Natural steppe zone of Russia: where it is located, map, climate, soils, flora and fauna. Environmental problems of the Russian steppes
The steppe is a flat landscape zone located in the temperate and subtropical zones of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Steppes are common on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica.
Unfortunately, this type of natural landscape is gradually disappearing from the face of the earth. There are many reasons: plowing of the land, poaching, intensive grazing, fires.
General characteristics of the steppe
The steppes are characterized by an almost complete absence of trees. The exceptions are artificial plantings along paved roads and forest belts near water bodies. But in the steppe a large number of herbaceous plants and shrubs grow.
However, it is worth remembering that a flat treeless area with a humid climate is no longer a steppe. This is a zone of swampy meadows, and in the north, under such conditions, tundras are formed.
Natural areas of the steppes
The steppe natural zone is located between forest-steppe and semi-desert. The steppe is a treeless space completely covered with grass. The grasses form an almost closed carpet.
Steppe plants are distinguished by their ability to tolerate drought and heat. As a rule, the leaves of steppe plants are small, grayish or bluish-green. Many plants have the ability to curl up their leaves during drought to prevent evaporation.
Since the steppes occupy vast areas, plant species are very diverse. Great value For humans, they have, first of all, forage plants: clover, alfalfa, corn, sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke. Beets, potatoes, as well as grains: oats, barley, millet.
Among the steppe plants, medicinal herbs and honey plants are also distinguished.
Animals of the steppes are not much different from the fauna of deserts and semi-deserts. They also have to adapt to hot summers and frosty winters. The most common ungulates are antelopes and saigas, and the most common predators are foxes, wolves and manulas. There are many rodents (gophers, jerboas, marmots), reptiles and insects. Steppe eagles, bustards, larks, and harriers are commonly found among steppe birds. Most bird species fly to warmer climes in winter.
Many steppe animals and birds are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.
Types of steppes
Types of steppes are distinguished depending on the ratio of cereals and herbaceous plants.
. Mountain- characterized by lush forbs. An example is the mountain steppes of the Caucasus and Crimea.
. Meadow, or forbs - the largest number of species of steppe plants grow here. Meadow steppes are in contact with forests, and their soils are rich in black soil. Most of the steppes of the European part of Russia and Western Siberia belong to this species.
. Xerophilous- with an abundance of turf grasses, mainly feather grass. This type of steppe is often called feather grass. For example, the southern steppes in the Orenburg region.
. Desert, or deserted. There is a lot of wormwood, tumbleweed, twigs and ephemerals here. This is what the once rich, mixed-grass steppes of Kalmykia have become, which as a result of human activity are gradually turning into deserts.
Steppe climate
The main feature of all steppes is aridity. The climate type is from moderate continental to sharply continental. The average annual precipitation rarely exceeds 400 mm. Windy weather prevails in the steppes, and summer is characterized by a large number of sunny days. Winters have little snow, but snowstorms and blizzards are frequent.
Another feature of the steppes is the sharp difference in day and night temperatures, since at night the temperature can drop by 15-20ºC. These conditions make steppes similar to deserts.
Dust storms often occur in the steppes, which affect soil erosion and lead to the formation of gullies and ravines.
The soils of the steppes located in the temperate climate zone are very fertile and are actively used in agriculture. The basis is black soil, only closer to the southern latitudes chestnut soils are found.
IN different countries the steppes have their own name. In Australia and Africa it is savanna, in South America- llanos and pampas, or pampas, in North America- prairies, and in New Zealand - tussoki.
In Europe, steppes have been preserved mainly in protected areas. But in Siberia there are still virgin steppes - Kuraiskaya, Chuiskaya.
For 1 sq. km of steppe space is inhabited by more insects than people in the whole world.
The largest birds live in the steppes. In Russia there are bustards, and in Africa there are ostriches.
Lesson objectives:
To form an idea of the natural zone of the steppes, to introduce the geographical location of the zone, climatic conditions, flora and fauna.
Lesson objectives:
- To form an idea of the natural zone of the steppes, introduce geographical location zones, climatic conditions, flora and fauna.
- Develop the ability to work with a map, teach children to observe, reason, draw conclusions, evaluate their activities in the lesson and the activities of classmates.
- Vaccinate careful attitude to nature.
Equipment: PC, MIMIO, projector, map of natural areas.
