account for 60%.
The return of organic matter during the cultivation of grain and annual forage crops is 1.5-5.6 times less than in natural grass ecosystems. Therefore, an important problem in agriculture is the preservation of soil fertility, since, compared with natural conditions, the cycle of organic matter and nutrients changes in an unfavorable direction. Differences between agrophytocenoses and natural plant groups are most significantly revealed when comparing the amount of mass of the underground part of plants - roots. In spring wheat, the root system is 2.19-2.43 t/ha, or 36.6-38.3% of the total biomass, in barley - 1.83-2.04 t/ha (34.1-35. 8%), oats - 2.61 t/ha (38.1%), corn - 1.86-2.55 t/ha (27.9-45.3%), and annual grasses -2.18- 2.47 t/ha (46.1-53.8%). Only in perennial seeded grasses the mass of roots significantly exceeds the above-ground plant organs. Perennial herbs in this indicator are close to natural herbal groups, in which, root system and its balances account for 77.9-78.2%, for aboveground part — 21,8- 22,1%.
Land resources. According to the Committee on Land Resources and Land Management of the Chelyabinsk Region, the area of arable land as of January 1, 1999 amounted to 3082.7 thousand hectares.
The properties of soil-forming rocks play a major role in the formation of the soil cover of the Trans-Urals. The participation of saline Neogene and Pliogene clays in soil formation was the reason for the formation of solonetzic and solonchak soils in the form of small spots and extensive tracts. Even southern chernozems are characterized by an increased content of exchangeable sodium and magnesium in the illuvial horizons. The occurrence of groundwater close to the surface and temporary seasonal waterlogging of the territory due to high water, with the drainage of the plain and the low filtration capacity of the underlying rocks, contribute to the formation of hydromorphic soils.
The region is located in the Southern Urals. Most of the territory is located in, a quarter is in the mountainous forest part. The main part is in Asia, and the smaller part is in Europe. The region is located almost in the center of the country.
The surface of the territory is varied - there are lowlands, hilly plains, plateaus, mountains.
Water resources include 360 rivers, 15 artificial reservoirs, 3 thousand lakes. There are 30 species of fish in the reservoirs.
The vegetation is very diverse due to the heterogeneity of weather and natural conditions.
Vegetation of the Chelyabinsk Region
The trees in the forests include birch, linden, aspen, maple, and elm trees.
Birch
Linden
Aspen
Maple
Elm
The undergrowth contains willow, rowan, cherry, bird cherry, raspberry, and rose hip.
Rowan
Cherry
Bird cherry
Raspberries
Rose hip
The forest is mainly represented coniferous trees, few bushes, a lot of moss. There are pine forests and pine-deciduous forests with a lot of berries and mushrooms.
In the forest-steppe, vegetation is represented by pine trees, deciduous trees, and birch trees. There are a large number of birch groves in the south.
Honeysuckle, bird cherry, viburnum, and sedge grow in the steppe.
Honeysuckle
Kalina
Hawthorn
Osokor
In the south and north, the steppes are of a mixed-grass nature with trees, cereals, wormwood, and feather grass growing.
Astragalus Permian
A plant from the legume family, it is a subshrub. Listed in the Red Book.
Lagotis uralensis
Lagotis uralis belongs to the plantain family. Found near streams. Listed in the Red Book of the Chelyabinsk region.
Ural anemone
Ural anemone is a type of herbaceous plant. The flowers are cream, pink, less often blue. Flowering time is April, May.
Polar poppy
Polar poppy is a perennial herbaceous plant. It grows near river banks in the polar zone of the Urals.
Animal world
The forest is inhabited by moose, bears, roe deer, lynxes, weasels, otters, and pine martens.
Elk
Brown bear
Roe
Lynx
Weasel
Otter
Pine marten
There are squirrels, striped chipmunks, and flying squirrels.
Common squirrel
Striped chipmunk
Flying squirrel
The flying squirrel is a small rodent of the squirrel family. Lives near rivers with alder trees. Active all year round. Lifestyle is nocturnal and twilight. During the day, females and juveniles are found.
In the forest-steppe there are wolves, gophers, badgers, corsac fox, brown hare, marmot, jerboa, etc.
Wolf
Gopher
Badger
Korsak
Brown hare
Marmot
Jerboa
River beaver
The river beaver is a mammal from the order of rodents. It is one of the largest rodents. The animal has beautiful fur. They live alone or in families. Activity at night or at dusk.
Reindeer
- artiodactyl mammal. Horns are complex, long with a main trunk, and are found in females and males. The antlers are larger than those of other deer. The scope reaches more than a meter.
Muskrat
The muskrat is a mammal from the mole family. Relict species. Body up to 20 cm long, weight up to 500 g. Leads a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
Maral
Maral is an artiodactyl mammal of the deer family. Large individuals can reach up to 300 kg and a length of more than 2.5 m. Subspecies differ in the shape of their horns. Mountain species lead a nomadic lifestyle.
