The taiga zone extends south of the forest-tundra. Its southern border runs along the line St. Petersburg - Novgorod - Yaroslavl - Nizhny Novgorod- Kazan. In the southwest, the taiga merges with the zone of mixed and broadleaf forests, and in the southeast - with the forest-steppe zone.

The taiga of the Russian Plain differs from the Siberian one by its geographical position and the history of the development of the territory, and they determined modern look her nature. The close position to the Atlantic Ocean and the warmest sector of the Arctic predetermined the development of Pleistocene multiple ice sheets, moderately continental climate, contributing to the settlement on the plain of both more heat-loving European plants and animals, and more cold-loving - Siberian. Taiga European gets more precipitation than the West Siberian. Their annual number on the plains is more than 600 mm, and on the heights - up to 800 mm.

The entire area of ​​excessive moisture, since precipitation exceeds the evaporation rate by 200 mm. There are many lakes in the Onega and Volga basins, and Eastern taiga is poor in lakes, but rich in swamps.

Podzolic soils are developed on moraine and fluvioglacial deposits of the taiga. The flat relief of the northern part of the forest zone, as well as the water-resistant properties of the soils, contribute here to strong swampiness and development to the east of Northern Dvina bog-podzolic peat and peat-gley soils. Typical podzolic soils are characteristic of the middle part of the taiga. The podzol formation process is weakened in the north, where low temperature and waterlogging prevent the formation of podzol, and also in the south due to a decrease in moisture content.

The European taiga is characterized by dark coniferous forests of spruce: only here are European spruce (ordinary) and Siberian spruce found together. European spruce moves eastward only to the Urals, while Siberian spruce enters Kola Peninsula and the east of Karelia. Siberian fir, Sukachev's larch and Siberian cedar crossed the Urals to the west. There are many pine forests along the river valleys and zandras. Deciduous species play a secondary role in forests: birch, aspen, alder. There are many sphagnum bogs. Dry and floodplain meadows are widespread in the zone.

Of the animals, the taiga is characterized by reindeer, wolverine, lynx, wolf, squirrel, white hare. The Siberian rodent came to the northeast of the taiga - the chipmunk, which settled westward to the Northern Dvina and Of the White Sea... Mink, otter, water shrew live along the river banks. There are many birds in the taiga. The wood grouse, hazel grouse are everywhere, and the ptarmigan is found in the moss bogs. The three-toed woodpecker is characteristic of spruce forests. Schur, bullfinch, and kipsha are widespread. Some of them fly to more southern places for the winter and live in the zone mixed forests... In meadows and swamps, snipe and woodcock, geese, ducks, corncrake, lapwings, etc. are found. Among reptiles, the viper and viviparous lizard, the common toad is gray. Newts are found in stagnant bodies of water.

The European taiga is divided into three subzones: northern, middle and southern. Northern taiga is characterized by excessive moisture. In its western part, winters are snowy, moderately cold, and in the eastern part, winters are cold, quite snowy. The forests here are undersized and thinned out of spruce and pine (green moss, long moss, sphagnum and lichen). Agroclimatic characteristics are as follows: the depth of soil freezing is 120 cm, the duration of the growing season is 65 days, the sum of active temperatures is 800-1200 ° C, i.e. this is the territory of early vegetable crops with reduced heat requirements.

The middle taiga is characterized by excessive moisture, moderately cold and cold winters with many snows. It is dominated by blueberry spruce forests (from European and Siberian spruce). Agroclimatic parameters are as follows: the duration of the growing season is 100 days, the depth of soil freezing is 70 cm, the sum of active temperatures is 1200-1500 ‰ C, which corresponds to early crops of the temperate zone (gray bread, legumes, potatoes, flax, and other crops).

The southern taiga is also quite humid, but it has significant differences in winter temperatures (the average January temperature in the west is -6 °, in the east is -13 ° C), the depth of soil freezing in the west is 30 cm, in the east is 60 cm or more. The sum of active temperatures is 1900-2400 ° C. It is home to wood-sorrel spruce forests, shrubs and pine forests. Elm, linden, hazel and euonymus appear in the south of the taiga. Middle-early crops are cultivated: wheat, legumes of later varieties, and sugar beets.

Within the taiga, not only subzonal, but also provincial differences are clearly expressed. As an example of the taiga provinces, consider the Pechora.