Students have: a sheet for recording knowledge during the lesson, a lesson map, a “Forest Zone” test, cards for self-assessment: yellow tulip - 3, iris - 4, red tulip - 5 ( Annex 1)
During the classes
I. Organizational moment. Motivation of students.
– Today we will continue our journey through natural areas, where you will meet amazing flora and fauna, learn about the climate and occupations of the population, about nature conservation,
But first, let's review the material we covered.
II. Checking homework. Updating knowledge.
1) Students complete the “Forest Zone” test
Examination. One student names his answer options, opening the MIMIO “curtains” on the board for the intended answer, the students see the correct answer. The rest of the students self-check their work, marking errors in a different color.
After checking, a slide appears on the board with the criteria for evaluating the work. Students paste into the self-assessment sheet a picture corresponding to their grade in the “test” column (yellow tulip - 3, iris - 4, red tulip - 5)
(Self-assessment: 5-7 correct answers – “3”, 8-9 correct answers – “4”, 10 correct answers – “5”.)
III. Lesson topic message. Setting a goal.
Students solve a crossword puzzle on the topic “Forest zone” (Front work)
After solving the crossword puzzle, the children will learn the topic of the lesson.
– The topic of our lesson is “The Steppe Zone.”
We have already become acquainted with several natural areas. (Students name the studied natural areas and show them on the map).
– We studied all natural areas according to a specific plan. Let us remind each other of the plan for studying the natural area.
Students recall the plan for studying the natural area and compare it with the standard:
- Geographical location of the zone
- Climatic conditions(combination of heat and moisture)
- Vegetable world
- Animal world
- Impact of human activities on natural areas
– Thus, we can formulate the purpose of the lesson. (Children formulate a goal).
– In the steppe zone you will meet amazing flora and fauna, learn about the climate, nature conservation,
– Since you and I are going on a trip, we need to outline a route. (Drawing up a route sheet) ( Appendix 2)
Fizminutka
IV. Working on a new topic.
View the presentation “Steppe in different time of the year"| Students are given a table to fill out ( | |
| Appendix 4 | Climatic conditions |
| Average temperature in summer | -20-30 |
| +22-24, July to +40 | Average temperature in winter Precipitation in summer |
| Few in number, | Torrential nature of rains |
| Precipitation in winter | |
| Snow cover is low | Vegetable world |
| Trees | Vegetable world |
| No, not enough moisture | Shrubs |
| Herbaceous plants | Yes How plants adapted to conditions in the steppe 1) bulbs, tubers 2) Narrow leaves |
| 3) Long roots | |
| 4) fleshy juicy stems and leaves | Why are the soils of the steppes very fertile? |
| Plant name | |
| Basic information | Why are the soils of the steppes very fertile? |
| Animal world | |
Animal name
Steppe and man
4. Teacher's story
Steppes are large treeless expanses of grassy plains. Summer in the steppes is longer than in the forest zone. The average temperature in summer is 22-24 degrees; in July it can rise to 40 degrees above zero. Summer is dry and sunny, rain is rare and has a torrential character. Water flows into lowlands without having time to be absorbed into the soil and quickly evaporates. There is not enough moisture in the soil, so trees do not grow in the steppes. In summer, dry winds often blow. Dry wind is a dry, hot wind coming from the desert. This wind brings a lot of trouble.
Winter in the steppe is shorter and warmer than in the forest zone. But it is quite cold, with frosts down to 20-30 degrees. The snow cover is small.
As already mentioned, due to lack of moisture, trees do not grow in the steppes, but there are a lot of grasses here. Grasses have adapted well to drought. Some plants have leaves with a waxy coating, others have narrow leaves that evaporate little moisture, and others have fleshy and juicy stems and leaves with a reserve of moisture.
At this time, bulbous plants grow. In a month, these flowers have time to develop, bloom, bloom, produce seeds and fade. They have enough for this month, a supply accumulates in the bulbs nutrients and moisture. It’s getting hotter and you won’t see the tulips and irises of the steppe anymore. They are being replaced by cereal plants.
These plants have narrow leaves that evaporate moisture sparingly. The roots help the plant to stand when dry winds blow.
By the end of summer - beginning of autumn, the steppe almost completely burns out.
The steppes have fertile soils, so they are plowed for crops.
- Grasshopper
- filly
- Crickets
- Butterflies
- Bees, bumblebees
- Steppenwolf
- Saiga antelope
- Gopher
- Brown hare
- Bustard
- steppe eagle
- Steppe lark
- Gray partridge
6. Steppe and man. Working with the textbook. P. 120.
Conversation about what you read. Filling out the table.
