Eastern European platform: a form of relief. The minerals of the East European Platform

Most of the European territory of Russia, as well as some near-abroad countries, is located on the continental part of the earth's crust, which is called the Eastern European Platform. The shape of the relief here is mostly flat, although there are exceptions, which we will discuss below. This platform is one of the oldest geological formations on earth. Let's take a closer look at what the relief of the East European Platform is, what minerals it contains, and how the process of its formation took place.

Geographical location

First of all, we will find out exactly where this geological formation is located.

The Eastern European ancient platform, or, as it is also called, the Russian Platform, is located in the geographic regions of Eastern and Northern Europe. It occupies most of the European part of Russia, as well as the territories of the following neighboring states: Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova, Finland, Sweden, in part Poland, Romania, Kazakhstan and Norway.

In the northwest, the Eastern European ancient platform extends to the formation of Caledonian folding on the territory of Norway, in the east it is bordered by the Ural Mountains, in the north by the Arctic Ocean, and to the south by the Black and Caspian seas, and the foothills of the Carpathians, Crimea and the Caucasus (Scythian plate).

The total area of the platform is about 5500 thousand square meters. Km.

History of formation

The tectonic forms of the relief of the East European Platform are among the world's oldest geological formations. This is due to the fact that the platform arose in the Precambrian times.

Prior to the formation of a single world continent Pangea, the territory of the Russian Platform was a separate continent - the Baltic Sea. After the collapse of Pangea, the platform became part of Laurasia, and after the separation of the latter, it became part of Eurasia, where it is still today.

Throughout this time, the formation was covered with sedimentary rocks, which thus formed the relief of the East European platform.

Structure of the platform

Like all ancient platforms, the foundation of the East European is the crystalline basement. Above him for millions of years a layer of sedimentary rocks was created. However, in some places the foundation comes to the surface, forming crystal shields.

In this territory there are two such shields (in the south - the Ukrainian shield, in the northwest - the Baltic shield), which is depicted on the tectonic map of the platform.

the East European Plain

What is the surface of the Eastern European platform? The shape of the relief here is predominantly hilly-plain. It is characterized by an alternation of low elevations (200-300 m) and lowlands. At the same time, the average altitude above the sea level of the plain, which is called the East European, is 170 m.

The Eastern European (or Russian) plain is the largest plain type object in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Its area occupies most of the territory of the Russian platform and is about 4000 thousand square meters. Km. It extends from the Baltic Sea and Finland inclusive in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east by 2,500 km, and from the seas of the Arctic Ocean in the north (Barents and White) to the Black, Caspian and Azov Seas in the south by 2,700 km. At the same time, it is part of an even larger object, which is commonly called the Great European Plain stretching from the Atlantic coast and the Pyrenees mountains in the territory of France to the Ural Mountains. As mentioned above, the average height of the Russian Plain is 170 meters, but its highest point is 479 meters above sea level. It is located in the Russian Federation on the Bugulma-Belebey Upland, which is in the foothills of the Ural Mountains.

In addition, on the territory of the Ukrainian Shield, which is also located on the Russian Plain, there are uplifts, which form a way out of the crystalline rocks of the platform base outwards. These include, for example, the Azov Upland, the highest point of which (Belmak-Mohyla) is 324 meters above sea level.

The basis of the Russian Plain is the Eastern European Platform, whose tectonic structures are very ancient. This is the reason for the flat nature of the terrain.

Other terrain features

But the Russian Plain is not the only geographical object that the Eastern European Platform contains. The shape of the relief here also takes on other forms. This is especially characteristic at the borders of the platform.

For example, in the extreme north-west of the platform in the territories of Norway, Sweden and Finland is the Baltic crystalline shield. Here, in the south of Sweden, the Middle Lowland Lowland is located. Its length from north to south and from west to east, respectively, is 200 km and 500 km. The height above sea level here does not exceed 200 m.