The Pechora province is located in the extreme north-east of the zone. It occupies the southern most elevated part of the Pechora lowland, confined to the syneclise of the same name. The bedrocks here are sandy-argillaceous deposits of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous, overlain by a powerful

(up to 100 m) stratum of Quaternary fluvioglacial, lacustrine-alluvial and lacustrine-glacial deposits. Moraine spots are found here and there in the interfluves.

Flat or wavy interfluvial plains are located at heights of more than 150 m, but only occasionally in the very south they rise above 200 m. In some places there are hills - the remains of end-moraine ridges, Kama and Oza. The lowland is drained by the Pechora and its numerous tributaries, the largest of which are the Izhma and Usa. The interfluvial plains are swampy, the near-valley parts are better drained, therefore they are less swampy.

The climate of the province is the most severe and continental in comparison with other taiga provinces. Winter is harsh, long and snowy. average temperature January is -18 ...- 20 ° C. The highest snow cover on the Russian Plain is observed here - 70-90 cm. Summer is cool, with cloudy, often rainy weather. The average July temperature is 14-16 ° C; annual quantity precipitation 600-800 mm, to the east, with the approach to the Urals, gradually increases. The rivers of the province are full of water. The large thickness of the snow cover determines their high floods in May. There are many lakes in the lowlands. They are often found among swamps.

The Pechora province lies in the northern taiga subzone, only its extreme south falls into the middle taiga. V vegetation sparse spruce and pine forests... Siberian conifers are common in the stand: cedar, fir, larch. Usually forests are swampy. Gley-podzolic soils develop under them. Only on the lowland areas and on the slopes of hills do not marshy spruce forests grow. In the northern part, primary birch forests are quite widespread, also largely swampy. There are a lot of swamps in the province. Hilly, and in the southern part - sphagnum ridge-hollow prevail. Along the rivers developed

you are floodplain meadows with high herbage. The taiga is inhabited by European and Siberian species animals.

The province is rich in oil and gas deposits. The taiga population is engaged in fur trade.

Taiga is a significant forest area. The geographical position of the taiga is quite extensive - it occupies northern part Asia, Canada, Of the Far East and Europe. The climate, flora and fauna in this natural area are quite diverse. The extreme southern border of the taiga is in the northern part of the island of Hokkaido (Japan), and the northern one is on

Temperature regime

The region is characterized by severe, long winters and warm, but short summers. In winter, the temperature can drop to -50 ° С in Yakutia and Canada and to -25 ° С in big amount mosquitoes and midges. V summer period in Canada and the Far East, 27-30 ° C of heat is observed. In the Far East, summer is rather stifling and rainy, and winters are windy. The winter is snowy and the summer is mostly dry.

Spring comes late in such regions. Snow begins to melt only in early April. When it seems that it is warm, the next day the weather can suddenly deteriorate and cold and snow fall again. Leaves on trees usually appear only in late May or early June.

The geographical position of the taiga contributes to the fact that summer here begins only in June and ends in August. But at the same time, it can be quite hot. In this regard, it often happens Forest fires... Rarely, summers can be rainy and cold. Snow sometimes falls in early June.

Types and features of the taiga

There are 2 types of taiga:

Light coniferous;

Dark coniferous (the most common).

Features of the geographical position of the taiga are that it is located in a humid temperate zone... Conifers form the basis of its vegetation. The taiga zone was formed even before the offensive ice age... Taiga is also divided into subzones: northern, middle and southern. By latitudinal extent this region considered one of the largest climatic zones on the planet.

The geographical position of the taiga in Russia

The largest natural zone of the Russian Federation is the taiga. It stretched in the broadest and continuous strip through the entire state up to The Pacific... Its greatest width is c (about 2000 km). In this place, the plain taiga will connect with the mountain taiga of the Baikal region and the Sayan. If you pay attention to geographical position natural area taiga on the territory of Russia, it becomes clear why it is so beautiful.

The Russian taiga is characterized by sufficient as well as excessive humidity. There are many lakes and marshes here. Surface runoff in this area is higher than in other natural areas. The density of the river network is quite significant. The rivers are fed mainly by melted snow waters. In connection with this fact, there is a flood almost every spring.

Taiga is a huge space where coniferous forests are located. Sod-podzolic and podzolic soils were formed to the west of the Yenisei River, and permafrost-taiga soils to the east.