Saiga antelope
The saiga is a cloven-hoofed mammal, a subfamily of antelopes. This species of animal is classified as “critically endangered.” It is a relatively small artiodactyl in size. In different seasons they gather in large herds in the steppes. They feed on various plants, some of the herbs are poisonous.
Great-footed owl
Grouse
Waxwing
Gray partridge
Finch
A large number of birds are found in the steppe - hawks, kites, bustards, brats, little bustards, etc.
Hawk
Kite
Bustard
Lark
Little Bustard
Due to the fact that the Chelyabinsk region is located in three natural zones, its vegetation cover is very diverse. Within its boundaries you can find a variety of landscape types, ranging from mountain tundra and dark coniferous taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests to feather grass steppes. The vegetation of the Chelyabinsk region is no less rich in species composition - from mountain-arctic to semi-desert forms.
The number of plant species reaches almost 1500, of which 210 are more common.
In terms of species diversity of vegetation, the Chelyabinsk region surpasses all other regions of the Urals, second only to Bashkiria
The Ural Mountains, being an important climatic boundary, cause significant differences in the nature of the vegetation of the European and Asian slopes.
In the mountainous part of the region, vertical zonality can be traced in the vegetation cover. In the most mountainous part of the Southern Urals, three zones are distinguished. The main one is the belt of mountain taiga dark coniferous forests, extending to an altitude of 1000-1500 meters above sea level. In its lower zone, fir-spruce forests predominate, among which there are larch-pine forests, sometimes with linden in the undergrowth. Where the main species were cut down, aspen and birch forests grew. Forests in this belt alternate with meadow glades. Above is the subgoltsy belt, transitional from the mountain taiga to the goltsy belt. Wood growth here is slowed down by a harsher climate and a short growing season. The forest in this belt is sparse and low-growing (crooked forests of spruce, fir, larch, birch, rowan), alternating with wet subalpine meadows of alpine knotweed, wood sorrel, Permian anemone, etc.
The tops of mountains over 1200 m high are occupied by char. The forest does not grow here. This is a belt of stone placers and mountain tundras, covered with mosses, lichens, tundra herbs and berries, including lingonberries, blueberries, dropsy, knotweed, Ural and others.
On the western slopes of the Southern Urals, within altitudes of 250-650 m, there are southern taiga coniferous-deciduous forests. The most common are larch-pine and mixed linden-pine forests. Broad-leaved species are added to them: maple, elm, partly oak and personal shrubs. These forests are characterized by species richness of vegetation and diversity of vegetation cover.
In the far west of the mountain forest zone, broad-leaved forests are common. The main species in them are linden, maple, elm, alder, aspen, birch, oak and others. The undergrowth in these forests consists of hazel, rowan, willow, euonymus, honeysuckle, bird cherry, and in places raspberries and various types of rose hips. The rich herbaceous cover includes ferns, European hoofweed, common goosefoot, common crowberry, delphinium, mantle, and stoneweed. The areas of the Ufa Plateau wedged into the Chelyabinsk region are occupied by forest-steppe. This can be seen in the west of Satkinsky and Nyazepetrovsky, northeast of Ashinsky districts.
In the region, more than 2,800 thousand hectares are covered with forests.
The most valuable are conifers (about 28%).
The flat Trans-Ural spaces of the Chelyabinsk region are almost equally divided between the forest-steppe and steppe zones. The approximate border between them is the Uy River. In the northern part of the forest-steppe zone, the vegetation cover alternates between pine (sometimes with larch), spruce-pine and birch-pine forests with dry meadows and areas of meadow steppe. The southern part of the subzone is a forest-steppe. Meadow and forb-grass steppes alternate here with forests, pine-birch groves and birch groves.
Forests in the forest-steppe zone are usually confined to outcrops of granite rocks or to sand deposits in river valleys. Within the zone, such forests are known as Kashtaksky, Chelyabinsky, Uysky, Varlamovsky, Khomutinsky (Duvankulsky) and others. Birch trees are much more typical for the forest-steppe. They are located mainly in highly moist depressions, but often also in watershed areas.
The nature of the vegetation of the steppe zone as a whole is determined by the inclusion of forb-fescue-feather grass steppes in its stripe. But due to the vastness of the territory, the diversity of relief and, partly, climate, the vegetation cover in certain parts of the zone has its own characteristics.
Almost in the middle of the zone, along the sixtieth meridian, runs the Ural-Tobolsk watershed. There are a lot of pine forests and tufts on this watershed; they create the impression of a forest-steppe landscape. However, their grass cover and undergrowth consists of typical steppe species.
To the west of the Ural-Tobolsk watershed, along the Ural River basin, the vegetation cover is heterogeneous. In the north, in the Verkhneuralsky region, meadow steppes with rich forbs are common; to the south it is represented by feather grass and mixed grass steppes. To the east of the watershed, the vegetation cover of the zone is highly diverse. This is an area of forb-turf-grass steppe with the dominance of such species as steppe oats, feather grass, wormwood, and fescue. Alkaline meadows are widespread here.