But in the north of Sweden and Finland there is a plateau of Norland. Its maximum height is 800 meters above sea level.

Elevation also characterizes a small part of Norway, which includes the Eastern European platform. The shape of the relief here acquires a mountainous character. Yes, it is not surprising, since the elevation gradually in the west passes into the real mountains, which bear the name Scandinavian. But these mountains are already derivatives of Caledonian folding, not directly related to the platform described in this review, which is depicted on a tectonic map.

Rivers

Now let's take a look at the main reservoirs that are located on the territory of the platform we are studying. After all, they too are relief-forming factors.

The largest river of the East European platform and Europe as a whole is the Volga. Its length is 3530 km, and the area of the basin is 1.36 million square meters. Km. This river flows from the north to the south, while on the surrounding lands forming the corresponding floodplain forms of the relief of Russia. The Volga flows into the Caspian Sea.

Another major river of the Russian platform is the Dnieper. Its length is 2287 km. Like the Volga, it flows from north to south, but, unlike its longer sister, it flows into the Black Sea, not into the Caspian Sea. The river flows through the territory of three states at once: Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. About half of its length is in Ukraine.

Other large and widely known rivers of the Russian Platform include Don (1,870 km), the Dniester (1,352 km), the Southern Bug (806 km), the Neva (74 km), the Don Don Seversky Donets (1053 km), the tributaries of the Volga Oka Km) and Kama (2,030 km).

In addition, in the very southwestern part of the platform, the Danube River flows into the Black Sea. The length of this great river is 2,960 km, but almost completely it flows beyond the boundaries of the platform we are studying, and only the mouth of the Danube is on its territory.

Lakes

There are on the territory of the Russian platform and the lake. The largest of them are located in the north-west of Russia. It is the largest freshwater lake in Europe in Europe (17,900 sq. Km.) And Lake Onega (9,700 sq km).

In addition, in the south of the Russian platform is the Caspian Sea, which, in fact, is a salt lake. It is the largest body of water in the world that does not have access to the world's oceans. Its area is 371.0 thousand square meters. Km.

Minerals

Now let's study the minerals of the East European platform. The bowels of this territory are very rich in gifts. So, in the east of Ukraine and southwest Russia is located one of the world's largest coal basins - Donbass.

On the territory of Ukraine are also Krivoy Rog iron ore and Nikopol manganese basins. These deposits are associated with the access to the surface of the Ukrainian Shield. Even more iron reserves are available on the territory of the Kursk magnetic anomaly in Russia. True, there the shield did not come out, but very close to the surface.

In the region of the Caspian depression, as well as in Tatarstan, there are quite large oil deposits. They are also on the territory of the southern oil and gas region in Ukraine.

On the territory of the Kola Peninsula, apatite production on an industrial scale is well established.

Actually, these are the main minerals of the East European platform.

Soils of the Russian platform

Are the soils of the East European Platform fertile? Yes, it is in this region that one of the most fertile soils in the world. Especially valuable types of soils are located in the south and in the center of Ukraine, as well as in the black earth region of Russia. They are called chernozems. These are the most fertile soils in the world.

The fertility of forest soils, in particular gray soils, which are located north of chernozems, is much lower.

General characteristics of the platform

The forms of the relief of Russia are quite diverse. Plains occupy a special place among them. Just East-European platform forms the largest in Europe a flat complex. Only on its periphery can be found relatively high uplands. This is due to the antiquity of this platform, on which the mountain-forming processes have not gone for a long time, and the weathering has smoothed the elevations that existed here millions of years ago.

Nature endowed the region with huge reserves of minerals. Especially it is necessary to allocate deposits of coal and iron ore, in terms of which the Russian platform is one of the world leaders. There are also reserves of oil and some other minerals.

Here is a general description of the East European platform, its relief, minerals stored in the bowels, as well as geographical features of the area. Undoubtedly, this is a fertile land that provides its residents with all the necessary resources, which, if properly used, will be the key to prosperity.