V. Application of knowledge.
Peer review. Rating.
Reflection.
What tasks did you particularly like?
– What interesting things did you learn in the lesson?
Summing up the results of the self-assessment sheet.
In the past, the steppe zone had endless steppes. Now they are plowed almost everywhere, fields have taken their place. The remaining areas of the steppes with their wonderful flora and fauna must be protected.
Using the map in your textbook, color in the contour map (The world 4th grade, p. 36-37) steppe zone. To select a color, you can use the “key” below.
Which zone, located between the steppes and forest zones, remained unpainted? Paint it over at home.
Answer: Forest-steppe
Our inquisitive Parrot knows a thing or two about the steppes. Here are some of his statements. Are they true? 
Circle "Yes" or "No". If not, correct the mistakes (verbally).
a) The steppe zone is located south of the forest zones. Answer: Yes b) B steppe zone
cold, rainy summer. Answer: No
c) The soils in the steppe zone are very fertile. Answer: Yes
d) Tulips bloom in the steppe at the height of summer. Answer: No
e) In the steppe there is a bustard - one of the smallest birds in our country. Answer: No
Seryozha and Nadya’s mother asks if you know steppe plants. Cut out the pictures from the Appendix and place them in the appropriate boxes. Test yourself using the textbook. After self-test, paste the pictures.
And this task was prepared for you by Seryozha and Nadya’s dad. Find out the animals of the steppe from fragments. Write the names of the animals. Ask the student sitting next to you to check on you.
Feather grass - Filly - Steppe lark - Steppe eagle
Fescue - Hamster - Steppe viper
Think about what environmental problems of the steppe zone are expressed by these signs. Formulate and write down.
Suggest conservation measures for class discussion that would help solve these problems.
Continue filling out the poster “Red Book of Russia”, which was drawn by Seryozha and Nadya’s dad. Find the plants and animals of the steppe zone on the poster and write their names.
Thin-leaved peony, steppe eagle, bustard, steppe rack 
8. According to the instructions in the textbook (p. 117), draw the steppe.
9. According to the instructions of the textbook (p. 117), prepare a report about the plants and animals of the steppe that particularly interested you.
Post subject: Bustard
Message plan:
1) Preface
2) Basic information
3) Conclusion
The bustard is recognized as the heaviest of the flying birds; this steppe inhabitant mainly moves on the ground and runs quickly in case of danger. Individuals are considered omnivores; their diet consists of plant foods (seeds, shoots, wild garlic) and animals (insects, rodents, frogs); during the mating season, males perform a spectacular dance.
Dimensions:
Length: males up to 105 cm, females from 75 to 80 cm
Weight: males up to 16 kg, females – up to 8 kg
Lifespan: 20-25 years
The bustard is primarily a steppe bird. It lives on open plains without copses, meadows and fields. This is explained by the caution of the birds, since the free space there is visible far away. During nesting, individuals stop in areas with high vegetation.
There are also cases when bustards nest among crops of grain, sunflowers and other crops.
Source(s) of information: Internet, encyclopedia
The Eurasian steppe is located in temperate and subtropical climatic zones, and extends 8 thousand km from Hungary in the west through Ukraine, Russia and Central Russia to Manchuria in the east. The steppe zone of Russia is a flat area covered with grassy vegetation and practically devoid of trees, with the exception of river banks. Shrubs and many types of grasses grow well on steppe soils.
As the climate from west to east of the country becomes sharply continental, the composition of flora and fauna changes. The steppes of Russia have very fertile lands, so much of the area has been converted to agricultural land. Human activity has led to the destruction of vast areas of virgin steppe, as well as a reduction in the number of unique species of plants and animals.
Geographical location and types of steppes in Russia
Steppe zone on the map of Russia
The Russian steppe zone extends from the Black Sea to Altai in the south of the country. The visual northern border is Tula, the Kama and Belaya rivers. In the south, the steppes reach the Caucasus Mountains. Part of the zone lies on, the other is located on West Siberian. When moving from south to east, steppe landscapes are found in the basins of Transbaikalia. The steppe zone borders on the forest-steppe in the north and also in the south. Natural conditions on the steppe are not the same. Hence the difference in composition flora. In Russia there are 4 following types of steppes:
- Mountain: The steppe lands of the Caucasus are covered with numerous types of grasses, with the exception of sedges.