Vegetation

The geographical position of the taiga also affects the diversity of flora and fauna. For moderate to subpolar climatic zones boreal coniferous forests are characteristic. In general, there are about 30 endemic families of vascular plants, which, as a rule, consist of one species and most often of a monotypic one.

The region contains forests of larch, spruce, fir, pine and Siberian cedar... Hardwoods such as birch, alder and aspen are also found in the taiga.

Animal world

Generally, animal world taiga is much richer than in the tundra zone. In North America, the pronghorn family and the rodent family are common. V Central Asia there are muddy ones. In the subarctic belt, the families of moles, hares, mice, squirrels, kozhanov, hamsters, voles, and mustelids are widespread. Gophers live in the northern part of Eurasia and North America, gray voles, shrews, hares, beavers, bighorn sheep, ermine, white and Noble deer, elk, bighorn sheep and others.

The geographical position of the taiga zone covering the shores of the North Arctic Ocean, has a beneficial effect on the life in this region of the following animals and birds: walrus, loons, seals, polar bear, seagulls. The tundra is inhabited by the wolf, lemming, partridge, white hare, white owl. Taiga is home to migratory birds: swans, geese, terns, ducks, waders. They nest in these regions during the short northern summer. In the spring, the reindeer migrate to northern regions, there he gives offspring, and for the winter he returns to the taiga. This is due to the fact that in winter in these places there is a relatively thin layer of snow, which makes it easier for the animal to get food.

The geographical position of the taiga in Russia contributes to the fact that the lynx, wolf, wolverine, sable, marten, ermine, arctic fox, elk, musk deer are found here. There are also beavers, squirrels, voles, chipmunks, flying squirrels, pikas. Among the birds, the woodpecker should be noted, various types owls, nutcracker, jay, crossbill, black grouse.

Further south, in broad-leaved and all large animals were almost completely exterminated as a result of the development of these territories by man. Today, only small populations of beaver, wild boar, deer, brown bear, elk, red deer, mink and badger have survived.

Taiga protection

Siberian massifs of taiga and taiga of Eurasia are called "lungs" of our planet. The state of these forests, in fact, determines the carbon and oxygen balance of the surface atmospheric layer. Human activities constantly harm these unique natural landscapes... To protect these zones in Eurasia and North America, many national parks and reserves.

Taiga is a harsh and at the same time very picturesque land. Its main treasures are forests, rivers, animals and minerals. They are engaged in the extraction of oil, coal and gas. Humanity is simply obliged to closely guard and protect these territories.

* Geographical position.

* Vegetable world.

* Animal world.

* Rare and endangered animals.

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION:

* The taiga zone is the largest natural zone in Russia. It stretches in a wide continuous strip from the western borders almost to the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The zone reaches its greatest width in Central Siberia(more than 2000 km). Here the plain taiga merges with the mountain taiga Sayan and Prebaikalia. The taiga of Russia could cover almost all of Europe - the whole part of the world.

CLIMATE:

The taiga is characterized by moderately warm summers and cold winters with snow cover, especially harsh in Siberia. In Central Yakutia, even the average January temperature drops below -40. The average July temperature varies from + 13 in the north to +19 in the south. In the same direction, the sum of temperatures for the warm period increases. Taiga is characterized by sufficient and excessive moisture. There are many swamps, including raised ones, and lakes. Surface runoff in the taiga is higher than in other natural areas. The river network is dense, and the rivers are fed by melted snow waters. In this regard, there is a spring flood.

THE SOIL.

* Taiga are coniferous forests of uniform composition; under them, to the west of the Yenisei, podzolic and sod-podzolic soils and permafrost taiga to the east.

VEGETABLE WORLD.

* Taiga forests are usually formed by one layer of trees, under which a moss cover is spread, a carpet with lingonberry and blueberry bushes and rare herbs. Sometimes the second tree layer is formed by the young generation of the forest. Young Christmas trees and fir trees in the forest feel like a mother's, and pines feel like a stepmother's. In order not to die, they have to fight for a place in the sun all their lives, and not only with their sisters, but also with their parents. After all, pine is a light-loving species In lighter forests in some places shrubs - elderberry, buckthorn, honeysuckle, wild rose, wild rosemary, juniper - can form their own layer.

ANIMAL
PEACE.