The Chelyabinsk region has a large fund of forage lands. There are over 500 thousand hectares of hayfields and more than 1 million hectares of pastures.
In the grass of natural forage lands, the most valuable species are legumes (clover, alfalfa, sweet clover, sainfoin, china, mouse pea, astragalus) and cereal species (timothy, awnless brome, meadow fescue, bluegrass, cocksfoot, wheatgrass and others).
The wild flora of the region contains species that can be used for food, in particular, for therapeutic nutrition, since they have a unique chemical composition, which has a beneficial effect on the body. Some of them are traditionally included in the human diet: nuts (hazel), berries (strawberries, lingonberries, cranberries, currants, cherries, blueberries, hawthorn and others), spices, salads (dandelion, Siberian hogweed, angelica, etc.).
There are many types of honey plants: linden, maple, almond, caragana (yellow acacia), hawthorn, rose hip, bird cherry, rowan, alfalfa, sweet clover, clover and many other flowering plants. Of particular note is the linden tree in the mountain-forest zone. Linden honey, called Bashkir honey, is highly valued.
The flora of the region contains about 150 species of medicinal plants, widely used in official and folk medicine.
| № | Plant name | Distribution, habitat |
| 1 | Adonis spring (starodubka) | Forest-steppe and northern part of the steppe zone: edges, forest glades, open forests, hillsides |
| 2 | Common lingonberry | In the mountain forest zone, in coniferous and mixed forests; in the forest-steppe; in pine-birch and pine forests |
| 3 | Valerian officinalis | Mainly in the mountain-forest zone to the upper border of the forest belt; in the forest-steppe - banks of rivers, swamps, forest edges |
| 4 | Oregano | Throughout the region on forest edges and clearings, in sparse forests and bushes |
| 5 | St. John's wort | Often in the mountain-forest zone and adjacent areas of the forest-steppe zone, in forest glades, forest edges, and upland meadows |
| 6 | Green wild strawberry (strawberry) | Very widely in all areas of the region, through light sparse forests, clearings, clearings |
| 7 | Common raspberry | Found in all areas: forests, clearings and burnt areas, along river banks and ravines |
| 8 | Coltsfoot | Very widely throughout the region along ravines, banks of rivers and streams, in construction pits and quarries |
| 9 | Dandelion officinalis | Grows everywhere, a nasty weed |
| 10 | Large plantain | Found in all areas of the region |
| 11 | Common yarrow | Very widespread in all natural areas - meadows, fields, slopes, forests, wastelands |
| 12 | Bird cherry | Grows along river banks, along ravines, in floodplain meadows, mainly in the mountain forest zone |
| 13 | Blueberry | Mainly in the mountain forest zone and adjacent forest-steppe areas, in coniferous and mixed forests, in the mountains it enters the belt of subalpine shrubs |
| 14 | Rosehip cinnamon | More common in northern steppe regions and southern forest-steppe, in birch and mixed forests, in meadows, along river banks |
Walking through the Ural forests, we come across a wide variety of various plants, bright colors that caught our eyes. But without a special botanical education, we often do not know at all what kind of plants they are and what medicinal benefits they can bring us. In this article we will look at the medicinal plants of the Urals, their healing properties, methods of application, where you can find them, and also see them in the photo.
Adonis spring
A perennial herbaceous plant from the buttercup family with a thick short rhizome and several stems reaching 30-50 cm in height. The leaves are twice or thrice pinnately dissected into narrow lanceolate lobes. The flowers are large, golden yellow, with numerous petals and a large number of stamens and pistils. Small fruits collected in fruits. Blooms in May - June. Plant poisonous .
Adonis grows on dry open slopes and forest edges. Distributed in forest-steppe regions of the Urals. The entire above-ground part of the plant is harvested from the beginning of flowering until the fruit begins to flow. Dry quickly, avoiding direct sunlight. Adonis herb contains cardiac glycosides. Herbal infusions are used for heart failure, increased nervous excitability, and dropsy as a diuretic. A decoction of rhizomes is drunk for pneumonia. To prepare a decoction, pour one tablespoon of dry herb into two glasses of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, filter and take a tablespoon 4 times a day.
Calamus marsh
A perennial herbaceous plant from the aroid family with a creeping fragrant rhizome, white and porous inside. Lily leaves, reaching a meter in length, emerge in bunches from the upper end of the rhizome. It blooms in June-July with small greenish-yellow flowers collected in a spadix. The whole plant smells nice. Calamus reproduces vegetatively - by segments of rhizomes. It grows along the banks of slow-flowing rivers, lakes, and in wetlands. The calamus comes from India and China and was brought to the Urals during Tatar-Mongol invasion. The rhizomes of calamus are mainly used, which are collected in late autumn, washed and air-dried. Store in closed jars.