- Meadow: occupy most of European Russia and Western Siberia. Forbs and cereals grow in this landscape area. The thick green carpet is enlivened by bright flower stalks.
- Feather grass: The steppes of the Orenburg region are covered with varieties of feather grass.
- Desert: tumbleweed, twig grass and feather grass are found on the lands of Kalmykia. The vegetation cover of the territory has been significantly damaged by human activity.
Steppe climate
From south to east, the climate of the Russian steppe changes from moderate continental to sharply continental. The average winter temperature on the East European Plain is -5°C. At the borders of the Western European Plain, these indicators drop to -30°C. Winters have little snow and winds often blow.
Spring comes abruptly, advancing, thanks to air masses, from the south and southwest. At the end of March the thermometer rises to 0°C. The snow is melting quickly, and there is practically no new precipitation.
The temperature in summer is +25°C, most days are clear and sunny. Precipitation occurs precisely during the warm season, with at least 400 mm. The steppes are characterized by aridity. Dry winds dry out the soil, lead to erosion, and form ravines. A sharp drop in daily temperatures of 15°C makes steppes similar to deserts. The steppe autumn is long, there is practically no wind, and until November the average temperature is about 0°C.
The steppes in southern Russia are softer due to southern winds. The wind from the south brings humid air, which softens winters and reduces the summer heat. In winter, cyclones often occur in the southern regions, and in summer, fogs form in river valleys.
The steppes in the west have a more severe climate; in winter, at a temperature of -50°C, the soil freezes to 100 cm. Little snow falls, and there are almost never thaws. The snow cover melts in mid-April. Summer, lasting three months, begins in May. The first frosts occur in October, and winter begins a month later.
Flora and fauna
The main cover of the steppe consists of cereal crops, growing in bunches, between which the earth is visible. Herbs tolerate heat and drought well. Some of them roll up their leaves to avoid evaporation. Feather grass is found more often than other plants. Its size depends on the region of growth. No less widespread in the steppe is the Tonkonog genus of cereals. The spike-shaped panicles of perennials are food for animals.
Most plants have dark colored foliage, which protects against excess moisture evaporation. Dwarf iris, meadow sage, Kermek, astragalus, meadowsweet, swordweed, and wormwood grow in the steppes. Honey plants are of great importance: sweet clover, alfalfa, buckwheat, phacelia, motherwort and sunflower.
The fauna of the Russian steppe zone cannot be called diverse. Large animals have nowhere to hide, so small animals can be found here: gophers, marmots, hamsters, jerboas and hedgehogs. The steppe fox feeds. Small animals serve as food for wolves, wild cats and ferrets. Common birds of prey include owls, hawks, harriers and buzzards. In addition to them, the steppes are inhabited by ducks, bustards, cranes and herons. In the steppe zone you can find amphibians and reptiles: frogs, toads, lizards and snakes. Steppe antelopes, saigas, live in herds and have adapted to do without water for a long time.
Soils
Chernozem was formed under the influence of high temperatures and low humidity. It is characterized by high fertility. Humus is actively formed in the upper layers. Its horizon in the Kuban region reaches 100 cm. To the south, due to drought, saline and saline soils are often found. In many areas, erosion is actively occurring on the surface. Under drought conditions, leaching of calcium, magnesium and sodium from the top layer can be observed. Chernozem contains billions of useful ones. The plowed lands of the steppes provide 80% of all agricultural production in Russia.
Economic activity
The first settlers of the steppes were engaged in cattle breeding. Then people began to actively plow the lands and sow them. Today, corn, wheat, sunflowers and rice are grown in these areas. The abundance of light and heat allows you to grow melons, melons and watermelons. In the south, part of the land is allocated for vineyards.
Grass cover is an excellent food source for livestock. In the steppe zone they breed poultry, sheep, pigs and cows. IN major cities factories are working. The terrain makes it possible to build long highways. The steppes are densely populated big cities adjacent to sparsely populated villages.
Environmental problems of the Russian steppes
Human activity, water and wind erosion lead to desertification of the steppes. The land becomes unsuitable for growing crops, and soil fertility decreases. Due to the reduction of vegetation, animal populations are declining. In the struggle for the harvest, people use fertilizers that pollute fragile crops. Artificial irrigation leads to soil salinization.
To preserve the unique steppe, it is necessary to strengthen measures to protect rare plants and animals and create new protected areas. In protected areas, vulnerable species will be able to recover faster. The steppes of Russia can still be preserved, but this requires joint efforts of the state and civil society.