The animals inhabiting it are well adapted to life in the taiga. Common in the taiga are brown bear, elk, squirrel, chipmunk, white hare, typical taiga birds: wood grouse, hazel grouse, various woodpeckers, nutcracker, crossbill. Predators are also characteristic of the taiga: wolf, lynx, wolverine, sable, marten, ermine, fox.

Rare and endangered
animals.

Central Forest Biosphere state reserve formed in 1931 to preserve the southern border of the taiga, located in the Tver region, 50 kilometers north of the city of Nelidovo.

Output.

* The dominance of evergreen coniferous trees in the taiga zone is the response of plants to the length of a frosty winter. Needles reduce evaporation, a variety of animals is associated with a varied and sufficiently abundant food, a lot of shelters.

Materials used.

We used the booklet: "Central Forest Reserve" a textbook on geography. Electronic encyclopedia of Cyril and Methodius.

Russian taiga

Taiga occupies a third of the territory of Russia. In its natural state, it is dense and inaccessible, representing a strip of harsh coniferous forest with swampy soils, windbreaks and windfalls.

The border of the taiga in the north coincides with the northern border of forests, and the southern border is within the distribution of oak, but it does not occur in the taiga.

Within the European part of Russia, the taiga border runs from the Gulf of Finland to the Urals. In the Asian part, it stretches across the whole of Siberia, including Kamchatka and Sakhalin. There are no forests in the extreme northeast of Siberia, and in the southwest and southeast, the taiga turns into a strip of mixed and deciduous forests.

Definition 1

Taiga is a biome dominated by coniferous forest.

A detailed analysis of the concept of taiga was given by the botanist P.N. Krylov in 1898. According to him, this is a dark coniferous boreal closed forest, which is opposed to pine and larch forests and pine forests.

The taiga zone is the largest in terms of area, having a width of 2150 km in the Asian part. The formation of this area of ​​the earth's surface occurred before the appearance of glaciers.

The climatic conditions of the European and Asian taiga differ - the climate of the taiga in the European part of Russia is relatively warm and humid, winters are cool, and in places cold. The average annual precipitation is up to 600 mm.

Moving to the east, the climate acquires features of continentality, the amount of precipitation decreases to 200 mm, the summer is hot, and the winter is harsh.

The relief within the entire taiga is heterogeneous. The taiga of the European part of Russia and Western Siberia is low-lying and swampy. V Eastern Siberia, between the Yenisei and Lena it becomes mountainous, and further to the east it turns into a real mountainous country.

For a long time it was believed that the taiga was unsuitable for farming and living. The rationale consisted in the presence of mountain ranges, a large swampiness of the severity of the climate. But, studies carried out back in 1896 gave good results - it turned out that in many places of the taiga it is possible to engage in agriculture and get good harvests.

There are three subzones in the Russian taiga:

• northern,
• average,
• southern:

The northern taiga is characterized by undersized trees: spruce, pine, cedar;

In the middle taiga, only blueberry spruce forests grow;

Greater plant diversity appears in the southern taiga.

Remark 1

The uniqueness of the Russian taiga is undeniable - huge forest lands are “ lungs of the planet».

Features of the flora of the taiga

For the taiga of the European part of Russia, the main tree species are spruce, European and Siberian pine, larch, fir, cedar.

European spruce is disappearing within Western Siberia, and all other species are preserved.

On the territory of Eastern Siberia, Daurian larch becomes dominant, in the mountains - cedar slate, and noble poplar is found.

Fir, Sayan spruce, Manchurian cedar grow in the taiga of the Far East, yew grows on Sakhalin Island.

A huge endless sea of ​​taiga, where the soil is covered with moss and dead wood, and only in some places you can find areas of cheerful birch. Its infinity and monotony are a characteristic feature of the taiga.

In the south of the taiga of the Russian Plain, oak is mixed, within Siberia it does not occur and reappears on the Amur. From finely hardwood there are gray alder, birch, aspen, mountain ash, bird cherry, willow.

As a rule, small-leaved species grow in the place of felling or in the place of a burned-out forest.

Depending on the soil and climate, taiga is light coniferous, dark coniferous and pine forests. Largest area occupied by dark coniferous taiga formed by ordinary spruce, Siberian cedar, Siberian fir. All types of spruce have a high trunk, dense thorny needles that can stay on branches for up to 12 years. Spruce trees are 300 years old, and those of centenarians are 600 years old.

Siberian fir looks like a spruce with dense dark green needles. Distinctive features is a trunk covered with smooth blackish-gray bark. The needles are longer, flatter and softer. On branches, it can stay up to 10 years.