In scientific and folk medicine, infusions and decoctions of calamus are used for gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, bronchitis, cough, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.
Marsh rosemary
An evergreen shrub from the heather family, 1 m high. Grows in peat bogs and wetlands. The leaves are leathery, with downturned edges and rusty-felt pubescence on the underside. White, correct form the flowers are collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences at the top of the branches. Blooms from May to July. The fruit is a drooping capsule. Whole plant poisonous
. WITH therapeutic purpose use the tops of branches with leaves. Ledum sprigs should be dried in a well-ventilated area, as the smell essential oils, contained in the leaves, causes headaches and sometimes respiratory and cardiac problems.
In folk medicine, wild rosemary is used in the form of decoctions and infusions for pulmonary tuberculosis, cough, asthma, whooping cough, bronchitis, as well as in the treatment of eczema, gout, scrofula, chronic rheumatism, and neurasthenia. To prepare the decoction, brew 2 tablespoons of leafy wild rosemary branches in a liter of boiling water, infuse and drink a tablespoon 3-5 times a day.
Henbane black
A biennial herbaceous plant from the Solanaceae family with an erect stem. The leaves are oval, toothed, stalk-embracing, arranged alternately. The flowers are dirty yellow, with purple veins, collected at the tops of the stems. The entire plant is covered with sticky hairs. The fruit is a two-lobed capsule with a lid containing small seeds. Blooms from June to August. Henbane grows in weedy places, fallow fields, in vegetable gardens and courtyards, near homes, along roads. Plant very poisonous
, so care must be taken when collecting it.
For medicinal purposes, the basal (rosette) leaves of the first year are collected, as well as stem leaves and grass - the entire above-ground part at a height of 8-10 cm from the ground during the flowering period. Henbane preparations are prescribed orally as an antispasmodic and analgesic. Externally, for rubbing, bleached oil is used as an anesthetic for rheumatism, neuralgia, myositis, and gout. The first signs of henbane poisoning: dry mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, nausea, vomiting, headache, increased heart rate, severe agitation, delirium. It is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.
Siberian hogweed
A perennial, pubescent plant from the Umbelliferae family, with large sessile pinnately divided leaves, 90-150 cm high. Small greenish-white flowers are collected in complex multi-rayed umbels. The fruit is a flat two-seeded seed with wide wings. Blooms in July-August. It grows in bushes, forest edges, in damp meadows, along the banks of rivers and streams in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the Urals. Roots, leaves and seeds are used for medicinal purposes. The roots are collected in September-October. Leaves - in June-July. Seeds - in September.
In folk medicine, an infusion of the herb and a decoction or infusion of the roots are prescribed to improve digestion. Hogweed is used for skin diseases, and as a sedative, for convulsions of various origins, epilepsy and other nervous diseases, as well as for cancer. Hogweed edible , it is used to season soups and borscht. Salads are prepared from leaves, shoots and rhizomes.
Cowberry
An evergreen shrub from the lingonberry family, up to 30 cm high, with a creeping rhizome. The leaves are alternate, overwintering, thick, leathery, with glands in the form of brown dots on the underside. The flowers are pale pink, in short drooping racemes. The fruit is a dark red berry. Blooms in May-June. Distributed in mixed and taiga forests, swamps, and moss-lichen tundra.
In medicine, lingonberry leaves are used, which should be collected before flowering. Lingonberry leaves are used as a diuretic for low acidity, liver disease, gout, bedwetting in children, rheumatism, and kidney stones. With short-term use of an infusion of lingonberry leaves, the blood sugar level decreases. Boiled lingonberries with honey are recommended for tuberculosis. Due to the benzoic acid content in lingonberries, the berries can be stored without sugar. The peoples of the Northern Urals - the Khanty and Mansi - collect the juice of lingonberry leaves during flowering and use it to treat radiculitis: rubbed into sore spots for 5-6 minutes 2-3 times a day.
Cornflower blue
An annual herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family. Leaves are lanceolate. Blue flowers collected in baskets; the edges are funnel-shaped, the middle ones are tubular, with a purple tint. Cornflower blooms from May to August. Grows like a weed in rye crops. The marginal flowers have medicinal uses. An infusion of flowers has a diuretic, choleretic, and antifever effect. Therefore, it is used mainly for diseases of the kidneys and bladder. It also helps with coughs, constipation and stomach pain.
To prepare the infusion, pour a teaspoon of marginal flowers into a glass of boiling water and leave for an hour. Drink 1/4 glass 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals. A decoction of cornflower (about a handful of petals in half a liter of water, boil for 5 minutes) in the form of lotions is used in the treatment of conjunctivitis and as a cosmetic for enlarged skin pores.
Black crowberry
An evergreen branched, creeping shrub with dark brown leaves from the crow family. The leaves are small, elliptical. The flowers are axillary, pink, appear in May-June. The fruit is a black berry. It grows in peat bogs, in damp places in the tundra and polar-arctic zones of the Polar, Subpolar and Northern Urals.