The Siberian cedar is a representative of the pine genus. True cedars grow in warm countries... It also has a high trunk, but the crown appears only in the open. The trunk diameter can reach 2 meters, and the age is 800 years. Growing on loamy and moderately moist soils, Siberian cedar is well known for its seeds - these are pine nuts.

Cedars, firs, spruces are shade-tolerant trees, under the cover of which young ones grow.

Pine, larch, and birch also grow in the dark coniferous taiga. In the south of the taiga zone, there are linden, oak, Norway maple, gray alder. Shrubs are represented by willows, juniper, currant.

Mountain ash and hazel appear in the southern part. The herbaceous cover consists of ferns, blueberries, lingonberries, some grasses and sedges.

Remark 2

A feature of the Russian taiga is the presence of pine forests, the main tree of which is Scots pine. The tree is unpretentious and can grow in warm and harsh conditions, both on podzolic and sandy loam soils. Refers to light-loving trees and does not tolerate shade. Pines have the most valuable timber.

In the grass cover of pine forests grows:

• bearberry,
• cowberry,
• blueberry.

Light coniferous taiga occupies a significant territory in Eastern Siberia with a sharply continental and dry climate, and a layer of permafrost is close to the surface of the earth. The main tree of the light coniferous taiga is larch - Daurian larch, Sukachev larch, Siberian larch. Experts believe that it can grow up to 700 years. This coniferous tree, unlike other conifers, sheds its soft light green needles for the winter. Larch wood is very heavy and does not rot.

Features of the animal world of the taiga

The diversity of the taiga fauna is relatively low, due to the severity of the natural conditions, but not so small either. More than 40 species of mammals, rodents, birds, insects and other representatives of the taiga fauna live here.

For some animals harsh winter not a hindrance at all and they do an excellent job with it, others go into hibernation, well, and still others, in order to survive, are forced to migrate south.

The harsh winter and snow cover, which lasts for more than 200 days, makes it difficult for some animals to move and get food, and protects others from the cold, for example, mouse-like rodents and shrews escape from frost under the snow cover and lead active life foraging for their own food throughout the winter.

The white hare and the lynx have wide legs, on which long coarse hair grows by winter so as not to fall into the snow.

Some birds also have adaptations to taiga life. Likewise, in hazel grouse and wood grouse, the fingers are trimmed with a horn-like fringe, which helps to hold on to the icy tree branches.

For the winter, bears go to their dens under the snow cover, and chipmunks hide in burrows.

It is difficult to distinguish purely taiga species from the taiga animals, because many of them are inhabitants of all types of forests and generally belong to the animals of the forest zone. Among them are brown bear, chipmunk, hazel grouse, squirrel, elk. Animals such as the wolf, fox, wolverine, white hare, ermine, tits, crows, swifts are also found within other zones.

The indigenous taiga inhabitants are sable, lynx and birds that nest only in coniferous forests (woodpeckers, crossbills, tits, blackbirds, siskins, bullfinch, waxwing, blue nightingale, tap dance).

Taiga provides animals with food - it alone provides seeds of conifers, buds and shoots of shrubs, various insects, berries and mushrooms. Others, leading a predatory lifestyle, provide live prey, for example, murine rodents.

Remark 3

The symbol of the taiga, its bright representative is a bear. This is very big beast up to 2 meters tall and weighing up to 600 kg. The main food of this formidable beast is vegetable - berries, young shoots, but, however, they do not disdain rodents and fish.

A serious predator of the taiga is the lynx, similar to big cat... She, like a bear, is an excellent hunter, and hares, partridges, young elks, roe deer, scarlet piglets of wild boars, etc. become her prey.

The rivers and lakes of the taiga are home to:

• geese,
• ducks,
• loon,
• otters,
• mink,
• muskrats,
• beavers.

The diving gogol duck and sandpipers - big snails and blackies - have adapted to the life of the taiga; they arrange their nests in the trees. Economic significance there are game animals of the taiga, for example, valuable fur animals and upland game.

Taiga, also known as boreal forests, is the largest natural zone on the planet, located in the northern circumpolar regions of North America, Europe and Asia, characterized by a predominance of coniferous forests, long winters, moderate to high average annual rainfall.

The natural taiga zone occupies about 17% of the Earth's land surface, borders on the north, as well as mixed forests, forest-steppe and steppe in the south. It is characterized by a limited variety of coniferous tree species. Typically, the main forest-forming species are pine, spruce, larch, fir and, to a lesser extent, some deciduous trees such as birch and poplar.

Natural conditions

The natural conditions of the taiga are characterized by severe cold, humidity, acidic and low soils, which makes this natural zone one of the most difficult for human life.

For a more detailed study of the natural conditions of boreal forests, one should consider the main factors influencing the life of the people of this region:

Geographical position

Map of natural areas of the world

Symbols: - Taiga.

The taiga regions of North America and Eurasia are broad belts of vegetation that span the respective continents from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. In North America, the taiga occupies vast areas of Canada and Alaska. Most of boreal forests of the world (about 5800 km in length) are concentrated in Russia. In Europe, taiga is dominant in Finland, Sweden and Norway. A small isolated massif of boreal forests located in Scotland. The southern boundaries of the natural taiga zone extend through the northern regions of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and Japan in Asia, and the northern parts of the United States in North America.

Terrain and soil

Most of the natural zone of the taiga is dominated by the plain, consisting of wide lowlands and plateaus. Sometimes flat plains are crossed by some of the larger river valleys, the depth of which can reach tens of meters.

At the heart of the taiga relief, there are layers of sedimentary rocks, consisting of various combinations of limestone, shale, sandstone and conglomerates. Many of the limestone deposits contain visible fossils sea ​​creatures that lived in the region hundreds of millions of years ago. Retreating glaciers left depressions in the relief that filled with water, creating lakes and swamps (especially peat bogs) throughout the taiga.

Soils of the natural zone of the taiga Bad quality... They lack the nutrients needed to support large deciduous trees. Also, due to the cold climate, the soil layer is very thin. Leaves falling from small trees serve as a useful natural soil fertilizer. However, the needles of evergreen trees contain acids that negatively affect the quality of the region's soils.

Taiga is the main factor contributing to development. Lower tiers boreal forests covered with moss, act as insulation in the summer season. Also, a dense litter layer is able to cool soils to such an extent that permafrost is formed. Heating the soil provokes forest fires that destroy forest floor... Dark ash after fires increases absorption solar energy for several years, heating the permafrost.

Climate

Taiga is a humid subarctic forest that originates from the southern border of the tundra. Annual precipitation ranges from 300 to 840 mm. Most of them fall in the summer as rain. Winters are long, dark, cold and with a lot of snow, and summers are warm, short, with long daylight hours up to 20 hours.

The climate of the natural zone of the taiga is mostly formed due to the cold arctic air. Winds bring masses of icy air from the Arctic Circle: more more temperature decreases on clear nights when there is no cloud cover. Because of the tilt the earth's surface, the taiga gets little solar heat in winter.

Subzero temperatures last for six to seven months. Summer is a rainy, hot and short season in the taiga. Autumn is very short, and in spring ponds thaw, flowers appear and animals come out of hibernation.

Indicators of the lowest and high temperatures natural zone of the taiga, depending on the season of the year:

The lowest recorded winter temperature: -54 ° C;
Highest recorded winter temperature: -1 ° C;
The lowest recorded summer temperature: -1 ° C;
Highest recorded summer temperature: + 21 ° C.

As seen above, the taiga temperature range will be 75 ° C (-54 ° to 21 ° C). Half a year, the average temperature is kept below freezing. The average air temperature in winter is warmer than in the tundra or, which are located north of the taiga.

Vegetable world

The natural area of ​​the taiga is represented by dense forests. Conifers trees such as spruce, pine, fir and larch are dominant. These trees have needle-like leaves and their seeds develop inside hard buds. While deciduous trees shed their foliage in the fall, conifers are covered in needles. all year round... For this reason, they are also called "evergreen".

Conifers have adapted to long, cold winter and short summer taiga. Their needles contain little juice, which prevents freezing. The dark color and triangular shape helps to capture and absorb more sunlight.

Taiga is poor in a variety of native plants, with the exception of conifers. The soils contain few nutrients and are prone to freezing, which makes it difficult for many plants to grow. Larch is one of the few hardwoods that can survive in the northern taiga.

The lower tier of boreal forests typically consists of shrubs, flowers, mosses, lichens, and fungi. These organisms grow directly on the surface of the earth, or have very small root systems. They are able to survive in extreme cold, and with little water or sunlight.