Crowberry has long been known as a sedative. Therefore, an infusion of the herb (a tablespoon of herb in a glass of boiling water) is used for fatigue, headaches, nervous functional disorders, and also against scurvy. In Tibetan medicine, crowberry is used to treat kidney disease and anthrax. In Transbaikalia, an infusion of the herb is used in the treatment of epilepsy and paralysis. Nenets, Khanty and Mansi crowberry branches soaked for half an hour in warm water, tied to wounds and abrasions for faster healing.
Crow's eye
A perennial herbaceous plant from the linear family, with a creeping rhizome and an erect stem. The leaves are a whorl of four leaves with a greenish-yellow flower at the center. Blooms in June-July. The fruit is a bluish-black berry. All the plant is poisonous
. Crow's eye grows in shady deciduous, mixed and taiga forests, on moist soil.
For medicinal purposes, take a fresh plant. Alcohol tincture 10% in the form of drops is used for headaches, migraines, drowsiness, bronchitis, mental disorder, nervous twitching of the face. Internal use of crow's eye, as a highly poisonous plant, requires great caution! All parts of the plant have different effects: rhizomes - emetic, berries - on the heart, leaves - on nervous system. In homeopathy, decoctions of the plant are taken for headaches, increased heartbeat, hearing impairment, and eye diseases. An infusion of 1 kg of dry plants per 10 liters of water is used to spray gardens and vegetable gardens against pests.
Blueberry
A shrub from the heather family, 80-100 cm high, with gray smooth curved branches. The leaves are obovate, bluish below. The flowers are pink, spherical-bell-shaped. The fruit is a juicy berry, bluish-black, with a bluish bloom. Ripens in July-August. You need to pick the berries carefully, as they are very delicate. Dry in a shaded place with good ventilation. Blueberries grow in damp places, in moss swamps, in the moss-lichen tundra of the Ural Mountains.
Leaves and berries are a good antiscorbutic remedy and are used in the treatment of diabetes and constipation. A decoction of the branches helps with heart pain; the berries are used in the treatment of giardiasis angiocholecystitis.
Highlander
An annual herbaceous plant from the buckwheat family, with a knotty stem 30-80 cm high. Lanceolate, trumpeted leaves are located opposite. The flowers are pinkish or whitish-green, with a simple corolla-shaped perianth, collected in dense racemes, appear in June-July. Found along the banks of rivers, swamps, ditches, and lakes.
The herb collected during flowering has medicinal value. It is used as a laxative for atonic and spastic constipation, as a hemostatic for hemorrhoidal and uterine bleeding. For headaches, fresh grass is applied to the back of the head. To prepare the infusion, pour 2 tablespoons of herbs into a glass hot water Drink a tablespoon 3 times a day.
Sweet clover
Biennial herbaceous plant from the legume family, with a branched stem up to 1 m in height. The leaves are small, complexly trifoliate, with serrate-toothed edges and subulate-shaped stipules, arranged alternately. The small yellow flowers are very fragrant, collected in elongated racemes. It grows in fields, meadows, along roads, on slopes, ravines, and fallow lands of the Southern Urals.
For medicinal purposes, the herb is used - the tops of shoots with leaves and flowers. Collect during flowering. Infusion and decoction of sweet clover has an expectorant, emollient, carminative, and analgesic effect. In scientific medicine, sweet clover herb is used to prepare an extractable green patch and is included in emollient mixtures that accelerate the opening of abscesses and boils. Herbal infusions are prescribed for chronic bronchitis, insomnia, migraine ailments caused by high pressure blood and menopause, thrombophlebitis, liver diseases.
Oregano
A perennial herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae family, with a branched creeping rhizome, very fragrant. Stems are straight, branched, tetrahedral, softly pubescent. The oblong-ovate, pointed leaves are arranged oppositely. Small purple-pink two-lipped flowers are collected in a corymbose inflorescence. The fruit consists of four round-ovoid nuts enclosed in a calyx. The plant has a spicy-bitter taste. Blooms in July-August. It grows in shrubs, forests, steppe meadows in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the Urals.
Oregano is used for intestinal atony, to improve appetite and digestion. The infusion is taken for colds, sore throat, cough, choking, and pulmonary tuberculosis.
The vegetation of the Chelyabinsk region, according to physical and geographical division, can be divided into three zones:
1. Vegetation of the mountain-forest zone, including the western and northwestern regions of the region, which includes the subzones:
a) mixed coniferous-deciduous forests;
b) light coniferous pine;
and larch forests;
c) dark coniferous spruce-fir forests;
d) subalpine meadows and woodlands;
e) char (mountain tundra).
2. Vegetation of the forest-steppe zone, including the central and northeastern, eastern parts of the region (from the Uy River to the north), with a predominance of birch and aspen forests; areas of meadow steppe and steppe meadows, now almost completely plowed and ribbon island forests.
3. Vegetation of the steppe zone (south of the Uy River), including forbs and feather grass, meadow steppes, shrub vegetation on ravines and lowlands; island forests, rocky steppes.
In the Chelyabinsk region you can find almost all types of vegetation common in the temperate and arctic zones of Russia. The Southern Urals is the contact point of three botanical and geographical regions: European, Siberian and Turanian (Central Asian).
The zonal distribution of vegetation is greatly complicated by the presence of azonal areas, the existence of which is associated with the nature of the rocks and topography.
The Mesyagut forest-steppe on the western border of the region is located on limestone, mountain steppes on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains are on serpentinites, island forests in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the Trans-Urals are on granite-gneiss massifs.
Dark coniferous southern taiga forests
Distributed along the mountain slopes in the axial part of the Southern Urals.
The largest massifs are found in the Zlatoust, Satka and Katav-Ivanovo regions. Species such as spruce and fir predominate here. Spruce is found in drier and climatically harsher areas, climbing into the upper, subalpine zone; fir prefers richer soils and moist areas - in lowlands and mountain valleys.
Of the types of dark coniferous forest, the most common are porridge spruce with abundant development of horsetails and marsh species; spruce forest, where wood sorrel predominates among the herbs; tall-grass forests with a grass cover of large plants: cereals, tallgrass, Lobel's hellebore and other herbs.
Under the canopy of the South Ural dark coniferous forests you can often find rowan, honeysuckle, viburnum, rose hips, bird cherry, raspberries, stoneberries, strawberries, as well as poisonous plants.
These are the habitats of many relict species of broad-leaved flora. Many in dark coniferous forests different types ferns.
In the meadows among the taiga (Yelani) grasses such as meadow fescue, spreading pine forest, cuffs, fragrant spikelet and others are often found. Along the roads you can find bluegrass and other plant species.
Light coniferous forests
Widely distributed in Katav-Ivanovsky, Satkinsky, Kusinsky, Nyazepetrovsky districts and the surrounding cities of Zlatoust, Miass, Upper Ufaley, Karabash and Ust-Katav. They are mainly represented by pine and larch. Raspberries and black cotoneaster grow under the forest canopy. In wetter, shady forests you can find continuous thickets of ferns. There are also pine forests here, in which the ground is covered with reed grass, mosses and lichens. Lingonberries, blueberries and strawberries grow in light coniferous forests. Among the grasses of these forests, wintergreen, wintergreen, red fescue, bluegrass, and pearl barley are often found. The taiga liana, the Siberian princeling, is also found here. Often on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains you can find a relic - bitter bitter. In some remote places, Ural orchids listed in the Red Book are still preserved - large-flowered slipper, true slipper, spotted slipper. Popular medicinal herbs such as oregano and St. John's wort can be found in the meadows and clearings. In place of the former light-coniferous taiga, now cut down in many places, small-leaved (birch and aspen) forests grow in the mountain forest zone. Now they cover a significant part of the mountain-forest zone.
Broad-leaved and mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests
They are found only in the west and north-west of the region - in the Ashinsky, Katav-Ivanovsky and Nyazepetrovsky districts. Broad-leaved species such as oak, maple, linden, black alder, and elm grow here, which are rare or completely absent in other places. Based on the predominance of certain tree species in broad-leaved forests, the following are distinguished:
Dubravy. They can be found in the far west of the region - in the Ashinsky district.
Elm groves. They are found occasionally on the slopes of the South Ural mountains in the European part of the region. Under the canopy of elms grow grasses such as spreading boron, sedge, foxglove, borax and other broad-grass species.
Maple trees. Also occasionally found on small hills in the mountain-forest zone of the European part of the region. The easternmost ones are on Taganay. The cover under the maple canopy is sparse and sedge predominates.
Linden trees. They are also found in the European part of the region. Linden often forms dense thickets, under which twilight reigns. Only a few shade-tolerant grass species can grow here. The most common are dead-cover (that is, without grass cover) linden forests.
Chernooliyaniki. They usually grow along streams and river banks. Alder is a tall tree (reaches 30 m), and twilight reigns under its canopy. Only the grass cover here is more diverse than in the linden forests and is represented mainly by marsh species.
The easternmost oak, elm, maple and linden groves are declared natural monuments, as is the alder forest in Dzhabyk-Karagaysky pine forest. All of them are relict islands of ancient forests.
Loach vegetation
It is found in the highlands and is a relict species. This zone is represented by small areas of mountain tundra, of which lichen, herbaceous, shrub and shrub tundras with a predominance of polar species of willows and dwarf birch are distinguished.
Where the mountain slopes are covered with stone placers, the vegetation is extremely poor and is usually represented by lichen and juniper. The rock flora is characterized by various types of ferns. Of the endemic species, the Ural variety is known here.
Sub-alpine woodlands
Observed below the char zone. This is a special type of vegetation corresponding to the forest-tundra zone on the plains. The trees here are stunted and grow sparsely; clearings are common and sometimes quite extensive. Occasionally thickets are observed, which are called dense forests.