Animal world

All animals living in the taiga are well adapted to the cold climate of this natural zone. Many bird species tend to migrate south during winter months... Small animals such as rodents live close to the forest floor. Birds of prey in the taiga, such as owls and eagles, hunt them down from tree branches in the boreal forest.

The largest member of the deer family, the elk, is also well adapted to life in the taiga. This animal feeds on lichens, mosses and aquatic vegetation growing in swamps.

Few large carnivores are found in the taiga. Some of the most common are the brown bear and the lynx. Largest representative in the world of - the Siberian tiger is a native species for taiga forests. These predators live in a small part of Eastern Siberia and hunt moose or wild boars.

Natural resources

Taigas include gas and oil fields as well as metallic minerals. The Canadian taiga is rich in gold, iron, copper, silver, zinc, uranium and nickel. In the boreal forests of Russia there are huge reserves of gas and oil.

Table of the natural zone of the taiga

Geographical position	Terrain and soil	Climate	Flora and fauna	Natural resources
Eurasia (Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, as well as the northern parts of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and Japan). North America (Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States). In the north, the natural zone of the taiga borders on the tundra, and in the south on the forest-steppe and steppe.	Flat relief, consisting of wide lowlands and plateaus. Retreating glaciers left depressions in the relief that filled with water, creating lakes and swamps throughout the taiga. Soils are acidic, with little nutrient content, and are also frozen long periods of the year.	The climate is cold and humid. Winter temperatures range from -54 ° to -1 ° C, and summer temperatures -1 ° to + 21 ° C. Annual precipitation ranges from 300 to 840 mm.	Animals moose, deer, foxes, wolves, brown bears, lynxes, tigers, beavers, hares, owls, eagles, mosquitoes, midges, flies and grasshoppers. Plants pine, spruce, fir, larch, birch, poplar, mosses, lichens and shrubs.	oil, gas, gold, iron, copper, silver, zinc, uranium and nickel.

Peoples and cultures

Taiga is home to eighteen indigenous peoples. The traditional occupations of the inhabitants of the region include hunting, fishing, reindeer husbandry and crafts. The main game species are reindeer and musk deer, while squirrel, sable and ermine are hunted for their valuable fur. Hunting is usually limited to winter when the quality of the fur is better and the meat can be stored for many days. Reindeer husbandry in the taiga and tundra is different: the herds are smaller, and most of the taiga reindeer herders lead a semi-sedentary lifestyle, in contrast to the nomads of the tundra. Some settlements combine pastoralism with other activities, in particular, fishing... In many areas of the taiga and forest-tundra, pastures have been disturbed, especially in Western Siberia, which is the largest oil and gas producing region.

Meaning for a person

Currently, in addition to meeting the commercial needs of the timber industry, the tourism industry is rapidly developing in the taiga. Here was formed adapted to low temperatures biological diversity flora playing important role in reducing the rate of climate change. To some extent, the taiga is able to maintain a balance of global temperatures, and also serves as a significant source of oxygen for the entire planet. From April to September, oxygen is actively liberated from the taiga zone, which is then carried by winds around the world.

Environmental threats

The greatest threats to the natural zone of the taiga come from human activity and . Taiga trees are cut down for lumber, paper, cardboard and other purposes. The export of wood and paper products is one of the most economically important industries.

Deforestation of boreal forests destroys the habitat of many organisms living in and around trees, increasing the risk of erosion and flooding. The taiga soil, which is not fastened by the root system, can be depleted by winds, rain or snow.

Promotes partial thaw of permafrost. Since the water released from the soil has nowhere to go, large areas taigas are subject to flooding, which interferes with the normal growth of plants.

Climate change also affects animals. It forces native species to migrate further north and attracts animals from the southern regions. Some representatives of the fauna, for example Siberian tigers not adapted to warm climate... Their coats are too heavy to thrive in cold conditions. Non-native insects such as the bark beetle infest trees in boreal forests, which subsequently die. They are capable of destroying entire forests and thousands of hectares of taiga.

Protection of the natural zone of the taiga

Conservation of boreal forests requires coordinated collaboration the international community and indigenous peoples of the region on the following problematic issues:

• Rational use of forests and natural resources taiga;
• Switching to renewable energy sources;
• Reducing the level of environmental pollution;
• Creation of new protected areas;
• Protection of taiga fauna from poaching and habitat fragmentation.

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