The dominant trees are spruce and birch. Here you can also find mountain ash, less often pine and larch. Very characteristic of the subalpine belt is the evergreen dwarf juniper, which in some places forms continuous thickets. The grass stand is characterized by cloves, alpine knotweed, mantles, St. John's wort and other species. There are representatives of the taiga and mountain-tundra zones. Typical plants of the subalpine belt: squat birch, Permian anemone, hawkweed and a number of other species that are endemic and relict.
Mountain steppes
A special type of vegetation, widely developed on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains, is mountain-steppe. It wedges itself into the mountain-forest zone in the form of separate “islands,” sometimes quite large. Its existence is due, first of all, to the “climatic shadow” of the Urals (the climate on the eastern slope is much drier than on the western slope), as well as local rocks (serpentinites and those close in composition). Typical steppe grasses predominate here - steppe timothy, fescue, sheep grass, feather grass and others.
Mountain steppes are the habitat of many relict and endemic plant species.
9.2. Forest-steppe zone
In the forest-steppe part of the region there is an alternation of small-leaved forests of birch, aspen, island forests and meadow steppe. The forest-steppe of the Trans-Urals can be divided into two subzones: the northern - in the Kasli, Kunashak and Argayash regions and the southern - in the Troitsky, Oktyabrsky and Uysky regions. The conditional border between the subzones passes in the Chelyabinsk region. In the northern subzone, coniferous trees, ferns, marshy meadows are more common, and a significant proportion of forest plant species are found. In the southern forest-steppe, in addition to typical forest-steppe species, there are also steppe representatives - wormwood, feather grass.
The basis of modern natural vegetation of the forest-steppe Trans-Urals is birch and aspen forests. They occupy lowlands (dried up small lakes and overgrown swamps). The herbaceous cover consists of bluegrass, fescue, timothy, brome, wheatgrass, and stump grass. Strawberries and drupes can often be found in small grass forests. The most typical plants for these places are tuber grass and bedstraw.
Tansy, wormwood, peas, snakehead, elecampane, oregano, St. John's wort, asparagus and other species grow on the edges.
The forest-steppe is a distribution zone for many food and medicinal plants, as well as various mushrooms.
Island and ribbon pine forests
They are found both in forest-steppe and steppe. In the forest-steppe zone, these pine forests have taller and slender trees than those in the steppe forests. In forest-steppe forests grow both typical forest representatives - bracken, lingonberry, and steppe plants - wormwood, fescue, reed grass, steppe timothy and others. Larch, aspen, black cotoneaster, steppe cherry and rose hips are found here.
These forests are unique natural monuments and important environmental sites, as they provide water supply to many rivers in the Trans-Ural region. They are also a refuge for forest species of birds and animals. Many forests have been declared natural monuments and are protected by the state. However, they very often suffer from fires. Thus, in the mid-70s, in one of the largest forests in the region - Dzhabyk-Karagaysky - more than 20 thousand hectares of forest burned. The dry summer of 1995 claimed 12 thousand hectares in the Sanarsky forest and 4 thousand hectares in the Karatubai forest. Due to frequent fires in the South Ural island forests, pine is found mainly young. At the beginning of the century, the famous botanist I.M. Krasheninnikov called such burs “forever young.” Unfortunately, in fires, pine does not always regenerate itself, and forest plantings often do not take root. Such places are occupied by birch and aspen.
Steppe forests are often attacked by harmful insects, so special protection measures are required to protect against them. To preserve steppe forests, it is equally important to maintain the natural regeneration of the forest stand. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to ban livestock grazing, reduce recreational load (picking berries and mushrooms, etc.) and, of course, deforestation.
Steppes
The steppes are characterized by variegated vegetation cover. A few steps from each other there are groups of plants that differ in color, size, and appearance. The steppe has many faces and changes its appearance different time of the year. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, it is covered with the bright colors of primroses - adonis, lumbago, and buttercup. Later, astragalus and anemone bloom. At the beginning of summer, in June, the steppe becomes a motley, multi-colored carpet. Then it is especially colorful. By July, the soil moisture accumulated in the winter in the form of snow is depleted, and the steppe partially burns out. Only the yellow inflorescences of bedstraw and china brighten up the dull picture. Towards the end of summer, after the heat has subsided and the usual onset of rains, the steppe is again covered with flowers - steppe asters and openwork inflorescences of umbrella plants. Based on the nature of the vegetation cover, the steppes are divided into zones.
The northernmost are the meadow steppes. They are dominated by species of forbs (meadowsweet, burnet, strawberry, sage) and grasses (fescue, brome, wheatgrass, timothy, bluegrass). Of the feather grasses in meadow steppes, the most typical are feathery feather grass and long-leaved feather grass. These are the most moisture-loving species of feather grass. As a rule, meadow steppes are confined to ravines, ravines and lowlands. The meadow steppe begins to bloom two weeks later than the forb-feather grass steppe. The first to bloom are the white “clouds” of meadowsweet, whose flowers produce a huge amount of pollen.
Following him are speedwell and burnet. They are accompanied by yellow flowers of elecampane, bedstraw and gorse.
To the south are forb-feather grass steppes. The predominant grass here is red feather grass or Zalessky feather grass. Other species of feather grass and many representatives of forbs are found here.
The southern regions are characterized by feather grass steppes. The most common species in them are Lessing's feather grass (feather grass) and Korzhinsky feather grass, as well as fescue, tyrsa (feather grass), wormwood, and forbs. There is less species diversity in these communities.
In these same areas, deserted steppes are common, where wormwood dominates, and thin-legged, fescue and Lessing's feather grass are also found.
Semi-desert areas in the southern part of the region can be found on rocky slopes and salt marshes, in small hills and on rock outcrops, where soil is washed away and snow is blown away. Improper land use also contributes to their appearance. In such areas there are endemic and relict species. Clay semi-deserts are close to rocky semi-deserts.
Plants are richly represented here, life cycle which is significantly shortened. These include sickle thistle, tuberous valerian, which both blooms and bears fruit in May; straight onion and some other plants.
Plants grow on the rocks that can tolerate very dry climates and cold winters with little snow. In winter, snow is almost completely blown off the slopes by the wind, so local plants have a cushion or spherical shape, as in the Arctic semi-deserts or Asian highlands. These include the Ural endemics - needle-leaved carnation, Bashkir thyme, cold wormwood, as well as relicts - mountain grate, sedum and a number of other plants.
In the rocky steppes, as in the tundra, lichens grow, which in some places almost completely cover the stones and ground. In spring, rocky and lifeless areas of these steppes and semi-deserts at all other times of the year are covered for a short time with various flowers.
Steppe island forests are located on watersheds almost exclusively at outcrops of granite-gneiss rocks of the Ural-Tobolsk watershed. They differ from forest-steppe ones, although the main types of trees here are the same - pine and birch. In some places the pine takes on a semi-dwarf shape (up to 2-3 m in height). In rare places, pine trees that are 100, 125 years old or more have been preserved. The main part of the forests consists of young pine trees (trees up to 30 years old), secondary birch forests (in place of pine forests), clearings overgrown with burnt areas with steppe vegetation - feather grass, fescue, sage, meadowsweet, strawberries, astragalus, gillweed and other types of herbs. Steppe grasses also predominate under the canopy of pine forests. Upland species are rare.
In moist birch and aspen forests along the lowlands and ravines, stoneweed, sorrel, foxtail and other more moisture-loving species are found.
The largest steppe forests are Dzhabyk-Karagaysky (Kartalinsky district) and Karatubaysky (Bredinsky district). A special type of floodplain vegetation is tugai forests.
An example of such forests is the floodplain forests of the Ural River. The basis of the tree stand in them is black poplar. It is usually accompanied by white willow, or willow, black alder, and occasionally elm, bird cherry, and viburnum. Dense thickets form honeysuckle, rose hips, spirea, and chiliga. You can often find blackberries and black currants. Coastal thickets are abundantly intertwined with local vines - broomrape, hops.
Swamp vegetation
We separated swamp vegetation from zonal vegetation because it is characteristic of all natural zones of the region. All swamps, as mentioned above, are divided into three types: raised, transitional and lowland.
Raised bogs are formed, as a rule, at the final stage of overgrowing of lakes. Tangles of mosses and other marsh plants often form a hanging “featherbed.” This “featherbed” is home to various types of mosses, mainly sphagnum mosses, marsh shrubs—whiteberry, blueberry—and such exotic plants as the insectivorous sundew.
Raised bogs are a habitat for species of Arctic flora, such as dwarf birch, cloudberries, cranberries, and cotton grass. The most typical examples of raised bogs are the swamps of the Ilmensky Nature Reserve, the Kialimskiye swamps (Taganay National Park), and the German steppes (Zyuratkul National Park). Transitional swamps represent the next stage of overgrowth of a reservoir. On them the surface is drier, the layer of living and dead plants does not form swaying “swamps”. In the soil, hard and reliable, sometimes a significant layer of peat is deposited.
In transitional swamps you can find various types of willow, mytniks and sedges, wild rosemary, blueberries, cotton grass, etc. An example of a transitional swamp is the Moss swamp near the village. Northern Pechi, near Lake Turgoyak.
Lowland swamps are swamps where water constantly covers the surface of the soil, and plants only rise above the water surface with their shoots. The most common are herbaceous swamps made of reeds, reed grass, sedges, cattails, giant manna and other herbaceous plants. Grassy lowland swamps are combined with dense thickets of willows, in which wading birds find nesting places.
Raised and transitional bogs are widespread in the northern and northwestern parts of the region, especially along the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains. In the forest-steppe and steppe zones, lowland swamps are developed almost exclusively.
